India is the seventh largest country in the world and also ranks second in population. Surrounded by Bangladesh, Burma, Bhutan, China, Nepal and Pakistan, India covers an area of 3,287,263 sq km in South Asia. Bordered by Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean it also has a coastline of 7,516.5 kms. Andaman and Nicobar islands in the Bay of Bengal and Lakshadweep in the Arabian sea are parts of India. India is separated from Sri Lanka by a narrow channel of sea formed by the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar.
India is a republic consisting of 28 states and seven union territories with a parliamentary system of democracy. It has the world’s twelfth largest economy at market exchange rates and the fourth largest in purchasing power.
Although India has one of the fastest growing economies in the world, it still suffers from high levels of poverty, illiteracy and malnutrition. India is a pluralistic, multillingual and multiethnic society. It is also a home to diversity of wildlife in a variety of protected habitats.
