FACTS

Location: Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and Pakistan

Area (only Total) total: 3,287,590 sq km

Climate: varies from tropical monsoon in south to temperate in north

Terrain: upland plain (Deccan Plateau) in south, flat to rolling plain along the Ganges, deserts in west, Himalayas in north

Population: 1,147,995,898

Main Language (only first): English

Government type: federal republic

Capital (Name): New Delhi

Capital (Time Difference): UTC+5.5

Independence: 15 August 1947 (from UK)

National holiday: Republic Day, 26 January