Land area: 3.29 million square kilometers

Capital: New Delhi

Political system and Government: India attained independence from British rule on 15 August 1947. The 1950 Constitution provides for a parliamentary system of Government with a bicameral parliament and three independent branches: the executive, the legislature and the judiciary. The country has a federal structure with elected Governments in States. There are 28 states and 7 Union Territories (administered directly by the Central Government). There is healthy competition between all the states to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for speedy economic growth and employment generation.

Population: 1,027 million (2001).

Population growth rate: 1.93 per cent (1991 - 2001)

Population density: 324 persons per square kilometre

Life expectancy: 60.4 years, male: 61.8 years, female: 59 years

Literacy rate: 65.38 per cent (Kerala has the highest literacy rate of 90.92 per cent. As per 2001 census all States and Union Territories have achieved a male literacy rate of 60 per cent and most of the States have attained a female literacy rate of over 50 per cent).

Languages spoken: India is a multilingual society with 22 principal languages recognised by the constitution. Hindi is the language of a large percentage of people (38 per cent), while English is the preferred business language.

Major religions: Majority are Hindus, though a significant number are Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and others.

International airports: Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bangalore, Chennai, Goa, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi, Thiruvananthapuram.

Major ports of entry: Chennai, Ennore, Haldia, Kolkata, Kandla, Kochi, Mormugao, Mumbai, New Mangalore, Paradip, Tuticorin and Vishakhapatnam.

Climate: Mainly tropical in Southern India but temperatures in the north range from sub-zero degrees to 50 degrees Celsius. There are well defined seasons in the northern region: winter (Dec - Feb), Spring (Mar - Apr), Summer (May - Jun), monsoons (Jul - Sep) and autumn (Oct - Nov).

Time zone: GMT +5.5 hours.

Currency unit: Indian Rupee (INR), 100 paise=1 INR. Coins in vogue: INR 1, 2 and 5. Currency notes: INR 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000.