India: Geography, History, Economy, Culture, and Government

Geography and Climate

• Located in South Asia, bordered by Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar
• Second-most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion people
• Diverse geography: Himalayan mountains, Indo-Gangetic Plain, Deccan Plateau, and coastal plains
• Climate varies from tropical to subtropical, with four distinct seasons: winter, summer, monsoon, and post-monsoon

History

• Ancient Indus Valley Civilization (3300-1300 BCE)
• Mauryan Empire (322-185 BCE): first unified Indian empire, founded by Chandragupta Maurya
• Gupta Empire (320-550 CE): golden age of Indian culture and science
• Islamic rule (712-1756 CE): Delhi Sultanate and Mughal Empire
• British colonial rule (1756-1947 CE): Indian independence movement led by Mahatma Gandhi

Economy

• Third-largest economy in the world in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP)
• Diverse economy: agriculture, manufacturing, services, and IT sector
• Major industries: textiles, steel, automobiles, and pharmaceuticals
• Large and growing middle class, with increasing consumer spending

Culture

• Rich cultural heritage, with diverse languages, religions, and traditions
• Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Jainism are major religions
• Festivals: Diwali, Holi, Navratri, and Eid-al-Fitr
• Cuisine: diverse and vibrant, with popular dishes like tandoori chicken, naan bread, and biryani

Government and Politics

• Federal republic with a parliamentary system of government
• President serves as head of state, while Prime Minister is head of government
• Bicameral parliament: Lok Sabha (House of the People) and Rajya Sabha (Council of States)
• 29 states and 7 union territories, with varying levels of autonomy