India, officially the Republic of India, is a sovereign nation located in South Asia. It is bordered by Pakistan to the northwest, China and Nepal to the north, Bhutan to the northeast, and Bangladesh and Myanmar to the east. To the south, it is bounded by the Indian Ocean. Covering an area of approximately 3.28 million square kilometers, India is the seventh-largest country by land area and, as of recent estimates, the most populous country in the world.

India is characterized by its extraordinary cultural, linguistic, and geographic diversity. It is a federal parliamentary democratic republic, comprising 28 states and 8 union territories, with New Delhi serving as its capital. The Indian Constitution, adopted in 1950, established India as a secular and sovereign republic.

Historically, India is one of the world’s oldest civilizations, with roots tracing back to the Indus Valley Civilizationaround 2500 BCE. It has been the birthplace of several major world religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. The country has experienced various phases of rule, including ancient empires, Islamic sultanates, and British colonialism, before gaining independence in 1947.

Modern India is recognized as a major emerging economy, with strengths in information technology, space research, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing. It is also home to one of the world’s largest film industries (Bollywood) and remains a prominent center for arts, music, literature, and spiritual traditions.

India’s complex social structure, pluralistic society, and dynamic political system make it a critical subject of study in the fields of international relations, cultural studies, and development economics.