India

The Republic of India is a country in South Asia which comprises most of the Indian subcontinent. India has a coastline which stretches over seven thousand kilometres,{{inote|see Indian embassy|i-1}} and shares its borders with Pakistan to the west, the People's Republic of China, Nepal, and Bhutan to the northeast, and Bangladesh and Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) on the east. On the Indian Ocean, it is adjacent to the island nations of the Maldives on the southwest, Sri Lanka on the south, and Indonesia on the southeast. India also claims a border with Afghanistan to the northwest.{{mn|afgh|1}}

Related Topics:
South Asia - Indian subcontinent - Kilometre - Pakistan - People's Republic of China - Nepal - Bhutan - Bangladesh - Myanmar - Indian Ocean - Island nation - Maldives - Sri Lanka - Indonesia - Afghanistan

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India is the fourth largest economy in the world in terms of purchasing power parity. It is thesecond most populous country in the world, with a population of over one billion, and is the seventh largest country by geographical area. It is home to some of the most ancient civilisations, and a centre of important historic trade routes. Four major world religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism have originated from India. Formerly a major part of the British Empire as British India before gaining independence in 1947, during the past twenty years the country has grown significantly, especially in its economic and military spheres, regionally as well as globally.

Related Topics:
Purchasing power parity - Second most populous - Country - Population - One billion - Seventh largest - Area - Ancient civilisations - Trade routes - Major world religions - Hinduism - Buddhism - Jainism - Sikhism - British Empire - British India - Independence - Economic - Military - Regionally - Globally

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The official name of the country, India {{IPA2|'?nd??}}, is derived from the Old Persian version of Sindhu, the historic local appellation for the river Indus; see Origin of India's name. The Constitution of India and general usage also recognises Bharat ({{lang-hi|????}} {{IPA2|'b?????t?h}} {{Audio|Bharat.ogg|listen}}),which is derived from the Sanskrit name of an ancient Hindu king, whose story is to be found in the Mahabharata, as an official name of equal status. A third name, Hindustan ({{lang-hi|???????????}} , {{IPA2|h?n'du?st??n}}) {{Audio|Hindustan.ogg|listen}}, or land of the Hindus in Persian, has been used since Mughal times, though its contemporary use is unevenly applied due to domestic disputes over its representative as a national signifier.

Related Topics:
Old Persian - Sindhu - Indus - Origin of India's name - Constitution of India - Sanskrit - Hindu - Mahabharata - Hindustan - Persian - Mughal

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