The Republic of India occupies most of the subcontinent of India in southern Asia. It borders China on the north-east. Other neighbors are Pakistan on the west, Nepal and Bhutan on the north, and Burma and Bangladesh on the east. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world.
India is a South Asian country that is home to nearly a billion and a half people, the second largest population in the world after China. India's maritime borders consist of the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea, and the Bay of Bengal and its land shares borders with China, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Burma. Following dramatic changes in its market-based operations in the early 1990s, India rapidly developed into a prominent world economy, where it is now considered an innovative, industrialized nation holding the title of being the third biggest country in regards to PPP, or purchasing power parity. However, this accelerated growth has not addressed India's deep and continuing issues with poverty, insufficient healthcare, illiteracy, malnutrition, and corruption in police and government sectors.
The federal government of India is comprised of an executive, legislative and judicial branch, with the President of India acting as the head of state. The President is elected using an electoral college system and remains in power for five years. The Prime Minister, who is appointed by the President, is considered the head of government and maintains the highest level of executive power. The Indian legislative branch adheres to the Westminster-parliamentary style system of rule due to the heavy influence of past British colonialism.
Although the modernization of India is ongoing, traditional society remains sharply defined by the Indian caste system, a type of social stratification arrangement that inhibits the emancipated social interaction and mobility enjoyed by most developed countries. Social classes in India are designated as "castes", with certain castes considered more elite than others. Although India has anti-discriminatory laws to prevent persecution and prejudice against the so-called lower castes, Indians living in rural areas are still subjected to discrimination and segregation in urban areas. Family values also continue to represent a significantly influential aspect of Indian tradition, with pre-arranged marriages between two families still the norm for most of Indian society. In addition, divorce is practically unheard of in Indian society and is only allowed in extreme cases of abuse.
India's Climate
India is considered a "megadiverse" country and contains three regions called "biodiversity hotspots". It is home to nine percent of all mammals living in the world and six percent of all flowering plants. Habitats range from coniferous forests in the Himalayas to tropical rainforests in Northeastern India and the Andaman Islands. The average high and low temperatures in India range from 75 degrees Fahrenheit to 55 degrees Fahrenheit (25 Celsius to 12 Celsius). However, larger cities such as Bangalore, Mumbai, and New Delhi often bake under temperatures that remain as high as 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 Celsius) for weeks at a time. Rainfall can be heavy in tropical climate areas, with humidity levels hovering around 80 percent.
Languages in India
India has no official language but Hindi is spoken by nearly half of India's population. Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, and Gujarati are other languages that students may encounter while studying in India. English is spoken by many Indians and is considered India's "second" language of choice. India also has many different languages that have been put on the "endangered language" list because the number of surviving speakers has dwindled to isolated pockets of villages existing in rural India.
Religions in India
Eighty percent of Indians practice Hinduism, a religion that scholars consider to be the world's oldest living religion. Hindus believe in a variety of laws, daily morality, dharma, karma, and reincarnation. Other religions found in Indian society are primarily Christianity and Islam.
India's Currency
The official currency of India is the rupee, which is controlled and issued by the Reserve Bank of India. The Indian rupee is divided into 100 paise. Since 2011, only coins worth 50 paise are considered legal tender. Banknotes currently in circulation include 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500.