Introduction
India, a South Asian nation, is the seventh-largest country by area, the most populous country with over 1.46 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world. India boasts of an immensely rich cultural heritage, including numerous languages, traditions, and people. The country holds its uniqueness in its diversity and hence has adapted itself to international changes with poise and comfort. While the economy has welcomed international companies to invest in it with open arms since liberalisation in the 1990s, Indians have been prudent and proactive in adopting global approaches and skills. Indian villagers have proudly taken up farming, advanced agriculture, and unique handicrafts as their profession on one hand, while the modern industries and professional services sectors are coming up in a big way on the other.
Thus, the country is attracting many global majors for strategic investments owing to the presence of a vast range of industries, investment avenues, and a supportive Government. A huge population, mostly comprising the youth, is a strong driver for demand and an ample source of workforce.
Location: India lies to the north of the equator in Southern Asia.
- Latitude: 8° 4' to 37° 6' north
- Longitude: 68° 7' to 97° 25' east
- Neighbouring Countries: Pakistan and Afghanistan share political borders with India on the west, while Bangladesh and Myanmar stand adjacent on the eastern borders. The northern boundary comprises the Sinkiang province of China, Tibet, Nepal, and Bhutan. Sri Lanka is another neighbouring country that is separated by a narrow channel of sea formed by the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar.
- Capital: New Delhi
- Coastline: 7,517 km, including mainland, coastlines of Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal, and Lakshadweep Islands in the Arabian Sea.
- Climate: Southern India majorly enjoys a tropical climate, but northern India experiences temperatures from sub-zero degrees to 50 degrees Celsius. Winters embrace northern India from December to February, while spring blossoms in March and April. The monsoon season arrives in June and stays till September, followed by autumn in October and November.
- Area: India measures 3,214 km from north to south and 2,933 km from east to west, with a total area of 3,287,263 sq. km.
- Natural Resources: Coal (fourth-largest reserve in the world), iron ore, manganese, mica, bauxite, rare earth elements, titanium ore, chromite, natural gas, diamonds, petroleum, limestone, and arable land.
- Land: 2,973,190 sq. km.
- Water: 314,070 sq. km.
Political Profile
- Political System and Government: The world's largest democracy implemented its Constitution in 1950, which provided for a parliamentary system of Government with a bicameral parliament and three independent branches: the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary. The country has a federal structure with elected Governments in the states.
- Administrative Divisions: 28 States and 8 Union Territories.
- Constitution: The Constitution of India came into force on January 26, 1950.
- Executive Branch: The President of India is the Head of State, while the Prime Minister is the Head of the Government and runs the office with the support of the Council of Ministers, who form the Cabinet.
- Legislative Branch: The Federal Legislature comprises the Lok Sabha (House of the People) and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States), forming both Houses of Parliament.
- Judicial Branch: The Supreme Court of India is the apex body of the Indian legal system, followed by other High Courts and subordinate Courts.
- Chief of State: President, Ms. Droupadi Murmu (since July 25, 2022).
- Head of Government: Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi (since May 26, 2014).
Demographic profile
- Population: 1,47,11,86,600 (January 22, 2026)
- Population Growth Rate: 0.89%
- Religions: Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism
- Languages: Hindi, English and at least 16 other official languages
- Literacy (2022-23):
- Total population: 78%
- Male: 84%
- Female: 70.3%
- Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
- Life expectancy: 72.5 years for both sexes, 74 years (women), 71 years (men) as of 2025.
Economic Profile
Indian Economy
According to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), the First Advance Estimates project India’s real GDP to grow by 7.4% in FY26, while nominal GDP is estimated to expand at a faster pace of 8.0%. Real GVA is expected to grow by 7.3%, reflecting sustained expansion in productive activity across sectors. Meanwhile, nominal GVA growth is estimated at 7.7%, indicating steady momentum supported by price and output effects. Nominal GDP increasing significantly from Rs. 1,06,57,000 crore (US$ 1.75 trillion) in FY15 to Rs. 3,57,14,000 crore (US$ 3.96 trillion) in FY26 (First Advanced Estimates).
Provisional estimates of Gross value added (GVA) at current prices by economic activity (at 2011-2012 prices) for FY26 (First Advanced Estimates) are as follows:
- Agriculture, forestry & fishing: Rs. 54,27,908 crore (US$ 603.09 billion).
- Mining & Quarrying: Rs. 5,08,554 crore (US$ 56.51 billion).
- Manufacturing: Rs. 45,54,580 crore (US$ 506.06 billion).
- Electricity, gas, water supply & other utility services: Rs. 8,17,265 crore (US$ 90.81 billion).
- Construction: Rs. 27,99,847 crore (US$ 311.09 billion).
- Trade, hotels, transport, communications & services related to broadcasting: Rs. 56,40,741 crore (US$ 626.74 billion).
- Financial, real estate & professional services: Rs. 76,57,155 crore (US$ 850.79 billion).
- Public administration, defence & other services: Rs. 49,41,823 crore (US$ 549.09 billion).
- Forex Reserves: Rs. 61,95,896 crore (US$ 687.19 billion), as of January 2026.
- Value of Cumulative Merchandise & Services: India’s total cumulative exports (merchandise & services) during April-December 2025 stood at Rs. 55,79,585 crore (US$ 634.26 billion). India’s total imports during April-December* 2025 stood at Rs. 60,76,935 crore (US$ 730.84 billion)
- Export Partners: The United States, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Netherlands emerged as the top destinations, with China and United Kingdom also serving as major markets.
- Currency (code): Indian rupee (Rs).
- Exchange Rates: Indian rupee per US$: US$ 1 = Rs. 88.73 as of December, 2025.
- Fiscal Year: April 01 - March 31.
- Cumulative FDI Equity Inflow: Rs. 50,72,866 crore(US$ 764.18 billion) (from April 2000-September 2025).
- Share of the top investing countries in FDI Equity Inflow: Singapore (24.45%), Mauritius (24.04%), USA (10.11%), Netherlands (7.19%), Japan (5.97%), the UK (4.77%), the UAE (3.30%), the Cayman Islands (2.29%), and Cyprus (2.10%), Germany (2.02%) from April 2000-September 2025.
- Key sectors attracting the highest FDI Equity Inflow: Services Sector (16.22%), Computer Software & Hardware (15.67%), Trading (6.59%), Telecommunications (5.26%), Automobiles (5.16%), etc from April 2000-September 2025.
Transportation in India
- Airports: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) manages a total of 137 airports, which include 24 International Airports (including 3 International Civil Enclaves), 10 Customs Airports (including 4 Customs Civil Enclaves), 80 Domestic Airports and 23 Domestic Civil Enclaves at Defence airfields.
- International Airports: Hyderabad, Amritsar, Guwahati, Bhubaneswar, Gaya, New Delhi, Port Blair, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Mangalore, Kochi, Kozhikode, Thiruvananthapuram, Mumbai, Nagpur, Jaipur, Chennai, Tiruchirappalli, Lucknow, Varanasi, Kolkata, Kannur, Surat, Indore, Dabolim, Coimbatore, Srinagar, Imphal, Madurai, Siliguri, Chandigarh, Pune, Mangalore, Nashik, Vadodara, Kushinagar.
- Railways: The Indian Railways network is spread over 1,32,310 km with 15,112 locomotives being operational. There are 13,523 passenger trains and 9,146 freight trains that run daily through 7,335 stations. The Indian Railways achieved 1.46 billion tonnes of freight loading in FY25 against 1.44 billion in FY24.
- 34,000 km of new railway tracks laid across the country in FY25
- 2.43L wheels manufactured in FY25, until January 2024
- 8,805 coaches also manufactured in FY25
- Roadways: India's road network of 66.71 lakh km is the second largest in the world. With the number of passenger vehicles growing at an average annual pace of 3.6% between 2010-20, Indian roads carry about 60% of freight and 87% of passenger traffic.
- Waterways: 14,500 km.
- Major Ports of Entry: Chennai, Ennore, Haldia, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), Kolkata, Deen Dayal, Kochi, Mormugao, Mumbai, New Mangalore, Paradip, Tuticorin, Visakhapatnam Mundra, Pipavav, Hazira, Krishnapatnam, Gangavaram, Dhamra, Port Blair.
Note: Conversion rate used for December 2025 is Rs.1 = US$ 0.011111
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