India
About India
India, officially the Republic of India, is a sovereign country located in Asia, specifically within the Southern Asia subregion. Its capital and largest urban centre is New Delhi, and the country is home to approximately 1417 million people. In its native languages, the country is known as “India”, “भारत”, “இந்தியா”. English, Hindi and Tamil are recognised as official or widely-spoken languages, shaping daily communication, education, government, and media throughout India. The official currency in circulation is the Indian rupee (₹), used for all domestic transactions and price-tagged goods. India is widely recognised for the Taj Mahal, exotic spices and Bollywood cinema. People from India are referred to as Indian.
Geography & climate
India covers approximately 3.29 million km² of territory, making it one of the largest countries in the world by land area. It shares land borders with 6 neighbouring countries — a position that has historically influenced migration patterns, regional politics, and cross-border commerce. Geographically, India sits in the Northern and Eastern Hemisphere, at roughly 20.0° N, 77.0° E. Standard civil time follows UTC+05:30 year-round, simplifying scheduling for residents and visitors alike. The prevailing climate of India can be summarised as: subcontinent with monsoons with hot tropical. Local weather patterns naturally vary by altitude, latitude, and proximity to oceans or mountain ranges.
People, language & society
With roughly 1417 million inhabitants, India is among the most populous countries in the world. Linguistic life is plural here: English, Hindi and Tamil are all in active use, with regional and minority tongues often adding further variety. Citizens are formally known in English as Indian, a demonym that appears in passports, official documents, and international reporting. Economically, the Indian rupee (₹) is the medium of exchange used by households and businesses, with exchange rates monitored by the country's central monetary authority.
Quick facts at a glance
- 🏙️ CapitalNew Delhi
- 📛 Official nameRepublic of India
- 🗣️ Native nameIndia · भारत · இந்தியா
- 🧑 DemonymIndian
- 📍 RegionSouth Asia
- 🌐 SubregionSouthern Asia
- 📐 Area3.29 million km²
- 👥 Population1417 million
- 🌡️ ClimateSubcontinent with monsoons · Hot tropical
- 🗺️ Land borders6
- 💬 LanguagesEnglish, Hindi, Tamil
- 💰 CurrencyIndian rupee (₹)
- 📞 Calling code+91
- 🌐 Internet TLD.in
- 🚗 Drives onleft side
- 🕐 Time zoneUTC+05:30
- 🇺🇳 UN memberYes
Practical travel & daily-life info
Visitors planning a trip to India should familiarise themselves with the capital, New Delhi, the local time zone (UTC+05:30), the local currency (Indian rupee). The international dialling prefix is +91, which is required when phoning a India number from abroad. Vehicles drive on the left side of the road, an important detail for anyone renting a car or crossing a land border by vehicle. The country's top-level internet domain is .in, used by local businesses, government sites, and many news organisations. The working week traditionally starts on Monday, which affects business hours, banking, and public holidays.
Government & global standing
India is recognised internationally as a sovereign, independent state. It is a member state of the United Nations, participating in the General Assembly and various specialised UN agencies. On the global stage, India is generally classified within the Asia region and more specifically the Southern Asia subregion, alongside neighbouring states with shared geographic, historical, or economic ties. GlobeIQ groups it under "South Asia" for the purposes of the game's regional hint.
Bordering countries
India shares land borders with 6 countries. Click any neighbour to read about it:
Did you know?
The decimal system and the concept of zero originated here — foundational gifts that underpin all modern mathematics and computation.
India in the GlobeIQ atlas
Inside the GlobeIQ game, India appears as an easier opening puzzle for new players. When the daily puzzle selects this country, players progressively unlock six hints — silhouette, climate and terrain, number of land borders, region, "known for" tagline, and finally the capital city — before a flag reveal confirms the answer. On its trophy card, India carries the personality tags “🕌 Land of Diversity” and “💃 Bollywood Nation”, short flavour labels chosen to evoke the country's most recognisable cultural signatures. Adding India to your personal atlas is one of 195 small wins on the road to a complete world map. Each correctly guessed nation also contributes to your running streak and unlocks milestone celebrations at 10, 25, 50, 100, and 150 collected countries.