inde

Inde, the French name for India, is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by land area and the second-most populous, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion. It shares borders with Pakistan to the northwest; China, Nepal, and Bhutan to the north; Bangladesh and Myanmar to the east, and has coastlines along the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean, and the Bay of Bengal.

Geography and climate vary widely. The north features the Himalayan mountain range, while the plains of the Ganges and Brahmaputra support agriculture. The Deccan Plateau lies in the south, and coastal regions along the west and east host major ports and diverse ecosystems. The climate is strongly influenced by the monsoon, bringing distinct wet and dry seasons.

History covers a long and diverse arc. The region produced ancient civilizations such as the Indus Valley Civilization and was later home to empires including the Maurya, Gupta, and Mughal. European trade connected India to global networks, leading to British colonial rule until independence in 1947 and the establishment of a democratic republic in 1950.

Government is a federal parliamentary democratic republic. The president serves as head of state, and the prime minister as head of government. The country comprises 28 states and several union territories, with a constitution emphasizing secularism and pluralism in a diverse society.

Demographics are highly diverse in language, religion, and culture. Officially, Hindi and English function in administration, with numerous regional languages and communities. Religions include Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Jainism, among others.

Economy and culture are likewise varied. India has a large and growing economy with strengths in information technology, services, manufacturing, and agriculture. It maintains a rich cultural heritage expressed in literature, cinema, cuisine, festivals, and historic sites recognized by UNESCO.