India

The most populous country in the world and a land of colour

India is the most populous country in the world: 1.43 billion people! It has 22 official languages and hundreds of festivals — at Holi everyone throws coloured powder at each other. The Taj Mahal, the Ganges, elephants, tigers and peacocks — all in India. Our numerals (0, 1, 2, 3…) and chess were invented in India! Babur from Andijan went on to found the Mughal Empire in India.

Capital: New Delhi. Language: Hindi, English + 20 official languages.

The Republic of India covers 3.29 million km² (7th) with 1.43 billion people (1st since 2023), the world's largest democracy, 28 states. Nature: the Himalayas, the Indo-Gangetic plain, the Thar Desert, the Deccan Plateau, a monsoon climate. The Indus Valley civilisation (2500 BC, Mohenjo-daro), the Vedas, Buddhism (6th century BC), the Mauryas (Ashoka), the Guptas (a 'golden age' — the digit zero, Aryabhata), the Delhi Sultanate, the Mughals (1526–1857, Babur from Andijan), British India (1858–1947), Gandhi and independence in 1947. Religions: Hinduism (80%), Islam (14%, the world's 3rd largest Muslim population), Sikhism, Buddhism. Economy: the world's 5th largest, IT (Bangalore), Bollywood (1,500 films a year), tea, spices, space (Chandrayaan-3 at the Moon's south pole, 2023). Cricket is a national passion. With Uzbekistan: the Mughal heritage and the trade route via Termez.

Fun facts

• The digit zero and chess were invented in India.
• India has 22 official languages and over 1,600 dialects.
• Bollywood makes 1,500 films a year — three times Hollywood.