Outline of India
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The following outline is provided as an overview of, and topical guide to, India:
The seventh-largest country by area, India is located on the Indian subcontinent in South Asia. India was home to the ancient Indus Valley civilisation, and is the birthplace of four major world religions: Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism. It is also home to followers of Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Zoroastrianism.. From 1857 to 1947, India was under British rule. India became an independent nation in 1947 after a struggle for independence, and underwent a violent partition, which split the erstwhile British Raj into the independent countries of India and Pakistan, (with East Pakistan rebelling against Pakistan in 1971 to form Bangladesh). As of June 2025, India is the most populous country in the world, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion. It is recognized as the world's largest democracy by population and has emerged as the fourth-largest economy globally.
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General reference
- Pronunciation: Template:IPAc-en
- Common English country name: India
- Official English country name: The Republic of India
- Common endonym(s): Bharat, Hindustan
- Official endonym(s): Bharat Ganarajya
- Adjectival(s): Indian
- Demonym(s): Indian
- Etymology: Names of India
- International rankings of India
- ISO country codes: IN, IND, 356
- ISO region codes: See ISO 3166-2:IN
- Internet country code top-level domain: .in
Geography of India
Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote".India covers an area of 3,287,263 sq. km, extending from the snow-covered Himalayas in the north to the tropical rainforests in the south. Bounded by the Great Himalayas in the north, the country stretches southward and tapers into the Indian Ocean at the Tropic of Cancer, flanked by the Bay of Bengal to the east and the Arabian Sea to the west.
Lying entirely in the Northern Hemisphere, India’s mainland spans latitudes 8°4' to 37°6' N and longitudes 68°7' to 97°25' E. It measures about 3,214 km from north to south and approximately 2,933 km from east to west. The land frontier is about 15,200 km long, and the total coastline; including the mainland, Lakshadweep, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands is 7,516.6 km.
India shares borders with Afghanistan and Pakistan to the northwest; China, Bhutan, and Nepal to the north; Myanmar to the east; and Bangladesh to the east of West Bengal. Sri Lanka lies to the south, separated by the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar.
File:India (orthographic projection).svg India is:- Area of India: Script error: No such module "convert". – 7th largest country
- Location:
- Eastern Hemisphere
- Northern Hemisphere
- Time zone: Indian Standard Time (UTC+05:30)
- Bordering Countries:
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- File:Flag of Bangladesh.svg Bangladesh 4,053 km
- File:Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China 3,380 km including the territorial disputes along its border; McMahon Line
- File:Flag of Pakistan.svg Pakistan including the Line of Control 2,912 km
- File:Flag of Nepal.svg Nepal 1,690 km
- File:Flag of Myanmar.svg Myanmar 1,463 km
- File:Flag of Bhutan.svg Bhutan 605 km
- File:Flag of the Taliban.svg Afghanistan 106 km
Physical divisions of India
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- The Northern and North-eastern Mountains - The North and Northeastern Mountains consist of the Himalayas and the Northeastern hills. Some important ranges are Great Himalayan Range(includes Greater Himalayas, Himadri; the Lesser Himalayas, Himachal and the Outer Himalayas, Shiwalik), Karakoram ranges and the northeast mountain ranges.
- The Northern Plain - Located south of the Himalayas, the northern plains are formed by the deposition of sediments from Himalayan rivers Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra. It is further divided intro Babhar, Tarai, Alluvial plains further dividing into Khadar & Bhangar.
- The Peninsular Plateau - Rising from the height of 150 m above the river plains up to an elevation of 600-900 m is the irregular triangle known as the Peninsular plateau. It is one of the oldest and the most stable landmass of India. Delhi ridge in the northwest, (extension of Aravalis), the Rajmahal hills in the east, Gir range in the west and the Cardamom hills in the south constitute the outer extent of the Peninsular plateau. However, an extension of this is also seen in the northeast, in the form of Shillong and Karbi-Anglong plateau. It is made up of series of patland plateaus such as the Hazaribagh plateau, the Palamu plateau, the Ranchi plateau, the Malwa plateau, the Coimbatore plateau and the Karnataka plateau, etc. On the basis of the prominent relief features, the Peninsular plateau can be divided into three broad groups: (i) The Deccan Plateau (ii) The Central Highlands (iii) The Northeastern Plateau.
- The Indian Desert - To the northwest of the Aravali hills lies the Great Indian desert also known as Thar Desert.
- The Coastal Plains - It is broadly classified into Eastern coastal plains and Western coastal plains
- The Islands - There are two major island groups in India; one in the Bay of Bengal named Andaman & Nicobar Islands and the other in the Arabian Sea named Lakshadweep.
Geographic features of India
- Extreme points of India
- High: Kangchenjunga Script error: No such module "convert". – third highest peak on Earth
- Low: Kuttanad Script error: No such module "convert".
- Population of India: 1,463,526,271 as of June 21, 2025 - Most populous country.
- Atlas of India
Environment of India
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- Climate of India
- Ecoregions of India
- Geology of India
- List of mountains in India/Orography of India
- Renewable energy in India
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- Beaches of India
- Glaciers of India
- Islands of India
- Lakes of India
- Mountains of India
- Rivers of India
- Valleys of India
- List of World Heritage Sites in India
Administrative divisions of India
Administrative divisions of India
Administrative divisional structure of India
| Structure of administrative divisions in India |
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States and union territories of India
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| 1. Andhra Pradesh | 13. Madhya Pradesh | 25. Tripura |
| 2. Arunachal Pradesh | 14. Maharashtra | 26. Uttar Pradesh |
| 3. Assam | 15. Manipur | 27. Uttarakhand |
| 4. Bihar | 16. Meghalaya | 28. West Bengal |
| 5. Chhattisgarh | 17. Mizoram | A. Andaman and Nicobar Islands |
| 6. Goa | 18. Nagaland | B. Chandigarh |
| 7. Gujarat | 19. Odisha | C. Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu |
| 8. Haryana | 20. Punjab | D. Jammu and Kashmir |
| 9. Himachal Pradesh | 21. Rajasthan | E. Ladakh |
| 10. Jharkhand | 22. Sikkim | F. Lakshadweep |
| 11. Karnataka |
23. Tamil Nadu | G. Delhi |
| 12. Kerala | 24.Telangana | H. Puducherry |
States and union territories of India
- Autonomous regions of India
- Emblems of Indian states
- States and union territories of India
- By name
- States by name
- Andhra Pradesh (outline)
- Arunachal Pradesh (outline)
- Assam (outline)
- Bihar (outline)
- Chhattisgarh (outline)
- Goa (outline)
- Gujarat (outline)
- Haryana (outline)
- Himachal Pradesh (outline)
- Jharkhand (outline)
- Karnataka (outline)
- Kerala (outline)
- Madhya Pradesh (outline)
- Maharashtra (outline)
- Manipur (outline)
- Meghalaya (outline)
- Mizoram (outline)
- Nagaland (outline)
- Odisha (outline)
- Punjab (outline)
- Rajasthan (outline)
- Sikkim (outline)
- Tamil Nadu (outline)
- Telangana (outline)
- Tripura (outline)
- Uttar Pradesh (outline)
- Uttarakhand (outline)
- West Bengal (outline)
- Union territories by name
- States by name
- By rank
- By population
- By population density
- By size
- By state code
- By name
- State and territory capitals
Divisions of India
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Municipalities of India
- Cities in India
- National Capital of India: New Delhi
- Financial Capital of India: Mumbai
- Cultural Capital of India: Kolkata
- Manchester of India: Ahmedabad
- City of Diamond: Surat
- Detroit of Asia: Chennai
- Milk city of India: Anand
- Silicon Valley of India: Bangalore
- Ceramic Capital of India: Morbi
- City of Nawabs: Lucknow
- Pink City of India: Jaipur
- Big cities in North East India
- List of city and town nicknames in India
- Million-plus cities in India
- Most populous cities in India
Geography of states and territories
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Demography of India
Demographics of states and territories
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Government and politics of India
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- Form of government: Sovereign socialist secular federal parliamentary multi-party representative democratic republic.
- Sovereign – this means an independent nation.
- Socialist – this implies social and economic equality for all Indian citizens. This guarantees equal opportunity and equal social status. The government attempts to reduce economic inequality by reducing concentration of wealth.
- Secular – practices separation of religion and state. This implies freedom to choose one's religion. The state gives every citizen the right to practice and propagate a religion of his choice, and also right to reject all religions. The state treats all religions as equal and there is no official state religion.
- Democratic – this means the government is democratically elected, and the head of the government (prime minister) is elected by the people.
- Republic – this means the head of the state (president) is not a hereditary monarch but indirectly elected by the people.[1]
- Capital of India: New Delhi
- Elections in India
- Political parties in India
- Aam Aadmi Party File:Aam Aadmi Party logo.svg
- All India Trinamool Congress File:All India Trinamool Congress flag.svg
- Bahujan Samaj Party File:Bsp.JPG
- Bharatiya Janata Party File:BJP flag.svg
- Communist Party of India File:South Asian Communist Banner.svg
- Communist Party of India (Marxist) File:South Asian Communist Banner.svg
- Dravidian parties File:Flag of Dravidar Kazagam.svg
- Indian National Congress File:INC Flag Official.jpg
- Janata Dal (United) File:Janata Dal (United) Flag.svg
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- Nationalist Congress Party File:NCP-flag.svg
- Samajwadi Party
- Shiromani Akali Dal File:Flag placeholder.svg
- Shivsena File:Logo of Shiv Sena.svg
- Rashtriya Janata Dal File:RJD Flag.svg
- Telugu Desam Party File:TDPFlag.PNG
- Bharat Rashtra Samithi File:Flag of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (India Nation Council).svg
- Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party YSRCP File:Flag placeholder.svg
- Political scandals in India
- Taxation in India
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Socio-economic issues in India
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- Katchatheevu Issue
- Religious tolerance in India
- Terrorism in India
- Naxalism
- Caste system in India
- Human rights in India
Branches of the government of India
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Executive of the government of India
- Head of state: President of India
- Vice-President of India
- The Cabinet
- Head of government: Prime Minister of India
- Head of the civil services: Cabinet Secretary of India
Legislature of the government of India
- Parliament of India
- Rajya Sabha (Council of States) – upper house of the parliament (Vice-President of India serves as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha)
- Lok Sabha (House of the People) – lower house of the parliament (Speaker)
Judiciary of the government of India
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- Supreme Court of India (Chief Justice of India)
- List of high courts in India
- District Courts of India
Foreign relations of India
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International organisation membership
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Law and order in India
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- Cannabis in India
- Capital punishment in India
- Company Law in India
- Indian Contract Act, 1872
- Constitution of India
- Criminal Law in India
- Indian tort law
- Property Law in India
- Crime in India
- Directive Principles in India
- Dowry law in India
- Fundamental Rights in India
- History of Indian law
- Law enforcement in India
- Nationality Law in India
- Labour Law in India
- List of prisons in India
- Prisons in India
National law enforcement agencies
All India Service for policing – Indian Police Service
- Border Security Force
- Central Bureau of Investigation
- Central Industrial Security Force
- Central Reserve Police Force
- Defence Security Corps
- Directorate of Revenue Intelligence
- Indo-Tibetan Border Police
- National Security Guards
- Railway Protection Force
- Special Protection Group
- Narcotics Control Bureau
State police forces
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Armed forces of India
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- Command
- Forces
- Military academies in India
- India and weapons of mass destruction
Government of states
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Politics by states and territories
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Legislative Assembly elections by states
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- Elections in Andhra Pradesh
- Elections in Arunachal Pradesh
- Elections in Assam
- Elections in Bihar
- Elections in Chhattisgarh
- Elections in Delhi
- Elections in Goa
- Elections in Gujarat
- Elections in Haryana
- Elections in Himachal Pradesh
- Elections in Jammu and Kashmir
- Elections in Jharkhand
- Elections in Karnataka
- Elections in Kerala
- Elections in Madhya Pradesh
- Elections in Maharashtra
- Elections in Manipur
- Elections in Meghalaya
- Elections in Mizoram
- Elections in Nagaland
- Elections in Odisha
- Elections in Puducherry
- Elections in Punjab
- Elections in Rajasthan
- Elections in Sikkim
- Elections in Tamil Nadu
- Elections in Telangana
- Elections in Tripura
- Elections in Uttar Pradesh
- Elections in Uttarakhand
- Elections in West Bengal
History of India
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History of India by period
- Prehistoric India
- Riwatian people (1,900,000 BC)
- Soanian people (500,000 BC)
- South Asian Stone Age (70,000–3300 BCE)
- Ancient India (outline)
- Ancient Indian cities
- Indus Valley civilization (3300–1700 BCE)
- Late Harappan culture (1700–1300 BCE)
- Vedic period (1700–500 BCE)
- Iron Age (1200–300 BCE)
- Mahajanapadas (700–300 BCE)
- Magadha Empire
- Haryanka dynasty (684–413 BCE)
- Shishunaga dynasty (413–345 BCE)
- Nanda dynasty (424–321 BCE)
- Maurya Empire (322- 185 BCE)
- Middle kingdoms of India (250 BCE–1279 CE)
- Chola Empire (250 BCE–1070 CE)
- Satavahana (230 BCE–220 CE)
- Shunga Empire (185–75 BCE)
- Kushan Empire (60–240 CE)
- Gupta Empire (280–550 CE)
- Pala Empire (750–1174 CE)
- Rashtrakuta (753–982 CE)
- Islamic empires in India (1206–1596)
- Delhi Sultanate (1206–1596)
- Deccan Sultanates(1490–1596)
- Hoysala Empire (1040–1346)
- Ahom Kingdom (1228–1826)
- Vijayanagara Empire (1336–1646)
- Mughal Empire (1526–1858)
- Maratha Empire (1674–1818)
- Colonial India (1858–1947)
- Company rule in India (1757–1858)
- British Raj
- Princely states
- Indian independence movement
- History of Republic of India (1947–present)
History of India by region
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History of India by subject
- Economic history of India
- Economy of India under the British Raj
- History of Buddhism in India
- History of clothing in India
- History of education in the Indian subcontinent
- History of Hinduism
- History of Indian archaeology
- History of Indian football
- History of Indian influence on Southeast Asia
- History of Indian Institutes of Technology
- History of railways in India
- History of sex in India
- History of the Indian cricket team
- History of the rupee
- Indian maritime history
- Indian natural history
- LGBT history in India
- Linguistic history of India
- List of massacres in India
- Military history of India
- Peopling of India
- Science and technology in ancient India
- Slavery in India
- Timeline of major famines in India during British rule
- History of Dravidian people
Culture of India
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- Caste system in India
- Indian dress
- Festivals in India
- Media in India
- National symbols of India
- Public holidays in India
- Religion in India
- World Heritage Sites in India
Cuisine of India
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- Main dishes
- Sweets and desserts
- Drinks
- Snacks
- Spices
- Condiments
- History
- Supermarket chains in India
- Fast food
Cuisine by regions
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The arts in India
Architecture of India
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- Hindu temple architecture
- Buddhist architecture
- Indian rock-cut architecture
- Indian vernacular architecture
- Dravidian Architecture
- Hemadpanthi
- Western Chalukya Architecture
- Badami Chalukya Architecture
- Rajasthani architecture
- Architecture of Karnataka
- Architecture of Bengal
- Hoysala architecture
- Vijayanagara architecture
- Kalinga Architecture
- Maratha Architecture
- Mughal architecture
- Indo-Islamic architecture
- Indo-Saracenic Revival architecture
- Chandigarh
- List of Indian architects
Cinema of India
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- Lists of Indian films
- List of Indian documentary films
- List of highest-grossing Bollywood films
- List of Bhojpuri films
- List of Marathi films
- List of Assamese films
- List of Tamil-language films
- List of Telugu-language films
- List of Malayalam films
- List of Kannada films
- List of Bengali films
- List of Indian film actresses
- List of Indian film actors
- List of Indian film directors
- List of Indian film choreographers
- List of Indian film cinematographers
- List of Indian film score composers
- List of film festivals in India
- List of Indian film producers
- List of Indian film screenwriters
Film Awards
- National Film Awards
- Filmfare Awards
- Stardust Awards
- Star Screen Awards
- Bollywood Movie Awards
- Global Indian Film Awards
- IIFA Awards
- Zee Cine Awards
- Nandi Awards
- Karnataka State Film Awards
Cinema by region
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Music of India
- Indian classical music
- Indian folk music
- Qawwali
- Indian pop
- Indian hip hop
- Filmi
- Indian rock
- Sangeet Natak Akademi
- Thyagaraja Aradhana
- Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana
- Chembai sangeetha utsavam
- List of Indian playback singers
- Indian musical instruments
Music by states and territories
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Literature of India
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- List of Indian poets
- List of Indian authors
- Indian epic poetry
- Jnanpith award
- Sahitya Akademi Award
- Indian Literature (journal)
- Indian folklore
Literature by language
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Languages in India
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Sports in India
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Multi-sport events
- India at the Olympics
- India at the Commonwealth Games
- India at the Asian Games
- India at the Lusofonia Games
General topics
Specific sports
- Cricket in India
- Field hockey in India
- Football in India
- Kabaddi
- Indian martial art
- Pickleball in India
- Rugby union in India
- Wrestling in India
Major Sports Leagues
- Hockey India League (Hockey)
- Indian Premier League (Cricket)
- I-League (Football)
- Indian Super League (Football)
- Indian Badminton League (IBL) (Badminton)
- Pro Kabaddi (Kabaddi)
- Ultimate Table Tennis (Table Tennis)
- Ultimate Kho Kho (Kho-Kho)
Culture by region
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By directional region
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Economy and infrastructure of India
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- Economic rank, by nominal GDP (2011): 9th (twelfth)
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Economy & infrastructure of states
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Education in India
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Education in states
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Tourism in India
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Tourist attractions
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Tourism in states
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Shikkaras at Dal lake, Jammu and Kashmir, India
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Khajuraho Temple, Madhya Pradesh, India
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Beach of Goa, India
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Gangotri Glacier, Uttarakhand, India
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A Tea Garden of Cachar, Assam, India
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Kaziranga National Park, Assam, India
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Kumbh Mela Sangam, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
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Akshardham Temple, Delhi, India
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India Gate, New Delhi
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Taj Mahal, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India
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Ladakh is a popular mountaineering site for climbers and trekkers.
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The White Rann of Kutch, Gujarat
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Thar Desert, Rajasthan
See also
- List of international rankings
- Member state of the Commonwealth of Nations
- Member state of the Group of Twenty Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors
- Member state of the United Nations
- Outline of Asia
- Outline of geography
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References
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External links
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File:Gnome-globe.svg Wikimedia Atlas of India
- Government
- Official entry portal of the Government of India
- Official directory of Indian Government websites
- General reference
- India. The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency.
- Encyclopædia Britannica entry on India
- BBC country profile of India
- Library of Congress Country Studies entry on India
- Other
- Incredible India – The Official Tourism Website of Ministry of Tourism, Government of India
- Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
- India 4You – Directory of popular Indian websites.