THE INDIA PORTAL
The Republic of India is a country that occupies a greater part of South Asia. It borders Pakistan and Afghanistan in the northwest, the People's Republic of China, Nepal, and Bhutan in the north, and Bangladesh and Myanmar in the east. India's coastline stretches for over seven thousand kilometres. Its neighbours in the Indian Ocean are the island nations of the Maldives in the southwest, Sri Lanka in the south, and Indonesia in the southeast. India is the second most populous country in the world, with a population of over one billion and is the seventh largest country by geographical area. It is a constitutional republic consisting of twenty eight states and six union territories. The word India derives from the Old Persian cognate for the Sanskrit word Sindhu, the Indus river. The Constitution of India also recognises Bhārat listen (help·info) as an official name with equal status.
A centre of important historic trade routes, India is the home to some of the most ancient civilisations. India is the birthplace to four major world religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism and has the third largest Muslim population in the world after Indonesia and Pakistan. India was a former colony of the British Empire under the British Raj before gaining independence on 15 August 1947. The country has witnessed significant economic and military growth after the liberalisation of the Indian economy.
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For thousands of years, crushing by elephant was a common method of execution for those condemned to death, mainly throughout south and southeast Asia, and particularly in India. Elephants employed in this manner were used to crush, dismember, or torture captives in public executions. The use of elephants to execute captives often attracted the horrified interest of European travellers, and was recorded in numerous contemporary journals and accounts of life in Asia. The practice was eventually suppressed by the European empires that colonised the region in the 18th and 19th centuries. (more...)
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Goa is India's smallest state in terms of area and the fourth smallest in terms of population. It is located on the west coast of India, in the region known as the Konkan. The state is divided into two districts: North Goa (purple shades) and South Goa (orange shades) and the districts are further divided into eleven talukas. Panaji is the state's capital, and Vasco-da-Gama (Vasco) its largest town.
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Did you know...
- ... that according to Hindu mythology, the sovereign Prithu chased the Earth (pictured) in the form of a cow, who finally relented and yielded her milk as all grain and vegetation?
- ... that Iceland and India established diplomatic relations in 1972?
- ... that Mysore mallige a variety of Jasmine flower endemic to Karnataka state of India, is patented for its unique quality, attribution and reputation?
- ... that when Indian cricketer Sourav Ganguly scored a century on test debut at Lord's in 1996, he became the third overall and first since John Hampshire in 1969 to do so?
- ... that in 1870, the Indian Reform Association aimed at putting into practice some of the ideas that the Brahmo leader Keshub Chunder Sen was exposed to during his visit to Britain?
- ... that the Durga Vahini, the women's wing of the Vishva Hindu Parishad, have been accused of instigating violence against religious minorities in India?
- ... that the term Sindhology as a subject of knowledge about Sindh was first coined in 1964?
- ... that the Halegannada, literally Old Kannada, is an ancient form of the Kannada language?
- ... that Nagpur Improvement Trust, a local civic government body of Nagpur, India established in 1936, is not an elected body and continues to work along side Nagpur Municipal Corporation?
- ... that Indian scholar Śāntarakṣita is believed to have been instrumental in the introduction of Buddhism to Tibet?
- ... that during the Agra famine of 1837–38 in the North-Western Provinces of India, approximately 800,000 people died of starvation and an even larger number of livestock perished?
- ... that V.D. Savarkar wrote The Indian War of Independence, a nationalist history of the 1857 uprising, in response to British celebrations of the 50th anniversary of its suppression?
- ... that India established its diplomatic representation in Nigeria in 1958, two years before Nigeria's independence from British rule?
- ... that improving Indo-South African relations have led to phenomenal growth in bilateral trade, rising from US$3 million in 1992-93 to US$4 billion in 2005-06 and targeting US$12 billion by 2010?
- ... that M. P. T. Acharya is associated with Indian Nationalism and communism, as well as the anarchist movement?
- ... that India and Pakistan have expanded cross-border road and rail transport links, including across the disputed region of Kashmir?
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Topics related to India
| History |
Timeline of Indian history, Indus Valley Civilization, Dholavira, Science and technology in ancient India, Meluhha, Aryan invasion theory, Out of India theory, Greek Conquests in India, Indian Ancient Maritime History, Mauryan dynasty, Ashokan Era, Sunga dynasty, Hoysala, Vijayanagara, Satavahana, Indo-Greek kingdom, Indo-Scythians, Indo-Parthian Kingdom, Kushan Empire, Western Kshatrapas, Gupta Empire, Cholas, Pala Empire, Islamic incursions in India, Mughal Era, Maratha Empire, British Raj, British East India Company, Governor-General, Viceroy, War of Independence, 1857, Indian independence movement, Indian National Army,Azad Hind,Quit India Movement, Partition of India, Non-Aligned Movement, Sino-Indian War, Indo-Pakistani War of 1947, Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, Kargil War, 2001 India Pakistan standoff, Military, Demographic |
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Law, Hindu law, Constitution, Political parties (Indian National Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party), Foreign relations, Elections, Political divisions, Reservations in India |
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The Himalayas, Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, Indo Gangetic Plain, Deccan Plateau, Thar Desert, Ganges River, Rann of Kutch, Brahmaputra River, North-East India; Mountains, Valleys, Islands, Rivers; States and territories, Cities, Districts, Regions, Fauna and flora |
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Related portals
Religion: Hinduism • Buddhism • Ayyavazhi • Jainism • Sikhism • Zoroastrianism • Islam • Christianity
Geography: Asia • China • Pakistan • Bengal • Bangladesh • Sri Lanka • Himalaya region
Places: Kerala • Maharashtra • Karnataka • Gujarat • Hyderabad • Tamil Nadu • Goa • Uttar Pradesh• West Bengal• Himachal Pradesh •
Politics: SAARC • Government of India • Sports: Cricket
Events: Indian current events • Indian independence movement
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