South Asia.

GMT + 5.5.

3,166,414 sq km (1,222,582 sq miles).

1.1 billion (estimate 2007).

347 per sq km.

New Delhi. Population: 16.6 million (estimate 2007).

India shares borders to the northwest with Pakistan, to the north with China, Nepal and Bhutan, and to the east with Bangladesh and Myanmar. To the west lies the Arabian Sea, to the east the Bay of Bengal and to the south the Indian Ocean. Sri Lanka lies off the southeast coast, and the Maldives off the southwest coast. The far northeastern states and territories are all but separated from the rest of India by Bangladesh as it extends northwards from the Bay of Bengal towards Bhutan. The Himalayan mountain range to the north and the Indus River (west) and Ganges River (east) form a physical barrier between India and the rest of Asia.

Republic since 1947.

President Pratibha Patil since July 2007.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh since 2004.

Pratibha Patil became India's first female president in July 2007 and her supporters hailed her election as a victory for women. She succeeds APJ Abdul Kalam, an esteemed scientist and the architect of the country's missile programme. Patil, of the ruling Congress Party, was previously the governor of Rajasthan.

India has seen several women in powerful positions - most notably Indira Gandhi, one of the world's first female prime ministers in 1966 - but activists say that women still face widespread discrimination both within and beyond the political arena.

Indian foreign policy continues to be dominated by relations with Pakistan. The main cause of friction is the status of Kashmir, a disputed territory straddling both nations. Historically, the USA and China had backed Pakistan while India had close relations with the Soviet Union. The demise of the Soviet Union has not, however, damaged India. China has long viewed India as a rival, however relations between these two emerging economic powers have been steadily improving over recent years.

The main language is Hindi which is spoken by about 40% of the population; English is also enshrined in the constitution for a wide range of official purposes. In addition, 17 regional languages are recognised by the constitution. These include Bengali, Gujarati, Oriya and Punjabi, which are widely used in the north, and Tamil and Telugu, which are common in the south. Other regional languages include Kannada, Malayalam and Marathi. The Muslim population largely speaks Urdu.

About 82% Hindu, 12% Muslim, with Sikh, Christian, Jain, Parsi and Buddhist minorities.

230-240 volts AC, 50Hz. Some areas have a DC supply. Plugs used are of the round two- and three-pin type.

The traditional Hindu greeting is to fold the hands and tilt the head forward to namaste. Indian women generally prefer not to shake hands. All visitors are asked to remove footwear when entering places of religious worship. Most Indians also remove their footwear when entering their homes; visitors should follow suit. Many Hindus are vegetarian and many, especially women, do not drink alcohol. Most Sikhs and Parsis do not smoke. When visiting a private home, gifts, such as flowers and sweets, are a polite display of gratitude for hospitality. Women are expected to dress modestly and men should also dress respectfully. Women should not wear short skirts and tight or revealing clothing, although there is a more casual approach to clothing in Goa. Businesspeople are usually expected to dress formally for meetings and social functions.

English-speaking guides are available at fixed charges at most official tourist centres. Guides speaking French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian or Spanish are available in some cities, especially the more touristic ones. Consult the nearest India Tourism office. Tourists are advised to ask for guides with certificates from the Ministry of Tourism or India Tourism (see Contact Addresses).

Photography: Formalities mainly concern protected monuments, places of worship and military sites. Photography at many places is allowed on payment of a prescribed fee, which varies. Photography may be prohibited at some border crossings, airports and train stations.