Contents
Country Overview
India is a federal parliamentary republic occupying most of the South Asian subcontinent. Its population is the world’s largest in current international estimates, with major linguistic, religious, ecological and regional diversity. The country combines a large services economy with industrial production, agriculture and an expanding technological sector. Its strategic geography spans the Himalayas, Indian Ocean, and the Bay of Bengal; contemporary policy debates encompass jobs, infrastructure, climate resilience and federal governance.
Population1.464 billionWorld Bank, 2025 estimate [3]
Nominal GDPUS$3.956 trillionWorld Bank, 2025 [2]
Prime ministerNarendra ModiThird term began June 9, 2024 [10]
Merchandise exportsUS$434.44 billionWTO profile; 2024 [13]
UNESCO World Heritage45 properties37 cultural, 7 natural, 1 mixed; 2026 [17]
Data and status note: The World Bank 2025 resident-population estimate is not a 2025 Indian census. India’s latest completed population census was in 2011; the next census is scheduled for 2027. Parliamentary officeholders are current to November 6, 2026. Merchandise trade values are WTO-profile 2024 figures, not Indian fiscal-year figures. Geopolitical boundaries and Kashmir are described with jurisdictional qualifications.
Identity & State Formation
- Official name
- Republic of India (Bhārat Gaṇarājya); the Constitution uses India, that is Bharat. [8]
- Common short names
- India and Bharat are constitutional forms of the country's name. [8]
- Capital
- New Delhi, seat of Union government; Delhi is the surrounding National Capital Territory. [9] [8]
- UN geographic region
- Southern Asia under the UN M49 statistical classification. [1]
- Government type
- Federal parliamentary republic with a constitution and an elected legislature. [8]
- National independence
- 15 August 1947, end of British colonial rule and partition of British India. [8]
- Republic Day
- 26 January, marking entry into force of the Constitution in 1950. [8]
- Constitution adopted
- 26 November 1949 by the Constituent Assembly. [8]
- Constitution in force
- 26 January 1950; amended repeatedly since. [8]
- Official Union language
- Hindi in Devanagari is the constitutional official language of the Union; English remains in official use under law. [7] [8]
- National-language misconception
- India has no single legally designated national language; Union official languages and state languages are distinct concepts. [7] [8]
- Scheduled languages
- 22 languages appear in the Constitution's Eighth Schedule. [8]
- National currency
- Indian rupee (INR), subdivided into 100 paise. [22]
- Currency symbol
- ₹; internationally the three-letter ISO currency code is INR. [22]
- ISO codes
- IN (alpha-2), IND (alpha-3), and 356 (numeric). [1]
- Telephone country code
- +91. [1]
- Internet country-code domain
- .in; .भारत also exists as an internationalized country-code domain. [1]
- Time standard
- Indian Standard Time (UTC+05:30) throughout the country, with no regular daylight-saving switch. [1]
- National flag
- Horizontal saffron, white and green stripes with a navy-blue 24-spoke Ashoka Chakra. [8]
- National emblem
- Adaptation of the Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath. [8] [17]
- National anthem
- Jana Gana Mana, by Rabindranath Tagore. [8]
- National song
- Vande Mataram, associated with Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay. [8]
- Colonial antecedent
- Much of present-day India was ruled under the British Raj before independence. [8]
- Partition of 1947
- The transfer of power was accompanied by the creation of Pakistan and mass population displacement. [8]
- Post-1947 integration
- Former princely states were integrated into the new Union through different political and legal processes. [8]
- Federal arrangement
- Powers are divided between the Union and states, with constitutionally defined lists and institutions. [8]
- Administrative divisions
- 28 states and 8 union territories as of November 2026. [9]
- Citizenship
- National citizenship is governed by constitutional and statutory law rather than a system of state citizenship. [8]
- National election cycle
- Lok Sabha general elections normally occur every five years unless dissolved earlier. [8]
- International sovereignty
- India is a sovereign United Nations member, with unresolved external territorial disputes requiring careful attribution. [19] [8]
Geography & Population
- Total area
- Approximately 3,287,263 square kilometers, including official territorial claims; datasets differ by boundary convention. [2] [1]
- Land area
- About 2.97 million square kilometers in major international statistical series; distinct from total area. [14]
- Location
- South Asian peninsula projecting into the northern Indian Ocean. [1]
- Northern geographic frontier
- Himalayan and adjoining mountain systems dominate much of the northern border zone. [16]
- Western water boundary
- The Arabian Sea borders India's western coast. [16]
- Eastern water boundary
- The Bay of Bengal borders eastern India. [16]
- Southern ocean
- The Indian Ocean lies south of peninsular India. [16]
- Land-border neighbors
- Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar; Afghanistan appears in Indian official border claims relating to disputed Kashmir. [1] [8]
- Maritime neighborhood
- Sri Lanka and Maldives lie near India's southern maritime approaches. [1]
- Disputed Kashmir region
- India, Pakistan and China administer different parts of the wider Kashmir region; lines of control are not universally accepted international borders. [8] [1]
- Arunachal Pradesh issue
- India administers the state, while China contests sovereignty over substantial areas. [8] [1]
- Highest mountain commonly cited in Indian-administered territory
- Kangchenjunga on the Nepal–India border, approximately 8,586 meters; K2 lies in Pakistan-administered territory claimed by India. [1]
- Major physical divisions
- Himalayan mountains, Indo-Gangetic plains, peninsular plateaus, deserts, coasts and island territories. [16]
- Thar Desert
- Arid northwestern zone, especially Rajasthan. [16]
- Deccan Plateau
- Large interior upland region of peninsular India. [16]
- Western Ghats
- Mountain chain along the southwestern peninsula; UNESCO-listed biodiversity property. [17] [16]
- Eastern Ghats
- Discontinuous ranges along much of the eastern peninsula. [16]
- Ganga basin
- A densely settled river system supporting agriculture, cities and cultural traditions. [16]
- Brahmaputra basin
- Major northeastern transboundary river basin with seasonal flooding. [16]
- Indus tributaries
- Northern and northwestern tributaries link India with the larger Indus basin. [16]
- Godavari River
- Major peninsular river flowing toward the Bay of Bengal. [16]
- Krishna River
- Important south-central peninsular river with major irrigation and reservoir systems. [16]
- Narmada River
- Major westward-flowing river through central India. [16]
- Cauvery River
- Southern river system central to irrigation and inter-state water allocation. [16]
- Ganges-Brahmaputra delta
- Deltaic system shared with Bangladesh, with lowland flood and cyclone exposure. [16]
- Island territories
- Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal; Lakshadweep in the Arabian Sea. [9] [1]
- Climate pattern
- Mostly tropical monsoon in the south and plains, grading to arid, subtropical and alpine regions. [16]
- Summer monsoon
- Southwest monsoon typically supplies much of the annual rainfall, with large regional variation. [16]
- Northeast monsoon
- Especially important to rainfall in parts of southeastern India. [16]
- Climate hazards
- Floods, heatwaves, tropical cyclones, droughts and glacial-lake risks affect different regions. [16]
- 2025 population estimate
- 1,463,865,525 in the World Bank annual population series. [3]
- Last completed population census
- 2011 census counted approximately 1.211 billion residents; not comparable to a 2025 census because none was completed. [4] [6]
- Next population census
- Government schedule calls for Census 2027, with differing reference dates for specified snowbound areas. [5]
- 2025 population growth
- Approximately 0.9% annually in the World Bank series. [2]
- Life expectancy
- About 72 years in the World Bank's 2024 observation, rounded. [2]
- Largest urban agglomerations
- Delhi and Mumbai are among the largest, alongside Kolkata, Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad; rankings vary by boundary definitions. [4] [2]
- Major population concentration
- Indo-Gangetic plains and major coastal/industrial corridors are densely settled. [4] [2]
- Biodiversity settings
- Himalayan, Western Ghats, northeastern forest, desert, grassland and coastal ecosystems. [17] [16]
- Marine biodiversity
- Coastal wetlands, coral environments and mangroves support important ecological networks. [17] [16]
Population reference dates and methodology
Census enumeration and international population estimates are different measurement systems. [4] [3] [5]
| Series | Reference period | Population | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| India population census | 2011 | ~1.211 billion | Last completed enumeration |
| World Bank population estimate | 2025 | 1,463,865,525 | Modelled annual population estimate |
| Next national census | 2027 | Not yet counted | Scheduled census; 2026 snowbound-area reference date |
Economy & International Trade
- 2025 nominal GDP
- US$3,956.07 billion in the World Bank current-dollar series. [2]
- 2025 GDP per capita
- About US$2,702.5 at current exchange rates in World Bank data. [2]
- 2025 real GDP growth
- 7.6% annual growth in the World Bank series; distinct from projections for fiscal years. [2]
- 2025 consumer-price inflation
- 2.4% in the World Bank annual CPI series. [2]
- Economic structure
- Broad services sector, industrial manufacturing, agriculture, construction and transport. [24]
- Agricultural importance
- Farming remains crucial for rural livelihoods and food systems despite services dominating output. [24]
- Principal cereals
- Rice and wheat, alongside millets and other grains, are major food crops. [24]
- Other farm products
- Cotton, sugarcane, pulses, oilseeds, spices, tea and horticulture have major regional roles. [24]
- Animal husbandry
- Dairy and livestock activities support rural employment and food supply. [24]
- IT and software services
- Information technology, consulting and outsourced business services support international services exports. [14] [24]
- Digital payment ecosystem
- Digital retail payments and financial technology have expanded under public and private systems. [22] [24]
- Pharmaceutical industry
- Generic medicines and pharmaceutical manufacturing form important domestic and export industries. [24]
- Vehicle industry
- Passenger vehicles, two-wheelers, automotive components and commercial vehicles are significant manufacturers. [24]
- Electronics manufacturing
- Smartphones and other electronics feature increasingly in industrial policy and export shipments. [13] [24]
- Textile sector
- Cotton textiles, garments and technical textiles have longstanding export and employment roles. [24]
- Petroleum refining
- Imported crude fuels domestic demand and a significant refined petroleum export industry. [13]
- Energy import dependence
- Crude oil and other fuels are major goods imports and affect the external account. [13]
- Coal and power
- Coal remains important for electricity generation, amid expanded renewable-capacity development. [24] [16]
- Solar energy growth
- Large-scale solar projects are an important component of electricity transition policies. [16] [24]
- Rail network
- Railways move passengers and freight and support national connectivity. [24]
- Seaports
- Western and eastern coastal ports connect the economy to major shipping corridors. [24]
- Aviation network
- Domestic and international air links support mobility, commerce and services. [24]
- Central bank
- Reserve Bank of India, responsible for monetary policy and banking supervision. [22]
- 2025 remittances received
- About 3.8% of GDP in World Bank series, using its remittance definition. [2]
- 2025 unemployment modeled estimate
- 4.2% under the World Bank's harmonized ILO modeled series; survey definitions can differ. [2]
- Merchandise exports 2024
- US$434.436 billion in the WTO online member profile. [13]
- Merchandise imports 2024
- US$721.200 billion in the same WTO profile. [13]
- Merchandise trade balance 2024
- Approximately US$286.765 billion deficit, calculated from WTO export minus import totals. [13]
- Largest named export destination 2024
- United States, about US$79.442 billion or 18.3% of WTO-profile exports. [13]
- European Union export market 2024
- About US$77.464 billion (17.8%) as an aggregate customs partner, not a single country. [13]
- United Arab Emirates export market 2024
- US$37.104 billion in the 2024 WTO-profile partner table. [13]
- China import origin 2024
- US$113.447 billion (15.7%) of WTO-profile goods imports. [13]
- Russia import origin 2024
- US$63.811 billion (8.8%) of WTO-profile goods imports, with fuels significant. [13]
- Leading export product: refined fuel
- WTO HS 271019 petroleum medium oils/preparations: about US$49.318 billion in 2024. [13]
- Leading export product: smartphones
- WTO HS 851713 smartphones: about US$20.139 billion in 2024. [13]
- Leading import product: crude oil
- About US$143.077 billion in 2024 WTO-product data (HS 270900). [13]
- Gold imports
- Unwrought non-monetary gold (HS 710812) was about US$57.736 billion in 2024. [13]
- Trade-year caveat
- WTO's online profile may show 2024 when national Indian fiscal-year reports show a different reference window. [13] [14]
- Services trade
- Software, business services, tourism, transport and financial activities contribute to services exports. [14]
- Services statistical caveat
- UNCTAD reports services and merchandise in distinct classifications; the goods deficit alone is not the current-account deficit. [14] [15]
- Infrastructure policy
- Transport, housing, energy networks and urban services are recurring public investment priorities. [24]
- Income and employment challenges
- Labor-force absorption, informality and skill development remain central development issues. [24]
- Financial inclusion
- Bank-account access, digital infrastructure and credit distribution influence development outcomes. [22] [24]
- Poverty measurement
- World Bank international poverty rates depend on specified purchasing-power-parity lines and survey years. [2]
- Fiscal federalism
- Tax sharing, grants and subnational budgets affect spending decisions across states. [8] [15]
- Regional growth differences
- Industrial and service concentrations differ markedly among states and urban corridors. [24]
Selected economic indicators: World Bank 2025
Current-dollar values do not represent purchasing-power parity; calendar-year and fiscal-year series should not be confused. [2] [3]
| Indicator | 2025 value | Unit / meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,463,865,525 | Persons, estimated |
| Nominal GDP | 3,956.07 | US$ billions |
| GDP per capita | 2,702.5 | Current US$ |
| Real GDP growth | 7.6% | Annual change |
| CPI inflation | 2.4% | Annual change |
| Remittances received | 3.8% | Share of GDP |
| Unemployment (ILO modeled) | 4.2% | Harmonized labor estimate |
Goods trade: WTO India member profile, 2024
Values in US$ billions; the resulting trade balance is exports less imports. [13]
| Goods category | Exports | Imports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merchandise total | 434.436 | 721.200 | −286.765 |
India merchandise export partners: 2024
EU is a regional aggregate rather than a single country; data from the WTO profile. [13]
| Partner | US$ billions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 79.442 | 18.3% |
| European Union | 77.464 | 17.8% |
| United Arab Emirates | 37.104 | 8.5% |
| Singapore | 15.617 | 3.6% |
| China | 14.899 | 3.4% |
Selected product trade values: India 2024
HS codes identify narrow product groups rather than entire industries. [13]
| Direction | HS item | US$ billions |
|---|---|---|
| Exports | Refined petroleum medium oils (271019) | 49.318 |
| Exports | Smartphones (851713) | 20.139 |
| Imports | Crude petroleum (270900) | 143.077 |
| Imports | Unwrought gold (710812) | 57.736 |
People & Society
- Demographic diversity
- India comprises numerous linguistic, ethnic, cultural and regional populations; no single ethnic category encompasses all residents. [4]
- Language families
- Indo-Aryan, Dravidian, Austroasiatic and Tibeto-Burman languages are major parts of the linguistic landscape. [4]
- Hindi
- Major language and Union official language written predominantly in Devanagari. [7]
- English
- Continues in Union official work and is widely used in commerce, courts, science and higher education. [7]
- Bengali
- Major eastern Indian language and one of the Eighth Schedule languages. [8]
- Tamil
- Major Dravidian language with a longstanding literary history and significant global diaspora. [8]
- Telugu
- Major southern Indian language with substantial literature and cultural production. [8]
- Marathi
- Major Indo-Aryan language associated with Maharashtra. [8]
- Gujarati
- Major western Indian language associated with Gujarat and overseas communities. [8]
- Punjabi
- Major northern language, written in Gurmukhi in Indian Punjab. [8]
- Urdu
- One of the Eighth Schedule languages and part of north Indian literary culture. [8]
- Other scheduled languages
- Also include Assamese, Kannada, Malayalam, Odia, Kashmiri, Konkani and others; state language policies differ. [8]
- Religious-data reference year
- Most recent completed national census religious totals are from 2011; these are not present-day survey estimates. [6] [5]
- Hindu population in 2011
- 79.8% of enumerated residents. [6]
- Muslim population in 2011
- 14.2% of enumerated residents. [6]
- Christian population in 2011
- 2.3% of enumerated residents. [6]
- Sikh population in 2011
- 1.7% of enumerated residents. [6]
- Buddhist population in 2011
- About 0.7% of enumerated residents. [6]
- Jain population in 2011
- About 0.4% of enumerated residents. [6]
- Religious plurality
- Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Indigenous and other communities have varied regional distributions. [6]
- Secular constitutional principles
- Constitutional commitments to equality and freedom of religion coexist with ongoing public debate on their implementation. [8]
- Festivals
- Diwali, Eid, Holi, Christmas, Vesak, Vaisakhi, Pongal and regional festivals appear across different communities. [18]
- Cultural heritage practices
- Classical and regional music, dance, theatre, textiles and craft traditions retain diverse local forms. [18]
- Performing arts
- Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Odissi, Manipuri and other dance traditions are associated with distinct regions. [18]
- Cinema
- Film is produced in multiple languages and regional industries, not solely in Hindi. [24]
- Cuisine
- Grain, pulse, vegetable, meat and seafood preparations vary substantially by region and community. [24]
- Urbanization
- Large metropolitan regions are expanding, while a substantial rural population remains. [24]
- Education system
- School and higher education operate through Union, state, public and private institutions. [24]
- Higher education
- Universities, engineering institutes and research centers support professional training and scientific work. [21] [24]
- Public health
- National and state systems combine public, private and community health delivery. [20]
- Life expectancy year
- 2024 estimate of about 72 years in the World Bank series; not a 2026 observed total. [2]
- Social challenges
- Unequal access by income, locality, gender and social group remains an important policy issue. [24]
- Diaspora
- Large communities of Indian origin live in the Gulf, North America, Europe, Africa and Southeast Asia. [24]
- Culture and language policy
- Scheduled-language status is a constitutional framework, not a statement that India has 22 national languages. [8] [7]
Government & Institutions
- President as of November 2026
- Droupadi Murmu, president since July 25, 2022. [11]
- Prime minister as of November 2026
- Narendra Modi; third consecutive term began June 9, 2024. [10]
- Head of state
- President of the Republic, with constitutionally prescribed powers. [11] [8]
- Head of government
- Prime minister, leading the cabinet and commanding lower-house confidence. [10] [8]
- Union executive
- President, prime minister and Council of Ministers exercise distinct constitutional roles. [8]
- Parliament structure
- Bicameral Union Parliament: Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha; the President is constitutionally part of Parliament. [8]
- Lok Sabha
- Directly elected lower house; 543 constituency seats contested in the 2024 general election. [12]
- Rajya Sabha
- Council of States, a continuing upper chamber with periodic elections and limited nominations. [8]
- 2024 election
- Results announced in June 2024 after nationwide phased voting. [12]
- BJP seats after 2024 election
- Bharatiya Janata Party won 240 of 543 Lok Sabha seats at the election; later by-elections can change totals. [12]
- Congress seats after 2024 election
- Indian National Congress won 99 seats at the 2024 general election. [12]
- NDA government
- BJP-led National Democratic Alliance formed the post-2024 coalition government. [12] [10]
- Opposition role
- Indian National Congress and other parties organized parliamentary opposition after 2024. [12]
- Election administration
- Election Commission of India organizes national and state elections under constitutional and statutory provisions. [8]
- Voting age
- 18 for citizens meeting eligibility requirements. [8]
- General election interval
- Normally five years for Lok Sabha unless dissolved early. [8]
- Federal units
- 28 states and 8 union territories; territorial structure and powers are not identical. [9]
- State legislatures
- Most states have one elected house; some retain bicameral legislatures. [8]
- Union territories with legislatures
- Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir and Puducherry have legislative assemblies; other UTs do not. [9]
- Judicial apex
- Supreme Court of India, followed by High Courts and subordinate courts. [8]
- Judicial review
- Constitutional courts can examine legislation and executive action against constitutional standards. [8]
- Constitutional rights
- Fundamental rights include equality, speech, religion and safeguards of life and liberty, subject to legal limitations. [8]
- Constitutional directives
- Directive Principles guide government policy but are not generally directly enforceable like fundamental rights. [8]
- State executives
- Governors, chief ministers and state ministers fill distinct constitutional roles. [8]
- Local government
- Rural panchayats and urban municipalities operate under constitutional and state-law frameworks. [8]
- Public finance
- Union and state budgets and taxation are governed by overlapping constitutional and statutory institutions. [8]
- Central bank independence
- Reserve Bank of India acts within statutory monetary and regulatory mandates. [22]
- Foreign and defense policy
- Union institutions lead diplomacy and national defense. [8]
- Political-system caution
- India's electoral institutions coexist with debate over civil liberties, federal balance and minority protections; assessments differ by source. [8]
- 2027 census governance
- Population enumeration and reference dates are being administered under the Registrar General's national census program. [5]
June 2024 Lok Sabha election: selected party totals
These are election-night seat counts, not necessarily the current live distribution after subsequent by-elections. [12]
| Party or grouping | 2024 seats | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) | 240 | Largest single party; coalition-led government |
| Indian National Congress | 99 | Largest individual opposition party |
| Samajwadi Party | 37 | Regional and opposition party |
| Trinamool Congress | 29 | Regional and opposition party |
| Total elected seats | 543 | Constituencies in 2024 general election |
International Profile
- UN membership
- Original United Nations member from 1945, prior to independence in 1947. [19]
- WTO membership
- Founding member of the World Trade Organization, beginning January 1, 1995. [23]
- South Asia regional context
- UN M49 places India in Southern Asia; geography and regional cooperation extend beyond that label. [1]
- G20 role
- Participates in the Group of Twenty as a major economy. [15]
- BRICS participation
- Part of the BRICS intergovernmental grouping. [15]
- South Asian regional forum
- Founding member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). [1]
- Bay of Bengal cooperation
- Member of BIMSTEC, connecting South and Southeast Asia around the Bay of Bengal. [1]
- Indian Ocean position
- The peninsula and offshore islands provide important maritime trading routes and ocean-security interests. [1]
- Bangladesh relationship
- Trade, energy, migration, river sharing and long cultural connections characterize bilateral relations. [1]
- Nepal relationship
- Open-border movement and Himalayan trade, power and social ties connect the two countries. [1]
- Bhutan relationship
- Close diplomatic, hydropower and land-connectivity partnerships. [1]
- Sri Lanka relationship
- Longstanding maritime, fishing, migration and cultural links across the Palk Strait and Gulf of Mannar. [1]
- Maldives relationship
- Indian Ocean proximity shapes tourism, maritime cooperation and security engagement. [1]
- Pakistan relationship
- Relations have been affected by territorial disputes, conflict and security concerns, especially over Kashmir. [1]
- China relationship
- Significant trade alongside an unresolved land-boundary dispute and strategic competition. [13] [1]
- United States relationship
- Major export market and partner in technology, investment and security dialogue. [13]
- European Union relationship
- A large aggregate trade destination and diplomatic partner. [13]
- Gulf countries
- Energy imports, diaspora labor and remittances connect India with Gulf economies. [13] [2]
- Japan relationship
- Technology, investment, logistics and infrastructure cooperation are important bilateral links. [24]
- Russia relationship
- Fuel imports and defense relationships are consequential in diplomatic and economic policy. [13]
- Africa links
- Trade, diaspora communities, development projects and diplomatic engagement span multiple African regions. [1]
- Climate diplomacy
- Engages in international debates on emissions, development equity, clean energy and climate adaptation. [16]
- Scientific diplomacy
- ISRO spaceflight, remote sensing and launch programs support international collaboration. [21]
- Humanitarian response
- Indian institutions participate in regional disaster relief and international medical and emergency cooperation. [24]
- UNESCO World Heritage total
- 45 inscribed sites as of November 2026: 37 cultural, 7 natural and 1 mixed. [17]
- Latest World Heritage inscription
- Ancient Buddhist Site of Sarnath, inscribed July 2026. [17]
- Taj Mahal
- Agra monument inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1983. [17]
- Agra Fort
- Mughal fort complex, World Heritage inscription in 1983. [17]
- Ajanta Caves
- Buddhist cave art and architecture, World Heritage inscription in 1983. [17]
- Ellora Caves
- Rock-cut religious monuments, World Heritage inscription in 1983. [17]
- Kaziranga National Park
- Natural World Heritage property in Assam. [17]
- Western Ghats
- Serial natural UNESCO property recognized for exceptional biodiversity. [17]
- Khangchendzonga National Park
- Mixed cultural and natural UNESCO property in Sikkim. [17]
- Maratha Military Landscapes
- 2025 cultural inscription combining forts linked to regional military history. [17]
- Intangible heritage listed
- UNESCO's country inventory lists 16 inscribed intangible cultural heritage elements (as of 2026). [18]
- Deepavali intangible inscription
- Deepavali was added to UNESCO's Representative List in 2025. [18]
- Yoga inscription
- Yoga was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List in 2016. [18]
- Kumbh Mela inscription
- Kumbh Mela inscribed on the Representative List in 2017. [18]
- Garba of Gujarat
- Dance tradition inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List in 2023. [18]
- Heritage methodology
- World Heritage inscriptions concern physical places; intangible elements and tentative-list nominations are separate categories. [17] [18]
Selected UNESCO World Heritage properties
Illustrative selection of 45 inscribed properties; not the complete UNESCO inventory. [17]
| Property | Category | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Taj Mahal | Cultural | 1983 |
| Ajanta Caves | Cultural | 1983 |
| Agra Fort | Cultural | 1983 |
| Kaziranga National Park | Natural | 1985 |
| Western Ghats | Natural | 2012 |
| Khangchendzonga National Park | Mixed | 2016 |
| Maratha Military Landscapes of India | Cultural | 2025 |
| Ancient Buddhist Site of Sarnath | Cultural | 2026 |
Sources and Methodology
MGU Quick Facts synthesizes dated national and international statistical series, legislation and institutional publications. A population census is an enumeration, whereas World Bank annual values and national intercensal projections are estimates; nominal current-dollar GDP is not purchasing-power-parity GDP. WTO/UN Comtrade, UNCTAD, and national customs or fiscal-year accounts can differ. Regional classification uses UN M49 and should not be interpreted as a political claim. UNESCO World Heritage properties, tentative sites, and intangible-heritage elements are separate registries.
Editorial cutoff: November 6, 2026 (Pacific Time). Values reflect the year printed alongside each fact. Contested sovereignty, constitutional status and administrative transfer processes receive explicit jurisdictional caution. An update is required when later elections, census releases or legal changes supersede the values shown.
- United Nations Statistics Division — M49 geography and ISO codes — Southern Asia grouping, country codes and geographical methodology.
- World Bank — India country data — 2025 macroeconomic, demographic and development series; 2024 life expectancy.
- World Bank — Population, total: India — 2025 estimated resident population, not a census count.
- Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner — Census of India — 2011 national census and administrative statistics.
- Press Information Bureau — Census 2027 program, March 2026 — next scheduled census, phased enumeration and reference dates.
- Government of India — 2011 census religious composition — religious self-identification from the 2011 census.
- Department of Official Language — Union language policy — official Hindi and English usage; distinct from national-language concept.
- India Code — Constitution and statutory framework — Union parliamentary system, language, legislature and rights framework.
- Ministry of Home Affairs — Union Territories Division — eight union territories and differential legislative structures.
- Prime Minister’s Office — Narendra Modi profile — prime minister and 2024 start of third term.
- President of India — official profile — President Droupadi Murmu and presidential office.
- Government of India public broadcaster — 2024 Lok Sabha election results — 18th Lok Sabha, BJP and coalition result at the 2024 election.
- World Trade Organization — India tariff and trade profile — 2024 merchandise exports, imports, partners and leading products.
- UNCTAD — India general trade profile — separately compiled 2024 trade and services figures.
- International Monetary Fund — India — macro policy, finance and risks.
- World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal — India — monsoon, climate exposure, floods and heat risk.
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre — India — 45 properties including Sarnath, inscribed 2026.
- UNESCO — India intangible cultural heritage — 16 elements on UNESCO intangible-cultural-heritage lists.
- United Nations — Member States — UN membership and international institutional role.
- World Health Organization — India country data — health and longevity indicators.
- Indian Space Research Organisation — ISRO — space and technology programs.
- Reserve Bank of India — official website — rupee, monetary policy and financial system.
- World Trade Organization — India membership — multilateral trade membership.
- World Bank — India country overview — development sectors, infrastructure, labor, agriculture and climate.