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The '''Republic of India''' ('''Bharat''') ([[Hindi]]:'''हिंदुस्तान''' ''Hindustan'') is a massive [[Social democracy|social democratic]] nation located in [[South Asia]] with a [[population]] of 1.42 billion people - the most of any country in the world.<ref>https://www.downtoearth.org.in/video/governance/india-surpasses-china-to-become-most-populous-country-in-the-world-87257#:~:text=According%20to%20projections%20by%20the,now%20stands%20at%201.41%20billion.</ref> It spans from the [[Himalayas]] in the north to the [[Indian Ocean]]. It borders [[Afghanistan]], [[Tajikistan]],<ref>http://www.jammu-kashmir.com/documents/harisingh47.html</ref>[[Tibet]], [[East Turkestan]], [[Pakistan]], [[Bangladesh]], [[Nepal]], [[Bhutan]] and [[Myanmar]]. India is the 7th largest country in the world in terms of area and the second most populous country (standing at around 1.4 billion according to 2021 estimates), only behind China.  

The '''Republic of India''' ('''Bharat''') ([[Hindi]]:'''हिंदुस्तान''' ''Hindustan'') is a massive [[Social democracy|social democratic]] nation located in [[South Asia]] with a [[population]] of 1.42 billion people - the most of any country in the world.<ref>https://www.downtoearth.org.in/video/governance/india-surpasses-china-to-become-most-populous-country-in-the-world-87257#:~:text=According%20to%20projections%20by%20the,now%20stands%20at%201.41%20billion.</ref> It spans from the [[Himalayas]] in the north to the [[Indian Ocean]]. It borders [[Afghanistan]], [[Tajikistan]],<ref>http://www.jammu-kashmir.com/documents/harisingh47.html</ref>[[Tibet]], [[East Turkestan]], [[Pakistan]], [[Bangladesh]], [[Nepal]], [[Bhutan]] and [[Myanmar]]. India is the 7th largest country in the world in terms of area and the second most populous country (standing at around 1.4 billion according to 2021 estimates), only behind China.  

India is far more [[conservative]] than [[China]], and the vast majority of Indians practice [[Hinduism]], a religion which emphasizes family values, education, and tradition.  The belief in [[reincarnation]] in Hinduism gives primacy to the future rather than the past, in contrast with Chinese religions.

India is far more [[conservative]] than [[China]], and the vast majority of Indians practice [[Hinduism]], a religion which emphasizes family values, education, and tradition.  [[Hindu]] belief in [[reincarnation]] prioritizes the future over the past, in contrast to Chinese religions.

Founded on August 15, 1947, India was known as the ''Union of India'' until it re-declared itself a [[democratic republic]], using the name Republic of India. Though India is the world's third-largest economy in terms of purchasing power parity, and the fifth-largest economy in terms of nominal GDP, it has high levels of [[poverty]], [[illiteracy]], [[corruption]] and [[crime]]. However, poverty, illiteracy, corruption, and crime are declining dramatically due to government reforms.

Founded on August 15, 1947, India was known as the ''Union of India'' until it re-declared itself a [[democratic republic]], using the name Republic of India. Though India is the world's third-largest economy in terms of purchasing power parity, and the fifth-largest economy in terms of nominal GDP, it has high levels of [[poverty]], [[illiteracy]], [[corruption]] and [[crime]]. However, poverty, illiteracy, corruption, and crime are declining dramatically due to government reforms.

==Etymology==

==Etymology==

The original name of India prior to European colonialism was Hindustan. The word Hindustan traces its origins back to the Brihaspati Agama, where it says ''"Starting from Himalaya up to Indu waters is this God created country called Hindustan."''<ref>https://www.sanskritimagazine.com/indian-religions/hinduism/how-old-is-the-word-hindu/</ref>

Before European colonialism, India was called Hindustan. The word Hindustan traces its origins back to the Brihaspati Agama, where it says ''"Starting from Himalaya up to Indu waters is this God created country called Hindustan."''<ref>https://www.sanskritimagazine.com/indian-religions/hinduism/how-old-is-the-word-hindu/</ref>

==People==

==People==

===Overview===

===Overview===

[[File:Indian family going to church.jpg|thumb|Indian family going to church.]]

[[File:Indian family going to church.jpg|thumb|Indian family going to church.]]

India has over 900 million [[Hindu]]s, 150 million [[Muslim]]s, 25 million [[Christian]]s and 20 million [[Sikh]]s among the many religious groups that make up the country<ref>https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/in.html</ref> including communities of [[Jain]]s, [[Buddhist]]s, and [[Bahai]].

India has over 900 million [[Hindu]]s, 150 million [[Muslim]]s, 25 million [[Christian]]s, and 20 million [[Sikh]]s among the many religious groups that make up the country,<ref>https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/in.html</ref> including communities of [[Jain]]s, [[Buddhist]]s, and [[Bahai]].

India is the region where four major world religions were founded:  

India is the region where four major world religions were founded:  

Sikhism is a monotheistic religion that originated in India in the 16th century A.D.

Sikhism is a monotheistic religion that originated in India in the 16th century A.D.

===Other Religions in India===

===Other Religions in India===

[[File:India-14.jpg|thumb|390px]]

[[File:India-14.jpg|thumb|390px]]

Emerging as the nation's single largest party in the April/May 2004 Lok Sabha election, Congress currently leads a coalition government under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Party President Sonia Gandhi was re-elected by the Party National Executive in May 2005. Also a Member of Parliament, she heads the Congress Lok Sabha delegation. Congress prides itself as a secular, left-of-center party, with a long history of political dominance. Although its performance in national elections had steadily declined during the last 12 years, its surprise victory in 2004 was a result of recruiting strong allies into the UPA, the anti-incumbency factor among voters, and its courtship of India's many poor, rural and Muslim voters. Congress political fortunes suffered badly in the 1990s, as many traditional supporters were lost to emerging regional and caste-based parties, such as the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Samajwadi Party, but have rebounded since its May 2004 ascension to power. It currently rules either directly or in coalition with its allies in 9 states. In November 2005, the Congress regained the Chief Ministership of Jammu and Kashmir state, under a power-sharing agreement.  

Emerging as the nation's single largest party in the April/May 2004 Lok Sabha election, Congress currently leads a coalition government under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Party President Sonia Gandhi was re-elected by the Party National Executive in May 2005. Also a Member of Parliament, she heads the Congress Lok Sabha delegation. Congress prides itself as a secular, left-of-center party, with a long history of political dominance. Although its performance in national elections had steadily declined during the last 12 years, its surprise victory in 2004 was a result of recruiting strong allies into the UPA, the anti-incumbency factor among voters, and its courtship of India's many poor, rural and Muslim voters. Congress's political fortunes suffered badly in the 1990s, as many traditional supporters were lost to emerging regional and caste-based parties, such as the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Samajwadi Party, but have rebounded since its May 2004 ascension to power. It currently rules either directly or in coalition with its allies in 9 states. In November 2005, the Congress regained the Chief Ministership of Jammu and Kashmir state, under a power-sharing agreement.