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The '''Republic of India''' is a nation located in south [[Asia]]. It spans from the Himalayas in the north to the Indian ocean..  The name "India" came from the word 'Indus', which derives from the Persian word "Hindu" which was used to describe the Sindhu river (now known as the Indus). It borders China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar. India is the 7th largest country in the world in terms of area and 2nd largest in terms of population, standing at around 1.1 billion (2005 estimate).  

The '''Republic of India''' is a nation located in south [[Asia]]. It spans from the Himalayas in the north to the Indian ocean..  The name "India" came from the word 'Indus', which derives from the Persian word "Hindu" which was used to describe the Sindhu river (now known as the Indus). It borders China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar. India is the 7th largest country in the world in terms of area and 2nd largest in terms of population, standing at around 1.1 billion (2005 estimate).  

Home to the Indus Valley Civilization, the history, culture and tradition of India is more than three thousand years old. India is place where four of the major world religions were founded: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. Although over 80% of Indians identify themselves as Hindu, India has large vibrant communities of Muslims, Sikhs, Christians and Buddhists.  

Home to the Indus Valley Civilization, the history, culture and tradition of India is more than three thousand years old. India is place where four of the major world religions were founded: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. Although over 80% of Indians identify themselves as Hindu, India has large vibrant communities of Muslims, Sikhs, Christians Jews, Bahaii and Buddhists. Christianity, Judaism and Islam have well-established traditions in India. The first identifiably Jewish migrants arrived in India as the Bene Israel group. There is some debate as to the Jewishness of a possibly older group of Indians in the Northeastern part of the country called the Bnei Menashe. Christianity arrived in India in the Second Century of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ through the travels of the Apostle Thomas, whose tomb in the Indian city of Chennai is a major pilgrimage site for Christians in India. Islam arrived through the implementation of holy war or "Jihad" by Arab militants led by Muhammad bin-Qasim in the latter half of the First Millenium of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and continued to spread with invasions, wars and forced conversions by Afghans and Turkic Mongols.Eventually, peace settled and they slowly integrated into the society and formed India's Islamic tradition. The Taj Mahal, India's national monument, was built by a Muslim emperor named Akbar.

In terms of purchasing power parity, its economy is the second largest in Asia, and is the worlds fourth largest economy. India is one of the fastest developing economies in the world with an annual growth rate of over 8%. However it is battling major obstacles to improve the average standard of living , such as high levels of poverty, illiteracy, and malnutrition.

In terms of purchasing power parity, its economy is the second largest in Asia, and is the worlds fourth largest economy. India is one of the fastest developing economies in the world with an annual growth rate of over 8%. However it is battling major obstacles to improve the average standard of living , such as high levels of poverty, illiteracy, and malnutrition.