Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos

India: Quick Facts

Written and fact-checked by
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

The Information Architects maintain a master list of the topics included in the corpus of  Encyclopædia Britannica, and create and manage the relationships between them.
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Last updated

News •

Thick smog shrouds New Delhi after Diwali firecrackers add to seasonal pollution • Nov. 9, 2026, 10:56 PM ET (AP)
Diwali celebrations coincide with worsening air. Here’s how to stay safer • Nov. 6, 2026, 9:27 PM ET (AP)
Bangladesh's ousted premier Hasina says she will return from exile in December at any cost • Nov. 5, 2026, 2:07 PM ET (AP)
Indian navy rescues 20 crew from Iranian fishing boat hijacked off Somalia • Nov. 3, 2026, 10:55 AM ET (AP)
India's opposition parties stage new protest against the country's election chief • Nov. 1, 2026, 12:49 PM ET (AP)
India, officially known as the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It became the world's most populous country in 2023, overtaking China. India gained independence from British colonial rule in 1947, and since then has become a constitutional republic. The country is known for its highly diverse culture, numerous languages, and religions. Additionally, India is recognized for its contributions to science, technology, and arts.

Facts

Also Known As Bhāratavarsha • Republic of India • Bhārat
Head Of Government Prime Minister: Narendra Modi
Capital New Delhi
Population (2026 est.) 1,425,900,000
Currency Exchange Rate 1 USD equals 94.051 Indian rupee
Head Of State President: Droupadi Murmu
Form Of Government multiparty federal republic with two legislative houses (Council of States [2451]; House of the People [543])
Official Languages Hindi; English
Official Religion none
Official Name Bharat (Hindi); Republic of India (English)
Total Area (Sq Km) 3,287,263
Total Area (Sq Mi) 1,269,219
Monetary Unit Indian rupee ₨2
Urban-Rural Population Urban: (2018) 34% • Rural: (2018) 66%
Life Expectancy At Birth Male: (2021–2025) 69.4 years • Female: (2021–2025) 72.7 years
Gni Per Capita (U.S.$) (2024) 2,650
1Includes 12 members appointed by the president.2The first symbol for the rupee was officially approved in July 2010, and coins and banknotes with the new symbol began being issued in late 2011.

Top Questions

What is the national bird of India?
The national bird of India is the Indian peafowl, also known as the peacock.
How old is Hinduism, the primary religion practiced in India?
The roots and customs of Hinduism date back more than 4,000 years, making it one of the oldest religious traditions in the world.
Who was the first European to reach India by sea?
Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese explorer, was the first European to reach India by sea, arriving in Calicut in 1498.
Who is known as the "Father of the Nation" in India?
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi is known as the "Father of the Nation" in India.
Which state is known as the "fruit bowl" of India?
Himachal Pradesh is known as the "fruit bowl" of India due to its large production of fruits like apples, peaches, and plums.

Did You Know?

  • The Indian state of Madhya Pradesh once rewarded police for growing moustaches.
  • The ancient game of chess originated in India.
  • India was the world's sole diamond source until the 18th century.

Photos and Videos

Flag of India
Political map of India showing state and union territory boundaries, major cities, and neighboring countries. Thicker solid lines indicate international borders, dashed lines show disputed boundaries, and dotted lines mark lines of control in contested regions such as Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh. An inset locator map highlights India's position in the world.
Agra, India: Taj Mahal
Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India: fort
The Gateway of India monument stands beside the Taj Mahal Palace hotel in Mumbai, with boats docked along the waterfront and a modern high-rise building in the background.
Himachal Pradesh, India
Himalayas
Physical map of India highlighting major landforms such as the Himalayas, Thar Desert, Indo-Gangetic Plain, Deccan Plateau, Western and Eastern Ghats, and key rivers including the Ganges, Yamuna, and Brahmaputra. National parks and notable peaks like Nanda Devi and Kanchenjunga are labeled. International and disputed boundaries, as well as lines of control in northern border regions, are marked. An inset locator map shows India's position in the world.
Snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas rise behind a shallow reflective pond and rocky terrain in Jammu and Kashmir, India.
Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India: Nagin Lake
Split image with the Indian flag on the left and people waiting at a polling station on the right, overlaid with large text reading "1 BILLION VOTERS?".
A roaring tiger with its mouth open appears in front of rural homes, with bold blue text reading "Your new neighbor?" promoting wildlife conservation discussion.
History and architecture of India's disappearing stepwells
A photo montage of a colorful Indian flag waving on a white paper background, and a black and white photo of two Indian filmmakers peering through a large film movie camera.
Language, Architecture, and Culture in the Indus River Basin
National anthem of India
See All Videos, Images, Audio and Interactives →

Related Topics and References

Topics
Dig Deeper: More Articles That Discuss This Topic
Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Indian social activist, lawyer, and politician
Detail from Charles Le Brun's painting showing Alexander the Great in profile, wearing a gold helmet with white plumes and a blue cloak, with soldiers in the background.
Alexander the Great
king of Macedonia
Annie Besant
Annie Besant
British social reformer
Jawaharlal Nehru, c. 1930s
Jawaharlal Nehru
prime minister of India
Amit Shah
Amit Shah
Indian politician
Narendra Modi
Narendra Modi
prime minister of India
Thomas Babington Macaulay, detail of an oil painting by J. Partridge, 1840; in the National Portrait Gallery, London.
Thomas Babington Macaulay, Baron Macaulay
English politician and author
Lord Curzon
Lord Curzon
British foreign secretary
Mohammed Ali Jinnah
Mohammed Ali Jinnah
Pakistani governor-general
India's Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar wearing a suit and tie, standing among a blurred crowd at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Vientiane.
S. Jaishankar
Indian politician and diplomat
Vasco da Gama
Vasco da Gama
Portuguese navigator
Amitabh Bachchan wearing a black tuxedo, bow tie, and glasses, with neatly styled hair and a trimmed beard, photographed in 2013.
Amitabh Bachchan
Indian actor
Indian writer Khushwant Singh in his study
Khushwant Singh
Indian writer
Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Indian political leader
Statue of Shaheed Udham Singh adorned with a garland, surrounded by numerous Indian flags held by people paying tribute in Amritsar.
Udham Singh
Indian revolutionary
A photo of Nirmala Sitharaman, seated and dressed in red.
Nirmala Sitharaman
Indian politician and economist
Indira Gandhi
Indira Gandhi
prime minister of India
Vallabhbhai Patel
Vallabhbhai Patel
Indian statesman
Clement Attlee
Clement Attlee
prime minister of United Kingdom
Parkash Singh Badal
Parkash Singh Badal
Indian politician

Related Places

default image
Delhi
national capital territory, India
default image
Chandigarh
union territory, India
A map of the continent of Asia, including its countries, boundaries, and capital cities, as well as parts of Europe, Africa, and surrounding oceans.
Asia
continent
Delhi, India
Delhi
India
Kolkata: Victoria Memorial Hall
Kolkata
India
Map highlighting the state of Assam in northeastern India, shaded in orange, with its capital Dispur marked. Assam is shown bordering Bhutan and Bangladesh, with surrounding countries and Indian states labeled for context. A small inset globe in the corner indicates Assam's location within Asia.
Assam
state, India
Map highlighting the state of Uttar Pradesh in northern India in orange, with its capital Lucknow marked. Surrounding countries including Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, China, and others are shown in gray, providing regional context within South Asia.
Uttar Pradesh
state, India
entrance to Mumbai Harbour
Mumbai
India
Map highlighting the Indian state of Rajasthan in orange, located in the northwest of India with its capital Jaipur marked. Surrounding countries including Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka are shown, along with major bodies of water such as the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal.
Rajasthan
state, India
Kolleru Lake
Andhra Pradesh
state, India
Ajanta Caves
Maharashtra
state, India
Maheshwar
Madhya Pradesh
state, India
Gujarat, India
Gujarat
state, India
Bhagirathi River
Uttarakhand
state, India
Jhelum River
Jammu and Kashmir
union territory, India

Related Quizzes

Jodhpur. Rajasthan. Jaswant Thada an architectural landmark in Jodhpur, India. A white marble memorial, built in 1899, by Sardar Singh in memory of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II. Indian architecture
Discover India
Taj Mahal (Tadj Mahall), Agra, western Uttar Pradesh, India. (mausoleum, UNESCO World Heritage site)
Prime Ministers of India Quiz
Indian meal of chicken keema, curry, rice, and naan bread. (Pakistani meal; curried food; Indian food; Pakistani food)
Cuisine of India
Actual continental drift of plates. Thematic map.
Geography Fun Facts
10:087 Ocean: The World of Water, two globes showing eastern and western hemispheres
You Name It!
Flags of all nations of the world. Grouping of various country flags on a world map.
Which Country Is Larger? Quiz
Taj Mahal, India
Passage to India
Boat in River Ganga at sunrise, Varanasi, India. (Ganges; sunrise; sky; sky color; atmosphere; dawn)
Passage Through India
Chandigarh. Statuettes at the Rock Garden of Chandigarh a sculpture park in Chandigarh, India, also known as Nek Chand's Rock Garden. Created by Nek Chand Saini an Indian self taught artist. visionary artist, folk artist, environmental art
Explore India Quiz
Blurred motion outside Victoria Station in Mumbia, India. Central Station Mumbai, Mumbai CST, Victoria Terminus, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus.
Geography of India
Rice terraces in Vietnam. (food; farm; farming; agriculture; rice terrace; crop; grain; paddy; paddies;garden)
Know Your Asian Geography Quiz
Opened passport with visas, stamps, seals, world map. (travel, tourism)
Guess the Country by Its Neighbors Quiz
asia bee map
Get to Know Asia
7:023 Geography: Think of Something Big, globe showing Africa, Europe, and Eurasia
Which Country Is Larger By Area? Quiz
Brown globe on antique map. Brown world on vintage map. North America. Green globe. Hompepage blog 2009, history and society, geography and travel, explore discovery
Countries & Their Features
Brown globe on antique map. Brown world on vintage map. North America. Green globe. Hompepage blog 2009, history and society, geography and travel, explore discovery
Match the Country with Its Hemisphere Quiz
Flags of the world. National flags. Country flags. Hompepage blog 2009, history and society, geography and travel, explore discovery
Countries of the World
Flags of the world against blue sky. Countries, International. Globalization, global relations, Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, Poland, Palestine, Japan. Homepage 2010, arts and entertainment, history and society
Which Country Is Larger By Population? Quiz
Flags of all countries of the world. Flags of the world. National flags. Country flags. Hompepage blog 2009, history and society, geography and travel, explore discovery
The Country Quiz