India

India occupies most of the Indian subcontinent in South Asia and ranks among the world's largest countries by area. The Himalayas form a high mountain boundary in the north. South of them, the Indo-Gangetic Plain stretches across the northern part of the country, while the Deccan Plateau occupies much of the peninsula. The Arabian Sea borders the western coast and the Bay of Bengal the eastern coast. The island territories of Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar extend India's geography into these waters.

The country is divided into 28 states and eight union territories; its national capital is New Delhi. This regional structure encompasses areas with markedly different terrain, climate, settlement patterns and local identities.

India is exceptionally diverse in language and culture. Encyclopaedia Britannica describes hundreds of languages and dialects associated with four broad language families: Indo-Iranian, Dravidian, Austroasiatic and Tibeto-Burman. Religious traditions, regional arts, foodways and social practices also vary widely. This diversity is expressed locally as well as through national institutions and shared cultural life.

The Convention on Biological Diversity's country profile describes India as a megadiverse country and identifies four biodiversity hotspots that extend into its territory: the Himalaya, Indo-Burma, Western Ghats and Sri Lanka, and Sundaland. The country's varied climatic and topographic conditions support habitats that include forests, grasslands, wetlands, deserts, and coastal and marine ecosystems. These natural systems are important both for species conservation and for the livelihoods and resources on which communities depend.

India has a diversified industrial base, substantial agricultural activity, and globally connected service and technology sectors. The World Bank's 2026 country overview describes expanded infrastructure and access to basic services alongside persistent development challenges, including informal employment, regional disparities, unequal access to quality health and education, and vulnerability to climate change and natural hazards. Economic opportunity and living conditions therefore vary considerably across places and groups.