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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25,000 Indian-origin British doctors to return to India: 25,000 Indian-origin British doctors to return to Indi.. http://bit.ly/8LZSac
SwayamDas2010 (Swayam Das) Sun, 03 Jan 2010 11:23:00 -0000
25,000 Indian-origin British doctors to return to India: 25,000 Indian-origin British doctors to return to Indi.. http://bit.ly/8LZSac
@DevuPC #India #Rday is a better hashtag IMO ... @v_shakthi
tinucherian (Cherian Tinu Abraham) Sun, 03 Jan 2010 11:22:59 -0000
@DevuPC #India #Rday is a better hashtag IMO ... @v_shakthi
How medicines affect pregnancy - Times of India http://ow.ly/16g07v
us_health (Health News) Sun, 03 Jan 2010 11:22:56 -0000
How medicines affect pregnancy - Times of India http://ow.ly/16g07v
RT @zigzackly: Twitter With India's Tharoor To Experience Rigormortis #twitteracronyms
youngportal (Ashok Joshi) Sun, 03 Jan 2010 11:22:52 -0000
RT @zigzackly: Twitter With India's Tharoor To Experience Rigormortis #twitteracronyms
ColorJet India announces attendance at Sign & Graphic Middle East 2010: Opening for the 12th year running a.. http://bit.ly/4otwXy
nancy364 (Nancy) Sun, 03 Jan 2010 11:22:44 -0000
ColorJet India announces attendance at Sign & Graphic Middle East 2010: Opening for the 12th year running a.. http://bit.ly/4otwXy
@riol_xx yeh,.. it's cold here too in india!!
Suryaspeaks4u (S.K.Samantaray) Sun, 03 Jan 2010 11:22:40 -0000
@riol_xx yeh,.. it's cold here too in india!!

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