India Geography and Demographics

Study Notes

Population: Over 1.38 billion (2020 estimate)
Ethnic groups:
- Indo-Aryan (72%)
- Dravidian (25%)
- Austro-Asiatic (2%)
- Tibeto-Burman (1%)
Languages:
- Official languages: Hindi and English
- 22 scheduled languages, including Bengali, Telugu, and Marathi
Religions:
- Hinduism (79.8%)
- Islam (14.2%)
- Christianity (2.3%)
- Sikhism (1.7%)
- Buddhism (0.7%)
- Jainism (0.4%)

Ancient civilizations: Indus Valley Civilization (3300-1300 BCE) and Vedic period (1500-500 BCE)
Mauryan Empire (322-185 BCE): Unified India under Ashoka the Great
Mughal Empire (1526-1756): Islamic rule, cultural and architectural achievements
British colonial period (1757-1947): East India Company and British Raj
Independence: August 15, 1947

Developing economy, third-largest in terms of PPP (2020)
Service sector dominates (55% of GDP), followed by industry (25%) and agriculture (20%)
Major industries: textiles, software, pharmaceuticals, and automobiles
Natural resources: coal, iron ore, manganese, and rare earth metals

India is located in South Asia, bordered by Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar
The country has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal
With a land area of 3,287,590 km² (1,269,219 sq mi), India is the seventh-largest country in the world
The climate varies greatly, ranging from tropical to temperate to alpine

As of 2020, India's population is estimated to be over 1.38 billion, making it the second-most populous country
Indo-Aryan ethnic groups make up the majority (72%), followed by Dravidian (25%), Austro-Asiatic (2%), and Tibeto-Burman (1%)
Hindi and English are the official languages, with 22 additional scheduled languages spoken throughout the country
Hinduism is the dominant religion, practiced by 79.8% of the population, followed by Islam (14.2%), Christianity (2.3%), and others

The ancient Indus Valley Civilization flourished from 3300 to 1300 BCE
The Vedic period, from 1500 to 500 BCE, saw the development of Hinduism and the caste system
The Mauryan Empire, under Ashoka the Great, unified India from 322 to 185 BCE
The Mughal Empire, from 1526 to 1756, brought Islamic rule and cultural achievements
British colonial rule, from 1757 to 1947, had a profound impact on Indian society and economy
India gained independence on August 15, 1947

India has a developing economy, with the third-largest GDP in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP) as of 2020
The service sector dominates the economy, accounting for 55% of GDP
Industry and agriculture also play significant roles, with major industries including textiles, software, pharmaceuticals, and automobiles
India is rich in natural resources, including coal, iron ore, manganese, and rare earth metals