India A Country Study Guide

India is one of the oldest civilizations in the world with a kaleidoscopic variety and rich cultural heritage. It has achieved all-round socio-economic progress during the last 70 years of its Independence. As the 7th largest country in the world, India stands apart from the rest of Asia, marked off as it is by mountains and the sea, which give the country a distinct geographical entity. Bounded by the Great Himalayas in the north, it stretches southwards and at the Tropic of Cancer, tapers off into the Indian Ocean between the Bay of Bengal on the east and the Arabian Sea on the west. The world's largest democracy implemented its Constitution in 1950 that provided 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. The present book is a compendium of diverse aspects of India which is one of the oldest civilisations with a kaleidoscopic variety, rich cultural heritage and multifaceted socio-economic progress. The idea behind bringing out this book is to help one and all in understanding the country and its unity in diversity. India-its history, geography, people, population, national leaders, languages and literatures, art, culture, defence, education, economy, polity, foreign policy and relations, scientific and technological developments, law and justice, sports, festivals, transport, communication and related activities.