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INDIA

India, the world’s most populous democracy, was the seat of ancient civilizations over five thousand years ago. Much of the subcontinent was united by the Mauryan Empire (fourth to second centuries BCE), while the Gupta Empire (fourth through sixth centuries CE) covered northern India. The Mogul Empire also ruled most of India from 1526 to the eighteenth century. By the nineteenth century, Great Britain controlled nearly all of India, ruling some of India directly as colonial provinces and the rest indirectly as hundreds of protected princely states. Nationalism grew during the twentieth century and demands for a separate Muslim state in India developed. As a result, when independence was achieved in 1947, the subcontinent was partitioned between India and (Muslim) Pakistan, which was composed of two parts, East and West Pakistan, separated by Indian territory. India and Pakistan have fought several wars, and Indian intervention helped secure the independence of East Pakistan as Bangladesh. In modern times, India has a large, growing population and faces many problems, including widespread poverty. However, the nation’s economy is rapidly expanding and parts of urban India have become internationally important for high-tech industries, such as software.

COUNTRY PROFILE

FLAG

The flag of India comprises three horizontal stripes, saffron, white, and green. A blue 24-spoked wheel (the Ashoka Chakra), in the middle of the white stripe, is a representation of the so-called wheel of the law of the third-century-BCE Mauryan emperor Asoka (or Ashoka). Saffron represents Hinduism, green represents Islam, and white symbolizes peace between them.

GEOGRAPHY

METROPOLITAN AREAS, 2001 POPULATION

NEIGHBORS AND LENGTH OF BORDERS

POPULATION

ECONOMY

GOVERNMENT

TRANSPORTATION

POPULATION PROFILE, 2005 ESTIMATES
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