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World > Asia > India
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India |
Introduction:
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The Indus Valley civilization, one of the oldest in the world, dates back at least 5,000 years. Aryan tribes from the northwest infiltrated onto Indian lands about 1500 B.C.; their merger with the earlier Dravidian inhabitants created the classical Indian culture. Arab incursions starting in the 8th century and Turkish in the 12th were followed by those of European traders, beginning in the late 15th century. By the 19th century, Britain had assumed political control of virtually all Indian lands. Indian armed forces in the British army played a vital role in both World Wars. Nonviolent resistance to British colonialism led by Mohandas GANDHI and Jawaharlal NEHRU brought independence in 1947. The subcontinent was divided into the secular state of India and the smaller Muslim state of Pakistan. A third war between the two countries in 1971 resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh. Despite impressive gains in economic investment and output, India faces pressing problems such as the ongoing dispute with Pakistan over Kashmir, significant overpopulation, environmental degradation, extensive poverty, and ethnic and religious strife.
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| Official name: |
Republic of India |
| Capital: |
name: New Delhi
geographic coordinates: 28 36 N, 77 12 E
time difference: UTC+5.5 (10.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
| Government type: |
federal republic |
| Population: |
1,129,866,154 (July 2007 est.) |
| Languages: |
English enjoys associate status but is the most important language for national, political, and commercial communication; Hindi is the national language and primary tongue of 30% of the people; there are 14 other official languages: Bengali, Telugu, Marat |
| Official Currency: |
Indian Rupee (INR)
Current Indian Rupee Exchange Rates
Historical Indian Rupee Exchange Rates
Chart Indian Rupee Exchange Rates |
| Currency code: |
INR |
| Area: |
total: 3,287,590 sq km
land: 2,973,190 sq km
water: 314,400 sq km |
| Climate: |
varies from tropical monsoon in south to temperate in north |
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Map of India
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