For historical and other uses of India, see India (disambiguation).

India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. India has a coastline of over seven thousand kilometres, and borders PakistanThe Government of India considers the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir to be a part of India including the portion bordering Afghanistan. A ceasefire sponsored by the United Nations in 1948 freezes the positions of Indian and Pakistani held territory. As a consequence, the region bordering Afghanistan is in Pakistani-administered territory. to the west, Nepal, the People's Republic of China and Bhutan to the north-east, and Bangladesh and Myanmar to the east. In the Indian Ocean, it is adjacent to the island nations of Sri Lanka, Maldives and Indonesia.

Home to the Indus Valley Civilization, a centre of important trade routes and vast empires, India has long played a major role in human history. Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism and Jainism all have their origins in India, while Islam and Christianity enjoy a strong cultural heritage. Colonised as part of the British Empire in the nineteenth century, India gained independence in 1947 as a unified nation after an intense struggle for independence. The country's population, wildlife, geographical terrain and climate system are among the most diverse in the world.

Etymology

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The name India // is derived from Indus, which is derived from the Old Persian word Hindu, from Sanskrit Sindhu, the historic local appellation for the Indus River. The Constitution of India and common usage also recognise Bharat (), as an official name of equal status. A third name, Hindustan () (Persian: Land of the Hindus < Old Persian Hindu, India / land of the Indus < Sanskrit Sindhu, any river/the Indus) has been used since the twelfth century, though its contemporary use is unevenly applied.

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When shall we stop going overboard in praising Team India for winning against Bangladesh? That too, after getting a scare or two from them
mayureshgaikwad (Mayuresh Gaikwad) Fri, 08 Jan 2010 06:41:45 -0000
When shall we stop going overboard in praising Team India for winning against Bangladesh? That too, after getting a scare or two from them
#india Chaitanya Writing Industries Pvt. Ltd http://tinyurl.com/yhgabel
ebharat (ebharat) Fri, 08 Jan 2010 06:41:41 -0000
#india Chaitanya Writing Industries Pvt. Ltd http://tinyurl.com/yhgabel
RT @cmail_top: Aussie 'shot urinating Indian': A QUEENSLAND engineer working in India has been charged with attempted.. http://bit.ly/6nRzSy
kashacon (Kari Mitchell) Fri, 08 Jan 2010 06:41:40 -0000
RT @cmail_top: Aussie 'shot urinating Indian': A QUEENSLAND engineer working in India has been charged with attempted.. http://bit.ly/6nRzSy
meenakshi who made india wonders tru her blog of true stories ....@NomadWanderer
MATTSMATTS (MATTS WINTERFIELD) Fri, 08 Jan 2010 06:41:37 -0000
meenakshi who made india wonders tru her blog of true stories ....@NomadWanderer
RT @tweetdetik: Tata Nano Siap Jelajahi AS dan Afrika: Pabrikan mobil asal India, Tata Motors, sangat percaya diri (cont) http://tl.gd/2uvav
FajarTata (Fajar Saputra) Fri, 08 Jan 2010 06:41:21 -0000
RT @tweetdetik: Tata Nano Siap Jelajahi AS dan Afrika: Pabrikan mobil asal India, Tata Motors, sangat percaya diri (cont) http://tl.gd/2uvav
RT @mileykomal: @ Hey Miley!m[Komal] a gr8 fan of urs n m frm India..... OMG is that really u Miley ...i feel so lucky 2 gt myself in ...
17ladyishnabera (dhayin robin) Fri, 08 Jan 2010 06:41:08 -0000
RT @mileykomal: @ Hey Miley!m[Komal] a gr8 fan of urs n m frm India..... OMG is that really u Miley ...i feel so lucky 2 gt myself in ...

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