The world's largest democracy and second most populous country has emerged as a major power after a period of foreign rule and several decades during which its economy was virtually closed.
It has developed the capacity to strike at China and arch-rival Pakistan with its own missiles, and has carried out a program of nuclear tests in defiance of world opinion. However, India is still struggling with huge social, economic and environmental problems

Population: 1 billion (UN, 2004)
Capital: New Delhi
Area: 3.17m sq km (1.2m sq miles)
Major languages: Hindi, English and 17 other official languages
Major religions: Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism

Life expectancy: 63 years (men), 65 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: 1 Indian Rupee = 100 paisa
Main exports: Agricultural products, textile goods, gems and jewelers, software services and technology, engineering goods, chemicals, leather products

GNI per capita: US $530 (World Bank, 2003)
Internet domain: .in
International dialing code: +91