India: information, geography, population and characteristics

We explain everything about India, its geography and history. We also explain its characteristics, climate and more.

India is considered a developing nation.

India

India is a nation state whose official name is Republic of India. It is located in South Asia and borders Sri Lanka to the south, Pakistan to the northwest, China, Nepal and Bhutan to the north, and Myanmar and Bangladesh to the east. Its form of political organization is the parliamentary republic.

India has an area of ​​3,287,000 square kilometers (it is the seventh largest country in the world). Its population of more than 1.4 billion inhabitants making it the most populous country in the world. Its capital, New Delhi, has more than 32 million inhabitants and is currently the second most populous capital on the planet.

The present-day territory of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Burma was known as the “British Raj” between 1858 and 1947. It was a colonial state under political and economic control of the British Crown, and was part of the territories annexed by the United Kingdom in the 19th century.

In the fight for independence, the figure of Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948), political, philosophical and spiritual leader of the independence movement.

Why is it called “India”? The name comes from ancient Greek, and was the name given to the territory near the Indus River. In turn, the term Indo which gives its name to the river comes from hindufrom the Persian language, meaning “river.”

See also: China

Features of India

Some characteristics of this country are:

• It is the most populated country in the world, with 1,428 million inhabitants.
• It is the seventh largest country on the planet, with an area of ​​3,287,000 km2.
• Its population density reaches 425 inhabitants per square kilometer.
• Its capital is the city of New Delhi, which has more than 32 million inhabitants and is the second most populous city in the world, after Tokyo.
• It became independent from the British Empire on 15 August 1947.
• Its predominant climate is the warm tropical monsoon.
• It has two official languages: Hindi and English, the latter inherited from the times when the country was a British colony.
• The predominant religion is Hinduism.
• Most of the population does not consume beef.
• Its most important economic activities are agriculture, mining, industry, services and tourism.
• Its official currency is the Indian rupee.

Extension, population and capital of India

New Delhi is the second most populous capital in the world

India has an area of ​​3,287,000 square kilometers, the seventh largest in the world. It has a population of 1,428,000,000 inhabitants, and Since April 2023, it is the most populous country in the world after surpassing China. Its population density is 425 inhabitants per square kilometer.

India is divided into 28 states. The most populous states are Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Bihar, each with over 100 million inhabitants. Sikkim, one of the smallest states, is also the least populated.

The capital of India is the city of New Delhi. Its population amounts to 32,000,000 inhabitants and it is the second most populated capital in the world. New Delhi is the seat of the executive, judicial and legislative branches of the Government of India. This city was planned by architects Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker, and although it was established in 1911, it was inaugurated in 1931 by Iord Irwin (viceroy of the British Raj) when it was decided to move the capital from Calcutta.

Apart from the capital, the most important cities in India are Bombay, with 18 million inhabitants, and Bangalore with 12 million.

Climate, relief and hydrography of India

With a wide variety of climates, India also has a humid tropical region.

Most of the rivers that flow through India have their sources in the Himalayan mountain range.The most important are the Indus (the longest in the country at 3,180 kilometres long), the Ganges and the Brahmaputra.

Due to its vast area, India has different types of climate and relief. Depending on these variations, three major regions can be distinguished:

The Himalayan region

The Himalayan region is located in the north of the country, on the border with Nepal and Bhutan. It is characterized by the presence of high altitude mountains. The highest peaks in India are also some of the highest on the entire planet:Mount Kangchenjunga, 8,586 metres high, Nanda Devi, 7,816 metres high and Kamet, 7,756 metres high are some of them.

In terms of climate, this region is characterized by the cold tundra climate with very low temperatures conditioned by the altitudeIn lower altitude areas, the predominant climate is temperate subhumid mountain climate, with higher temperatures and abundant rainfall concentrated in the summer.

The Deccan Plateau

Covering an area of ​​almost one million square kilometres, the Deccan Plateau occupies a large part of central and southern India. It is an elevated plateau that does not exceed 800 metres in height. It is crossed by low mountain ranges of less than 2,500 metres in height.

The predominant climate is warm tropical monsoon, with high temperatures all year round and abundant rainfall concentrated in the summer monthsTowards the west of the plateau, the predominant climate is warm semi-arid, which also has high temperatures but much less annual rainfall.

The Indo-Gangetic Plain

With almost 800,000 square kilometers, the indogang plainethics It extends across much of the north of the country. It is a very low plain formed by the Indus, Ganges (considered sacred to Hindus) and Brahmaputra rivers.

The predominant climate is warm tropical monsoon. The Indo-Gangetic plain, which extends towards Bangladesh, It is one of the most populated regions in the world with more than 500 million inhabitants. Kolkata, New Delhi and Dhaka, among other cities in India, are located in this region.

Indian culture

The tandoori oven has been used in Indian cuisine for 5,000 years.

Indian culture is one of the most diverse and rich in the world.. It is the birthplace of four great religions: Hinduism (practiced by 80.5% of the population), Buddhism (0.8%), Jainism (0.4%) and Sikhism (1.9%). There are also foreign religions such as Islam (13.4%), Christianity (2.3%), and Judaism.

The languages The official languages ​​of India are Hindi and English.English is a colonial holdover that is still used as a business language or as the language of higher education. There are also 21 legally recognised languages ​​considered “classical”, such as Sanskrit, Tamil, Kannada and Telugu.

The musical tradition of India includes Hindustani classical music, typical of the north of the country, and Carnatic music, from the south. The greatest references are MS Subbulakshmi (in Carnatic music) and Ustad Bismillah Khan Sahib (in Hindustani classical music).

In the plastic arts, the 19th century painter Raja Ravi Varma and the painter Amrita Sher – Gil stand out. Among the greatest exponents of Indian literature are Rabindranath Tagore, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913.

Indian cuisine is particularly rich in flavours, with many different spices and seasonings, and It is characterized by the use of tandooria clay oven used for 5,000 years. Their staple foods are based on wheat, rice and lentils.

Most people in India do not consume beef. This animal has a special status in Indian culture and traditions, and is considered a sacred animal in Hinduism, the majority religion in the country. Hinduism promotes the idea of ahimsa, which encourages non-violence towards living beings, which is why many Hindus consider killing animals to be a serious offense. Most people in India choose not to consume beef for religious, cultural or personal reasons. The most orthodox Hindus do not even consume meat from any animal.

National symbols of India

The flag of India was adopted in 1947.

The national symbols of India are:

• The flag of India. It is made up of a tricolor orange, white and green pavilion, known as trianga. In the center there is a navy blue wheel with twenty-four points, called ashoka chakraIt was adopted in 1947, when independence from the British Crown was achieved.
• The national anthem of India. The anthem of India is titled Jana-Gana-Mana (“The spirit of all the people”). The lyrics and music were written by Rabindranath Tagore, who in addition to being a writer was a noted composer.
• The shield of IndiaThe shield is made up of four lions of Sarnath, but only three are visible: the one facing forward and the two facing to the sides. They are placed on a circular abacus on which two animals appear facing forward and two others, which are not visible, on the back of the shield. The four animals represent the cardinal points.

Economic activities of India

The Taj Mahal is one of the most visited tourist sites in the world.

The main economic activities of India are:

• The Agriculture. India is one of the largest agricultural producers in the world. The production and export of rice, wheat, sugar cane, cotton, tea, coffee, spices and fruits stands out. A large part of the rural population is dedicated to agriculture.
• Mining. The production of precious stones and metals stands out, which represent the country’s second export product.
• The industry. India’s main industries are textiles, petrochemicals, automobiles and electronics. With economic growth and urbanization, construction and development of public works (such as roads, highways, airports and ports) have been key in the Indian economy in recent years.
• ServicesThe most notable services are information and communications technology, and financial services.
• The tourismMillions of tourists come every year to visit India’s tourist attractions. The most emblematic is the Taj Mahal palace, located in the north of the country. It was built between 1632 and 1654 and is considered one of the seven new wonders of the world.

India’s main trading partners are the United States, China and the United Arab Emirates. The official currency is the Indian rupee.

History of India

India’s independence was achieved in 1947, driven by figures such as Gandhi.

The first settlements…