Question 1

What is the population of India?

Accepted Answer

The population of India is approximately 1.2B.

Question 2

How do people greet each other in India?

Accepted Answer

The traditional greeting is "namaste," said with palms pressed together (fingers pointing up) below the chin; "Hello" and "Hi" are also acceptable in urban areas since English is widely spoken. Do: Say "Namaste Bhai" to a man or "Namaste Behan" to a woman Add a slight bow to show respect to superiors Use titles like Dr, Mr, Shri (men), Shreemati (married women), Kumari (single women), or the suffix Ji with a last name Ask permission before taking your leave Don't: Don't shake hands with or touch women; foreign men especially should not initiate a handshake with a woman Don't forget: a younger person touches an elder's feet for blessings, while same-age people shake hands casually In rural North India say "Ram Ram Bhai/Behan" or "Kya haal chaal hai" In southern India, "namaskaram" is used Use the right hand for the salaam greeting with Muslims People often open with questions like "Did you have breakfast/lunch?"

Question 3

What are the dining customs in India?

Accepted Answer

Families often eat together and may use the right hand instead of utensils; meals are usually very spicy, with rice a staple in the south and wheat bread (roti) in the north. Do: Eat with your right hand if utensils aren't used Try betel leaves and nuts after meals to aid digestion Make a "namaste" gesture to indicate you've had enough to eat Don't: Don't let your lips touch a communal cup when drinking from it Don't offer beef to Hindus (cows are sacred) or pork or alcohol to Muslims Vegetarianism is widely practiced, often for religious reasons Curries of eggs, fish, meat, or vegetables in spicy sauce are popular Women may eat after other family members and guests Some Hindus object to food handled by members of lower castes

Question 4

What are the etiquette and hospitality customs in India?

Accepted Answer

Visiting usually happens in the home, often unannounced among friends and family, and guests are expected to reciprocate hospitality with gifts. Do: Bring sweets, flowers, or fruit when invited for a meal Remove your shoes before entering the living room or home Immediately remove any flower garland you're given and carry it in your hand as a sign of humility Say namaste to indicate you are ready to leave Don't: Don't stare at impoverished people, as it is considered humiliating Don't show anger—it is the worst way to achieve anything in India Don't expect a direct "no"; Indians may say "I'll try" if they cannot attend In large cities, arrange visits in advance rather than dropping in Guests may give specialty foods or gifts for the children

Question 5

How should you dress in India?

Accepted Answer

Women may wear a saree, which can reflect social standing or religious affiliation, while men's clothing varies by religion, such as turbans for Sikhs or long shirts with pants for Hindus and Muslims. Hindu women may wear a Bindi (red dot) on the forehead as a sign of femininity, marital status, or beauty A married woman's Bindi with white or vermilion powder signifies her husband is alive; widows do not wear one Indian women prefer wearing a large amount of jewelry Sikh men wear turbans and items of religious significance

Question 6

What gestures should travelers know in India?

Accepted Answer

Certain gestures carry strong meaning: beckon with the palm turned down, point with the chin, and grasp your earlobes to express repentance or sincerity. Don't: Don't whistle—it is very impolite, and women winking or whistling is considered unladylike Don't let your feet or shoes touch another person; apologize immediately if they do Don't lick postage stamps—use the water provided to moisten them Cover your head when entering a Sikh shrine Remove your footwear before entering a temple Fold your hands as in prayer with palms pressed together pointing upward while saying "num-us-tay"

Question 7

What is family life like in India?

Accepted Answer

The family takes precedence over the individual, with extended families often living together and the father as the head of the household. The elderly are respected and cared for by their families A middle or upper-class father supports his children financially until they finish education and get a job Dating is not common; marriages are still often arranged by parents with the couple's consent Weddings are elaborate celebrations that vary by region, often involving garland exchange and circling a fire Few women work outside the home, though a growing number of urban women join the workforce

Question 8

What do people do for recreation in India?

Accepted Answer

India's national passions are cricket and films, while board games like carom and chess (which originated in India) also have a long history. Cricket, introduced by the British, is slow-paced and can last five days Kho kho and kabaddi are two varieties of team tag popular with both sexes Boys favor string tops, marbles, cards, and kites; girls prefer jacks and crafts Carom is played by up to four players using black, white, and one pink "queen" coin

Question 9

What is the capital of India?

Accepted Answer

New Delhi is the capital of India and serves as the seat of the federal parliamentary republic's executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Located in the northern part of the country within the National Capital Territory of Delhi, it was officially designated the capital by the British colonial administration in 1911, replacing Calcutta. Today New Delhi functions as the political and administrative nerve center of the world's most populous democracy, home to landmarks such as the President's Estate, Parliament House, and India Gate.

Question 10

Where is India located?

Accepted Answer

India is located in South Asia, occupying the greater part of the Indian subcontinent on the continent of Asia. It extends from the Himalayan mountain ranges in the north to the Indian Ocean in the south, where it is flanked by the Arabian Sea to the west and the Bay of Bengal to the east. The country's strategic position at the crossroads of ancient trade routes has shaped its history for millennia, making it one of the earliest and most continuously inhabited civilizations on Earth.

Question 11

What countries border India?

Accepted Answer

India shares land borders with six countries: Pakistan to the northwest, China and Nepal to the north, Bhutan to the northeast, and Bangladesh and Myanmar to the east. Sri Lanka lies close to India's southeastern tip, separated by the Palk Strait. The country's long and complex border history reflects the 1947 partition of British India into the separate states of India and Pakistan, as well as subsequent conflicts that resulted in the creation of Bangladesh in 1971.

Question 12

What is the primary religion of India?

Accepted Answer

Hinduism is the dominant religion of India, practiced by approximately 81% of the population. Islam is the second-largest faith, observed by around 12% of Indians. Smaller communities of Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains make up much of the remaining population. Religion permeates daily life, architecture, and festivals across the subcontinent, and concepts of physical purity, spiritual refinement, and fatalism rooted in these traditions continue to shape Indian social values and customs.

Question 13

What is the currency of India?

Accepted Answer

The currency of India is the Indian Rupee, with the ISO code INR. Issued and regulated by the Reserve Bank of India, the rupee is subdivided into 100 paise, though paise coins have largely fallen out of everyday use. The rupee's exchange rate and monetary policy play a central role in India's position as one of the world's largest emerging economies, influencing sectors from agriculture and manufacturing to its globally significant technology and services industries.

Question 14

What languages are spoken in India?

Accepted Answer

Hindi is the most widely spoken language in India, serving as the primary tongue of roughly 41% of the population and one of the country's official languages. English holds the status of a subsidiary official language and remains the most important medium for national, political, and commercial communication. India recognizes 14 additional official languages — including Bengali, Telugu, Tamil, Marathi, and Urdu — reflecting the country's extraordinary linguistic diversity. In total, hundreds of distinct languages and dialects are spoken across the subcontinent.

Question 15

What is the geography of India like?

Accepted Answer

India is a vast and geographically diverse country covering approximately 3.29 million square kilometers, making it the seventh largest nation in the world by area. Its terrain ranges from the glaciated peaks of the Himalayas in the north to the fertile Indo-Gangetic Plain, the arid Thar Desert in the west, the Deccan Plateau across the interior south, and tropical coastlines stretching along both the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. The Ganges River, revered as sacred by hundreds of millions of Hindus, flows through the northern plains and sustains some of the country's most densely populated regions.

Question 16

What is India known for?

Accepted Answer

India is known for the Taj Mahal — the white-marble mausoleum built by Emperor Shah Jahan in Agra over 22 years by 20,000 workers — as well as for its extraordinarily diverse culinary traditions, from spiced biryanis to regional vegetarian cuisines. The country is a global leader in information technology and software exports, and hosts major festivals such as Diwali and Holi that are recognized worldwide. India is also the birthplace of four major world religions — Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism — and holds the distinction of being the world's most populous democracy, with uninterrupted free elections since independence in 1947.

India

Declare Your Relationship to India

CountryReports Community

Quick Look Factsheet

Unlock the full India factsheet