India

Indus Valley Civilization (circa 3300 BCE) – The ancient civilization in present-day Pakistan and northwestern India emerges, known for its advanced urban planning and architecture

327 BCE – Alexander the Great invades northwestern India, establishing Greek influence in the region

1498 – Vasco da Gama reaches India by sea, marking the beginning of European colonialism

1526 – Battle of Panipat – Establishment of the Mughal Empire

1857 – Indian Rebellion of 1857, also known as the Sepoy Mutiny, leads to British direct rule over India

1947 (Thursday, August 15) – India gains independence from British rule and is partitioned into India and Pakistan

1950 (Thursday, January 26) – Indian Constitution adopted, marking the official formation of the Republic of India

1962 (Monday, October 20) – Indo-China War: India and China clash over border disputes in the Himalayan region

1971 (Monday, December 6) – Indo-Pakistani War leads to the creation of Bangladesh

1984 (Thursday, November 1) – Operation Blue Star: The Indian army raids the Golden Temple in Amritsar, leading to the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi

2001 (Friday, January 26) – Gujarat earthquake: A devastating earthquake kills over 20,000 people and leaves millions homeless

2004 (Friday, December 26) – Indian Ocean Tsunami: The tsunami kills over 10,000 people in India, particularly affecting the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands

2010 (Saturday, May 22) – Latur Floods: Flash floods in the Indian state of Maharashtra kill more than 600 people

2013 (Friday, June 14) – Uttarakhand floods: Flash floods caused by heavy rains kill over 5,700 people and cause widespread damage in the state of Uttarakhand

2019 (Tuesday, October 1) – Cyclone Fani hits the eastern coast of India, causing extensive damage in Odisha

2020 (Friday, March 24) – COVID-19 pandemic: India enters a nationwide lockdown, affecting millions of people

Continent: Asia
Location: Located in South Asia, bordered by Pakistan to the west, China and Nepal to the north, Bhutan to the northeast, and Bangladesh and Myanmar to the east. The southern boundary is surrounded by the Indian Ocean.
Capital: New Delhi
Language: Hindi (official), English (secondary official), and 21 other recognized languages
Currency: Indian Rupee (INR)
Population: ~1.42 billion (last updated: April 2025)
Time Zone: Indian Standard Time (IST, UTC +5:30)

Borders: Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar
Landscape: Diverse, including the Himalayan Mountains in the north, vast plains, deserts in the west, and tropical forests in the south.
Major Rivers: Ganges River, Yamuna River, Indus River, Brahmaputra River, Godavari River, Narmada River, Krishna River, Mahanadi River
Major Mountains: Himalayas, Aravalli Range, Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, Vindhya Range
Deserts: Thar Desert (Rajasthan)
Lakes: Vembanad Lake, Dal Lake, Chilika Lake, Sambhar Lake
Volcanoes: India has no active volcanoes, though there are several extinct ones, including Barren Island in the Andaman Islands
Highest Point: Kangchenjunga – 8,586 m (28,169 ft), the third-highest mountain in the world
Lowest Point: Indian Ocean – 0 m (sea level)
Climate: Tropical monsoon climate in most of the country, with dry winters in the north and wet summers. Northern regions experience extreme winter temperatures due to the Himalayas, while southern regions are typically warmer year-round.
Geological Features: India is geologically diverse, with significant tectonic activity due to the ongoing collision of the Indian Plate with the Eurasian Plate, forming the Himalayan Mountain Range. India is also prone to earthquakes, particularly in the northern regions.

Ethnic Groups: Predominantly Indo-Aryan (~72%), Dravidian (~25%), and other smaller groups
Religion: Hinduism (~79%), Islam (~14%), Christianity (~2%), Sikhism (~2%), Buddhism (~1%), Jainism (~0.4%), others (~1%)
Urban Population: ~34% (last updated: 2023)
Population Notes: India is the most populous country in the world, with a very diverse population in terms of languages, cultures, and religions.

Famous For: Bollywood, Taj Mahal, yoga, spices, Indian cuisine, classical music, sari
Cuisine: Curry, naan, samosas, biryani, dal, paneer, masala chai
Arts: Classical music (e.g., Carnatic, Hindustani), classical dance (e.g., Bharatanatyam, Kathak), paintings, sculpture
Sports: Cricket, field hockey, badminton, football (soccer), kabaddi
Music: Bollywood music, Carnatic music, Hindustani classical music, popular music
Dance: Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kathakali, Odissi, Bhangra

Economy Type: Mixed economy with a large informal sector
GDP: Approx. $3.5 trillion USD (last updated: 2024)
Major Industries: Textiles, chemicals, telecommunications, information technology (IT), pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, agriculture
Key Exports: Petroleum products, machinery, chemicals, textiles, gems, and jewelry
Unemployment Rate: ~7.1% (last updated: 2024)
Economic Regions: India has significant economic activity in both urban and rural areas. The NCR (National Capital Region) around New Delhi and Mumbai are major economic hubs, while agricultural regions exist in the Gangetic Plain and parts of the Deccan Plateau.

Government Type: Federal parliamentary democratic republic
Head of State: President Droupadi Murmu (as of April 2025)
Head of Government: Prime Minister Narendra Modi (as of April 2025)
Legislature: Bicameral Parliament (Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha)
Constitution: In effect since January 26, 1950

Taj Mahal: One of the Seven Wonders of the World, a stunning mausoleum in Agra
New Delhi: The capital city, with landmarks like the India Gate, Qutub Minar, and Red Fort
Varanasi: One of the oldest cities in the world, located on the banks of the Ganges River, a spiritual and religious center
Jaipur: Known as the “Pink City”, with famous sites like the Amber Fort and City Palace
Kerala: Famous for its backwaters, beaches, and wildlife, as well as its Ayurvedic treatments
Goa: Known for its beaches, Portuguese colonial architecture, and vibrant nightlife
Rajasthan: Known for its desert, forts, palaces, and the Thar Desert
Khajuraho Temples: A UNESCO World Heritage site, famous for its intricate sculptures and architecture
Hampi: Ancient ruins of the Vijayanagar Empire, a UNESCO World Heritage site