What was the form of state in India. Indian clothing - male and female. Indian national clothes. Health and medical care

India has long been rich country, where Europeans sailed for interesting goods, fragrant spices, bright fabrics, precious metals and stones. The development of trade routes was facilitated by a unique and convenient location with direct access to the ocean. The lack of a competent government policy to preserve unique natural features and ecosystems has led to environmental disasters.

Geographic characteristics

The Republic of India is located in southern Asia on the Hindustan Peninsula. The territory of the state is 3.3 million km. The country ranks seventh in terms of area in the world.

India's neighbors are: Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Afghanistan. The country's maritime borders are adjacent to the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Indonesia. The country is densely populated. The total population exceeds 1 billion 300 million people.

Nature

Mountains and plains

The relief of the country is represented by high mountain ranges, plateaus and a large plain. The main and only mountain ranges of India are the Himalayas, stretching along the borders of Nepal, Afghanistan and China.

The ranges within the borders of India are still high mountains, but they differ in their complexity of structure from the main ranges located in other countries. The highest point in India is Mount Kanchenjungu with a height of over 8.5 thousand meters.

The flat part of the country is stretched parallel to the Himalayas. It is absolutely flat, and its length is 2,400 km. The remaining territory of the state is fragmented plateaus ...

Rivers and lakes

The rivers of India play an important role in the country and are the main source of water and a means of irrigating fields and lands. At the same time, they are the cause of natural disasters and catastrophes. The most famous rivers in India are the Ganges and the Brahmaputra. In general, more than a dozen large rivers flow through the country. For some, the main source of water is rain. Recharge and risk of flooding in their valleys occurs during the monsoons.

For other rivers, including large ones, the source of water is the glaciers of the Himalayas. The main periods of their flood and exit from the naturally low shores are the hot summer months. Many rivers in India empty into the Bay of Bengal.

There are practically no lakes in the country. There are only small ones. They are concentrated mainly in the Himalayas. Among the large reservoirs of this kind, only Sambhar Lake can be noted, which is used by the population for boiling salt ...

Seas surrounding India

The extremely favorable location of the state, which has access to the ocean, several centuries ago led to the economic prosperity of the country. This location matters to this day.

The shores of India are washed by the waters of the ocean of the same name and the seas that make up its basin. These are the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and its waters of the northern part of the Indian Ocean. The length of the coastline of the state is 7.5 thousand km.

Plants and animals of India

India is one of the few countries that can boast of a variety of animal and plant species. There are endemics here. There are about a third of them. On the territory of the state you can find coconut palm, sandalwood, bamboo, banyan and more. There are pine evergreen forests, monsoon forests, as well as mountain meadows.

In terms of the diversity of the animal world, the country has begun to lose ground over the past few decades. But here you can still meet the Indian rhinoceros, the Asiatic lion, the Himalayan bear, and also the leopard...

Climate of India

The climate of India is due to the presence of the Himalayas and the Thar Desert. Mountains are a natural barrier to cold air flows from Central Asia. It is for this reason that the air temperature in the country differs from the climate of states located in a similar zone.

In summer, monsoon winds with significant precipitation are attracted by the desert. It rains heavily from mid-summer to mid-autumn. On the territory of the country, there is the rainiest place on earth - this is the city of Cherrapunji, with an annual rainfall of 12,000 mm ...

Resources

Natural resources of India

The natural resources of India are represented by large deposits of minerals, the list of which includes: manganese ores, iron ores, aluminum, precious stones and metals.

Forests occupy about a quarter of the country's territory and are a source of timber, as well as fodder for livestock, but do not fully cover the needs of the state. The problem is deforestation in the Himalayas.

The land in the country is infertile. They require a well-thought-out system of irrigation, processing and fertilization. Because of this, there are few clean pastures in the country and there are not enough fodder plants for animals.

In India, wind energy is actively used. According to this method of energy generation, the country ranks fifth in the world...

Industry and agriculture in India

Mechanical engineering is the leader of India's industrial sector. Basically, local enterprises are engaged in the production of parts and components for cars.

In the list of the main types of industry of the state, it is worth noting ferrous metallurgy and the production of coal. The textile industry is actively developing in the country, significant investments are being made in it.

Agriculture is represented by the production of wheat and rice...

culture

Peoples of India

India is especially interesting for the mentality of its population. For a long time, an unusual social system existed here, in which there were various estates, the so-called castes. Residents treated them by profession, income level, place of residence or birth. According to the foundations, representatives of different castes could not marry. Today, at the official level, all this has been canceled, but in practice there are representatives of orthodox views who adhere to the same principles ...

Mysterious and amazing India ... In its open spaces there was one of ancient civilizations Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and Hinduism were born. In this article we will talk about the structure of this country. Consider the national-territorial division of India, and also tell about the main attractions and holidays.

Republic of India. Type of government

India fought for its independence for a long time, being In this regard, the question often arises: "India - a monarchy or a republic?". Conquered in the 18th century, the country gained independence only in 1947. Since then, the state has taken a course towards democratic development and the active development of the country as a whole.

India is a republic, a federal state, which is defined by the constitution as a sovereign socialist secular democratic republic. The president is at the head of the state. India is a parliamentary republic with two chambers, represented by the Council of States (upper house) and the House of the People (lower house).

The states and territories represent the national-territorial division of the Republic of India. So, in the state there are 29 states that have their own executive and legislative authorities. The national-territorial division of India also implies the existence of territories. In total, there are 7 territories in the country, which are actually represented by six territories and one metropolitan area of ​​Delhi. They are controlled by the central

Population and language of India

The Republic of India, with a population of one sixth of the world's population, is one of the most multiethnic countries. The country is home to about 1.30 billion people, and researchers predict that it will soon overtake China in terms of numbers.

Hindi is the state language and the most widely spoken, it is spoken by more than 40% of the population. Other popular languages ​​are English, Punjabi, Urdu, Gunjarti, Bengali, Telugu, Kannadi, etc. Indian states have their own official languages.

The majority of the population professes Hinduism (almost 80%), followed by Islam, followed by the Christian religion, Sikhism and Buddhism.

India has a high unemployment rate. With more than a billion inhabitants, there are only 500 million economically active people. About 70% are in the field of agriculture and forestry, and almost half of the people living in cities are employed in the service sector.

Ancient states and society

Proto-states were formed on the territory of India as early as the 1st millennium BC, eventually transforming into more confident public entities with a monarchical system of government. However, along with the monarchy, various sources often mention the parallel existence of Indian republics.

The republics are sometimes called kshatriya or oligarchic republics. They often fought with monarchies for the supremacy of power. Power in the republics was not hereditary, and elected rulers could be removed in case of dissatisfaction with their work.

Even then, in the republics, there was a social division of society into castes, leaving a deep mark on the history of the state of India (caste division is still preserved in the villages). Representatives of the oligarchy, who bore the title of "raja", had the greatest privileges in society. To obtain the title, it was necessary to undergo a special sacred rite.

Interestingly, the highest caste was originally considered the Brahmins - the clergy. In monarchies, this custom was preserved. Kshatriyas are warriors, guards, and in all cultures they usually took second, if not third place, after high-ranking persons. In the ancient Indian republics, the kshatriyas fought the brahmins for their supremacy, and sometimes forced the brahmins to obey them.

Indian castes

Modern Indian society still honors old traditions. The social division that developed in ancient times is still valid today. obey conditional laws, which are prescribed separately for each caste, now they are called varnas.

There are four main varnas in India. The highest rung, as in the ancient monarchies, is occupied by the Brahmins. Previously, they were clergymen, and at present, they teach in temples, devote themselves to spiritual development and educate the population. They are not allowed to work and eat food prepared by people belonging to another caste.

Kshatriyas are one step lower. Usually they occupy administrative posts or associate themselves with military affairs. Women from this caste are forbidden to marry a man who is lower in rank. This prohibition does not apply to men.

Vaishyas have long been farmers and traders. In today's Indian society, they have changed too much. Now vaishyas can occupy positions related to finances.

The dirtiest work always remained for the Shudras. As a rule, these were peasants and slaves. Now they represent the poorest segment of the population living in the slums.

Another caste is called "untouchables", which includes all outcasts. They, on the social level, are even lower than the Shudras. The untouchables, already within the caste, are divided into separate groups. For example, there is a group that includes gays, bisexuals, hermaphrodites. Such people often entertain members of other castes at various festivals.

The only people who do not belong to any caste and are truly considered outcasts are pariahs - those who are born from people from different castes. They are not allowed to appear in shops, in public transport.

Attractions in Republic of India

The most famous place, of course, is the Taj Mahal - a marble mausoleum, which, according to legend, an Indian ruler built in memory of his beloved wife. Snow-white domes, intricate patterns, walls decorated with precious stones and paintings, a park with an amazing column gallery.

However, this is not all that the Republic of India can boast of. The sights of this country include both various architectural structures and natural beauties. For example, the Dudhsagar waterfall, which is considered the largest in India. It is located in the foothills of the Western Ghats and is surrounded by unique landscapes.

Indian cities also open up many interesting sites. In Delhi, there is a fortification structure, the Red Fort, built in a special style and laid the foundation for Mughal architecture.

In Mumbai, you can wander around the pavilions of Bollywood - the main platform of the Indian film industry. You can walk along the streets of the "pink city" in Jaipur. The Maharaja's palace and the Amber Fort are also located here.

In the city of Calcutta, in addition to the famous Kali temple, there is the largest zoo in India and the Indian Museum.

traces of antiquity

Many objects arose long before the advent of the modern Republic of India. The world's first stupa is located in Madhya Pradesh. The Sanchi Stupa was built in the 3rd century BC, and the rest of the stupas were built in its image. The stupa is a monument of early Buddhist architecture, every detail of it is symbolic. The foundation means the earth and people, and the hemisphere - the gods.

Ancient attractions include cave temples in the state of Maharashtra. They were carved over several centuries by Buddhist monks, starting from the 2nd century BC. There are about 30 stone caves in Ellora.

Hampi temple on site ancient city Vijayanagara is mentioned in the Ramayana, an ancient Indian epic. This place is often called the Forsaken City. The temple is still active today. It is located among high hills, consisting of huge boulders. According to legend, the monkey god Hanuman threw stones here.

The old town of Gokarna consists of only one street, on which almost all the houses are wooden. Hindus believe that in this city, the god Shiva rose from the bowels of the earth after his exile, so it is sacred.

The largest Buddhist community is located in the so-called Little Tibet. There are three Buddhist temples and two monasteries here. Any traveler has access to the entrance, so you can see the service with your own eyes. In Little Tibet, there is a Tibetan market and a crafts center where you can join the making of carpets.

Temples and tombs

One of the most interesting sights of the Republic of India are tombs and temples. Humayun's tomb is not decorated with precious stones, unlike the above-mentioned mausoleum, but it is its prototype. It is located in Delhi and is an example of Mughal architecture.

The tomb of Itemad-ud-Daula is also striking in its beauty. This is a quadrangular building, which is located on a small pedestal. Each corner is decorated with minarets up to 13 meters high. On with the help of semi-precious stones, various images are laid out.

The Harmandir Sahib temple is also not to be overlooked. It was built back in the 16th century, and is now a place of worship for the Sikhs. A narrow path leads directly to the center of the artificial lake, where a dozen buildings surround the lake, forming a rather large architectural complex together with the temple.

The Virupaksha temple in southern India dates from around the 7th century. It is not a single building, but a large temple complex. The tower of the main temple has 9 levels and rises 50 meters up. Nearby is a sanctuary and a platform with columns. Pilgrims and curious travelers constantly come to this place. It is especially interesting here during various festivals, for example, the wedding festival of Virupaksha and Pampa.

urban slums

Having visited the Taj Mahal, it is absolutely impossible to say that you have been to India, because this is all just one side of the life of this country. The other side is hidden in the slums big cities Republic of India. These areas are intended for the life of the poor and several million people live here.

The Dharavi slum in Bombay was once considered the largest in the world. Here are hospitals, schools and living quarters up to 10 square meters. m., where up to 20 people live. The poorest residents live in tents. Hindus are not particularly clean - garbage is thrown right into the street, next to the place of residence. Some, however, try to take care of themselves by washing regularly and even cleaning their homes.

The general view of the slums is still metal multi-storey plywood houses, canvas rags hung in an attempt to create a semblance of housing, and garbage. All activities, from cooking to washing, in the slums are done outside. Houses are meant for sleeping. Waste is poured into specially equipped ditches with water.

Fans of extraordinary recreation find such areas quite picturesque and colorful. However, in recent years, construction work has been actively carried out in slum areas, and this zest may soon disappear from India.

Holidays and festivals

Due to the multinational nature of the country, many religious holidays are celebrated here, in addition to them, there are holidays of national significance: Republic Day, Independence Day and Gandhi's Birthday. Republic Day (see below) marks the adoption on January 26, 1950 of the country's Constitution, which marks the final liberation from Britain.

Every year in India, a holiday dedicated to the Ganges River is celebrated - Gang Mahotsava. In November, the city of Varanasi comes alive, people gather on the banks of the sacred river to swim in it. The locals sing folk songs and dance. The main event is the launch of luminous lanterns along the river. Before that, you need to make a wish, and if the flashlight burns for a long time, then the gods will surely fulfill the wish.

Diwali is another holiday of the Republic of India. Cities at this time are filled with light, which, according to legend, should defeat evil and failure. Fires, garlands, candles are lit everywhere, accompanied by noisy songs and festivities.

The real holiday of spring - Holi - is celebrated at the beginning of March, and lasts five days. At this time, an effigy of Holiki is burned, and on the second day they sprinkle colored powder and spices on each other, pour colored water, wishing happiness.

• Any manipulation of the import and export of local currency is prohibited by law.
• Despite the large number of people, India ranks first in the world in terms of the number of abortions.
• It is this country that is the ancestor of chess, algebra and geometry. The name "chess" previously sounded like "chaturanga" and was translated as four ranks of troops.
• There are more post offices here than anywhere else in the world. This is surprising, because the inhabitants of the slums do not even have addresses.
• Appearing about 3 thousand years ago, Ayurveda is considered the first medical school in the history of mankind.
• Navigation appeared in India more than 6 thousand years ago.
• In India, they “meet by clothes” and see off too. Since she talks about the social stratum to which a person belongs. Fabric, style and even color are important. A woman's hairstyle also matters.
• There are about 1500 dialects of various languages ​​in the country.
• Until about 1960, marijuana was legal in India.
• Once upon a time, Indian light fabrics conquered the Roman emperors. They have even been compared to the wind. These were the first cotton fabrics in the world.
• Freddie Mercury had Indian roots.
• Before submitting to Britain and becoming its colony, India was one of the richest countries in the world. That is why sailors dreamed of finding sea routes to it.
• If a Hindu shakes his head in different directions, as if reproaching you, do not worry, because this is a gesture of consent.
• Most Indian cafes or restaurants do not have a menu; visitors often order dishes they have long known.
• If there are no seats on the train, then people climb onto the shelves designed for luggage.
• In many states it is customary to eat on the floor, not because of poverty, just tradition.
• Kumbh Mela is a religious holiday celebrated in India only once every 12 years.
• Pronouncing the name of your husband in public is considered not entirely decent, so various indirect forms “see”, “look”, etc. are used.

Conclusion

India is a federal republic divided into states and territories. This is in many ways an interesting and incomprehensible country. Tourists visit the richest temples and mausoleums, and the poorest people live in slums, in makeshift plywood houses. A rich history is displayed in fairly well-preserved temples dedicated to different religions. Thousands of pilgrims come here to see ancient shrines, travelers hope to touch the past. Every year, cheerful and bright holidays and festivals are held here, full of lights, dances and folk music, naturally reinforcing them with legends and myths.

- a state in South Asia, occupying most of the Hindustan peninsula.

Official name of India:
Republic of India. The official name of the country, India, comes from the ancient Persian word "Sindhu" - the historical name of the Indus River. The Constitution of India also recognizes a second name, Bharat, which comes from the Sanskrit name of an ancient Indian king whose history was described in the Mahabharata. The third name, Hindustan, has been used since the time of the Mughal Empire, but has no official status.

Territory of India:
The area of ​​the state of the Republic of India is 3287590 km².

Population of India:
The population of India is more than 1 billion inhabitants (1126000000 people).

Ethnic groups of India:
In India, there are several hundred nations, nationalities and tribes, the largest of them are: Hindustanis, Telugu, Marathas, Bengalis, Tamils, Gujaratis, Kannara, Punjabis, etc.

Average life expectancy in India:
The average life expectancy in India is equal to - 63.62 years (see. Rating of countries in the world by average life expectancy).

Capital of India:
New Delhi (Delhi).

Major cities in India:
New Delhi (Delhi), Kolkata (over 16 million inhabitants), Mumbai (Bombay) (over 15 million inhabitants), Chennai (Madras) (6 million inhabitants), Hyderabad (5 million inhabitants), Bangalore (4 .5 million inhabitants), Ahmedabad (4 million inhabitants).

State language of India:
Hindi, English. More than 30 different languages ​​and 2000 dialects are spoken in India. The Constitution of India stipulates that Hindi and English are the two languages ​​of the national government, i.e. state languages. In addition, there is an official list of 22 languages ​​(scheduled languages) that can be used by Indian state governments for various administrative purposes.

It was planned that in 1965 English language will lose the status of the state and will be called the "additional state language" until the full transition to Hindi is completed. However, due to the protests of some states in which Hindi did not become widespread, the situation was maintained when two languages ​​are state. Due to rapid industrialization, and multinational influence in the economy, English continues to be a popular and influential means of communication in government and business.

Religion in India:
Hindus - 81.3% of the population of India, Muslims - 12%, Christians - 2.3%, Sikhs - 1.9%, other groups (including Buddhists, Jains, Nestorians, Parsi, etc.) - 2.5%.

Geographic location of India:
India is a state in South Asia, occupying most of the Hindustan peninsula. India borders Pakistan to the west, China, Nepal and Bhutan to the northeast, Bangladesh and Myanmar to the east. In addition, India has maritime borders with the Maldives in the southwest, with Sri Lanka in the south and with Indonesia in the southeast. disputed territory The state of Jammu and Kashmir shares a border with Afghanistan.

India is a huge triangular country in southern Asia, bordered by the Himalayas on the north and the Indian Ocean on the south.
Sri Lanka is located off the northern coast of India. India covers an area of ​​3,287,590 km, although this figure is not entirely accurate as parts of the border are disputed by China and Pakistan.

North India has the snowy peaks and valleys of the Himalayas and the vast Indo-Gangetic Plain that separates the Himalayas from the southern peninsula and stretches from the Arabian Sea to the Bay of Bengal. South of the plains, the landscape rises into the Deccan Plateau, which is triangular in shape and ranges from 300 to 900 meters above sea level. The plateau is bordered by the Eastern and Western Ghats, hills that run parallel along the eastern and western coasts of Hindustan and separate the fertile coastal regions from the interior.

Rivers of India:
Brahmaputra, Ganges, Godavari, Indus, Krishna (river), Sabarmati.

Administrative-territorial division of India:
India is made up of twenty-eight states (which in turn are divided into districts), six union territories and the National Capital Territory of Delhi. Each state has its own elected government, while the union territories are governed by an administrator appointed by the union government. However, some union territories have their own elected governments.

States of India:

Andhra Pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh

Gujarat

Jammu and Kashmir

Jharkhand

West Bengal

Karnataka

• Madhya Pradesh

• Maharashtra

  Meghalaya

• Nagaland

• Rajasthan

• Tamil Nadu

• Uttaranchal

  Uttar Pradesh

• Himachal Pradesh

  Chhattisgarh

Union Territories of India:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Dadra and Nagar Haveli

Daman and Diu

Lakshadweep

National Capital Territory of Delhi

Pondicherry

Chandigarh

State structure of India:
The executive power in India is exercised by the president, vice president and government headed by the prime minister. The president is elected for a five-year term by an electoral college composed of members of both houses of parliament and members of the state legislatures. The president can be re-elected for a second term. The vice president is elected by an electoral college for a five-year period by members of both houses of parliament. The vice president is also chairman of the Council of States (the upper house of parliament). The prime minister is appointed by the president, but the leader of the party or coalition that has the majority of mandates in the lower house, to which the government is accountable, is nominated. Ministers, who are also officially approved by the president, are nominated by the prime minister. The government forms the Council of Ministers, which is responsible for the operation of the administrative machine and the determination of state policy.

The President of India appoints the President of the Supreme Court, on the recommendation of the latter, the members of the Supreme Court and the highest courts of the states, as well as other senior officials. All legislative acts of the Indian Parliament, and in part local acts, come into force after signing them by the President. The President performs legislative activities during the breaks in the work of Parliament, which approves presidential decrees. The head of state has the right to declare a state of emergency in the states. The president can impose martial law in the country in the event of a serious threat to security due to external aggression or armed rebellion. The corresponding presidential declaration needs to be approved by both houses of parliament within a month. The President has the power to issue laws during martial law that are binding on all states of the country.

The Parliament of India consists of two houses - the upper Rajya Sabha, or Council of States, and the lower Lok Sabha, or House of People.
The deputies of the Lok Sabha, who in 1998 numbered 545, are elected (except for two from the Anglo-Indian community) by direct, universal and secret suffrage in constituencies formed in the states and union territories. One of the members of parliament is also the president of the country. The quota of each administrative-territorial unit is proportional to the population. The Lok Sabha can pass a vote of no confidence in the government and demand its removal. The lower house is elected for a term of 5 years, but the president has the right to dissolve it earlier on the recommendation of the prime minister or in the event of the government being dismissed. Laws related to the financial sector are adopted only by the Lok Sabha.

The maximum number of members of the Rajya Sabha is 245.
Almost all of them (with the exception of 12) are elected in the legislatures of the states and union territories. The rest are appointed by the president, taking into account their contribution to literature, science, art and their social activities. The Rajya Sabha cannot be dissolved, but at the end of every second year there is a one-third rotation of the House. As a result, the deputy corps is completely replaced every 6 years.

Legislative acts must pass through both houses of parliament.
The Rajya Sabha has veto power over those relating to financial matters, although the House may not rule out a recommendation for reconsideration. Other discrepancies are discussed in joint session, in which the members of the chambers have one vote each, which ensures the advantage of the Lok Sabha.

The Government Civil Services of India includes three blocks:
at the level of the country as a whole, the states and within the framework of the all-Indian departments, which have their leading divisions in the center, states and union territories. Until 1961, only the Indian Administrative Service and the Indian Police Service belonged to such departments. Later, the Indian Engineering service, Indian Health Service and Indian Forest Service.

The Constitution of India contains a provision for independent commissions in the departments government controlled who must conduct certification and approve officials in civil institutions. Central organizations, for example, in the areas of taxation, postal services, customs operations, and the Central Secretariat rely on their own rules and procedures for the selection of personnel.

The Indian Administrative Service of India (IAS) has approximately 3,000 senior staff.
It is replenished annually by 100 college graduates, of which 75% are accepted on the basis of a tough competition and 25% - on the recommendation of local branches of the IAS. IAS personnel hold important positions in the districts and work in national and state government agencies.

The Planning Commission was created by a decision of the Cabinet of Ministers in 1950 as an advisory body on planning issues. economic development India, led by the Prime Minister.

The system of government in the states of India.
The executive power in the states is represented by the governor, who is appointed by the president for a five-year term. The Governor appoints the chief minister of the state, who is the leader of the majority party or party coalition in the legislature, and entrusts him with the formation of the state council of ministers. In his actions, the governor is guided by the recommendations of the council of ministers headed by the chief minister. Ministers are collectively responsible to the state legislature, which is elected for 5 years by popular vote in the territorial districts. Most states have small upper houses, or legislative councils. Their members are either chosen by a specially agreed electorate or appointed by the governor.

Before being signed by the governor, laws must be approved in both chambers.
In the event of a divergence of their positions, the constitutional procedure leaves the final decision to the lower house. It is she who has the right to legislative disposal of finances. It is the responsibility of the Governor to send some of the laws passed to the President of India for approval.

Center and states: the division of power.
The division of power between the capital and the states is governed by three registries. The first one lists approx. 100 functions assigned to federal bodies, including defense, foreign policy, money circulation and taxation. The second contains 66 articles reflecting the tasks entrusted to state administrations, incl. maintenance of public order, police activities, judiciary, local government, ensuring the development of education, health, social services and agriculture. In addition, the national government depends on the province for nearly all rural development programs. The third register indicates those areas of activity for which both the center and the states are responsible.

The collection of the most important taxes in India is the responsibility of the central government, which strengthens its position in considering the distribution of the proceeds between the capital and the states, to which it allocates grants and loans for various development projects. However, the balance of power is only favorable to the Indian government when the state is in the same party that governs the country, and the prime minister is popular and can appeal directly to the electorate.

The balance of power between the center and the periphery changes when a state of emergency is declared in India.
Introducing it by decree in any state, the president (together with the Indian Parliament, if events occur during the session) gets the opportunity to issue legislative acts for that state. Parliament must approve the decision of the head of state within two months and then confirm its previous position every six months. A state of emergency may be introduced for a period not exceeding three years. In the 1970s and 1980s, the removal of state governments by the President of India and the establishment of direct rule from Delhi were used more than once on the ground in order to prevent opposition parties from coming to power.

Local government in India.
During the years of British rule, the district (zila), headed by an official from the Indian Administrative Service, became the main administrative unit. Districts with at least 1.3 million inhabitants retained their importance in independent India. However, the key structure was the "development block" (there are about 6,000 of them in the country), covering approximately 100 villages with a total of 100,000 inhabitants. These blocks are headed by approx. 6,000 officials who are subordinate to the staff of specialists for engineering work and the dissemination of advanced business practices. In addition to this, since the late 1950s, the government has been encouraging the formation of local self-government bodies based on village councils - panchayats. The new system has acquired a standardized structure: the lower level - panchayats formed by voting in the villages, the middle - panchayat committees indirectly elected in "blocs", and the upper - district councils (zila parishad), to which these committees send their representatives to coordinate programs actions.

- a state in southern Asia, which stretches from the peaks of the Karakoram in the north to Cape Kumari in the south, from the deserts of Rajasthan in the west to Bengal in the east. In the south, east and west, the country is washed by the Arabian, Laccadive and Bengal seas and the Bay of Bengal of the Indian Ocean. India borders in the west and northwest with Pakistan, in the north the Himalayas separate the state from China and Bhutan, in the northeast - from Nepal and in the east - from Bangladesh.

The name of the country comes from the name of the Indus River, in Hindi and Urdu "Sindh" means "river".

General information about India

Official name: Republic of India

Capital: Delhi

The area of ​​the land: 3.3 million sq. km

Total population: 1.2 billion people

Administrative division: Federal republic, which includes 25 states and 7 union territories of central subordination.

Form of government: Republic with a federal state structure.

Head of State: President elected for a term of 5 years.

Composition of the population: 72% - Indo-Aryans, 25% - Dravidians, 3% - Mongoloids.

Official language: English and Hindi, as well as 17 regional languages ​​in different states. Among other languages, the most common are Bengali, Telugu, Tamil and some others.

Religion: 83% of the country's inhabitants profess Hinduism, the rest - Islam, Christianity, Sikhism.

Internet domain: .in

Mains voltage: ~230 V, 50 Hz

Phone country code: +91

Country barcode: 890

Climate

In India, which occupies a large area and is distinguished by a significant vertical differentiation of the relief and different distances from the ocean, contrasts in the distribution of heat and moisture are pronounced. In general, the climate of the country is greatly influenced by monsoons. The altitude factor predetermined the cold climate of the high mountains in northern India, while the temperate climate prevails on the low slopes of these mountains and on the plateau.

The resorts of Northern India are located in the altitudinal zone from 1500 to 2300 m. For example, in Darjeeling and Srinagar, the climatic conditions are comfortable throughout the year. Average monthly temperatures in Darjeeling range from 4°C in winter to 17°C in mid-summer when moderately warm weather prevails.

In many parts of Hindustan, the average air temperature of the coldest month, January, is 18–24 ° C, and the summer months are 24–29 ° C. However, the temperature often rises to 32 ° C during the day. In the northern plains, from West Bengal to the border with Pakistan, summer is very hot, and the average temperature in Bengal reaches 29 ° C; they gradually rise as they move northwest and in Delhi reach 33° C in May. average winter temperatures there are 7–16°C.

Annual precipitation ranges from less than 100 mm in the Thar Desert to 10,770 mm at Cherrapunji Station in the Khasi Mountains, one of the wettest places on Earth. For Western India, the average annual rainfall is as follows: Punjab 400–500 mm, Thar Desert 50–130 mm, Saurashtra (Kathiyawar Peninsula) 650–1000 mm, western coast of Hindustan over 2000 mm and east coast at the foot of the Eastern Ghats 1300–2050 mm. Central India receives an average of 650–1300 mm of precipitation per year. In the northeast of peninsular India and in the flat north of the country, precipitation is 1300–2050 mm, and in the eastern Himalayas and most parts of Bengal and Assam - more than 2000 mm.

Geography

India is located in southern Asia on the Hindustan Peninsula between the headwaters of the rivers of the Indus system in the Punjab in the west and the river system of the Ganges in the East. In the north, the country borders with China, Bhutan and Nepal, in the northwest - with Pakistan, in the east - with Myanmar and the People's Republic of Bangladesh. In the east, India is washed by the Bay of Bengal, in the west - by the Arabian Sea, in the south - by the Indian Ocean.

The length of India from north to south is about 3220 km, and from east to west - 2930 km. The land border of India is 15200 km, and the sea - 6083 km. Its area is 3287.3 thousand sq. km.

The natural conditions of India are very diverse. In general, 3 regions can be distinguished on its territory.

1) The Himalayas, located in northern India. In translation, the name Himalayas means "abode of snows." Here is the highest peak in the world - Mount Chomolungma (Everest), which has risen to 8848 m above sea level. But her neighbors are not inferior to her older sister, the height of 5 - 6 thousand meters is quite common in these massifs. The Himalayas stretched from east to west (from the Brahmaputra river to the Indus river) for 2500 km with a width of 150 to 400 km. The Himalayas consist of three main mountain ranges: the Sivalik Mountains in the south (altitudes 800-1200 m), then the Lesser Himalayas (2500-3000 m) and the Greater Himalayas (5500-6000 m).

2) The Deccan Plateau on the Hindustan Peninsula with adjacent coastal lowlands. The average height is 300 - 900 m. The Deccan is an arid, hilly plateau, bounded by the Western (higher) and Eastern Ghats mountains from the west and east. The Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri rivers flow through the Deccan plateau in the direction from West to East, which become very shallow in winter. It is interesting that, according to modern concepts, the Deccan Plateau was formed tens of millions of years ago as a result of the "swelling" of the earth's surface from the impact of an asteroid from the opposite side. the globe in the Gulf of Mexico (it was this catastrophe that probably caused the extinction of the dinosaurs).

3) Indo-Gangetic Plain, which occupies the central and eastern part of India, its area is 319 thousand square kilometers. Up to 250 million people live on the territory of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. This vast area, stretched parallel to the Himalayan ranges.

The main rivers in India are the Ganges (2510 km), Brahmaputra (2900 km), Indus (2879 km). They are very high water and are used for navigation. A characteristic phenomenon for the northern territories of the country are floods during the melting of glaciers.

Flora and fauna

Vegetable world

The territory of India stretches almost 30 ° from north to south and covers an altitudinal range of approx. 9100 m, in addition, within its limits, the average annual precipitation in different areas varies from less than 100 to more than 10,000 mm. Therefore, it is not surprising that the vegetation of the country is very diverse.

The flora of India has more than 20 thousand species, many endemics. The forests of India are divided into two groups - tropical forests within Hindustan and temperate forests covering the slopes of the Himalayas at altitudes of more than 1500 m above sea level.

Animal world

The modern wild fauna of India includes about 350 species of mammals, more than 1200 species and subspecies of birds and over 20 thousand species of insects. In recent decades, the number of many species of animals, especially large ones, has been greatly reduced. Of the large predators, the Asian lion has survived only in the Gir Forest National Park on the Kathiyawar Peninsula (Gujarat), tigers and leopards are found in the jungles of the Terai, in the Assam-Burman border zone and in the north of Hindustan. Hyenas, cheetahs and jackals are numerous in the northern part of the country.

Wild herbivores include the Indian one-horned rhinoceros, Asia's largest rhinoceros, which is found in several national parks and reserves in Assam and West Bengal, and even in these remote areas, its numbers continue to decline. In India, in particular in the state of Assam, there are several types of deer: sambar (with horns up to 100 cm long), axis, or read, swamp deer, barasinga (its horns have more than 14 processes), muntzhak.

The most diverse fauna of the Himalayas. Musk deer lives at the upper border of mountain forests. In the Dachigam National Park (Jammu and Kashmir) there are black Himalayan bear, hangul (Kashmir red deer), leopard. In the mountains in the north-east of the country (the states of Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya and Nagaland) there is a Malay bear. In the highlands of the Himalayas, yaks and kulans are most adapted to harsh conditions, and snow leopards are occasionally found.

The smallest of the mountain sheep, the shapu, lives above the forest line on the steep, grassy slopes of Ladakh, the largest of the mountain sheep, the nayan, is found from northern Ladakh in the west to northern Sikkim in the east, and of the rare ones, the Marco Polo sheep and kuku Yaman, or blue goat. Alpine, or mountain, goat is common in the west of the Himalayas - in Kashmir and Ladakh. Markhor (or markhor goat), tar, chiru (or orongo), gazelle, takin, goral also live in the mountains.

Among smaller mammals, monkeys stand out.

In the forests of Assam, there is the only representative of great apes in India - the hulok gibbon, or the white-browed gibbon. The most widespread monkey is the langur, or thin-bodied. Monkeys and most other small animals, especially rodents, cause significant damage to agriculture. The exception is the mongoose, which controls the population of snakes, which are very numerous in India.

Gazelles, four-horned antelopes, hares, small rodents, Bengal cats, common foxes, mongooses, hyenas, wolves, jackals, leopards live in the savannas of the Deccan Plateau. Deccan rainforests are characterized by deer (sambars, axis, muntjacs), gaura bulls, loris semi-monkeys (south of the Godvari River), tigers, red wolves, and for the wettest habitats - marsh deer, wild buffaloes and elephants. In the narrow, forested gorges of the spurs of the Western Ghats, there are elephants, gaurs, and such endemics as the Nilgiri langur monkey, the strong macaque, the brown mongoose, and the Malabar civet. In the jungles of the Deccan there are tigers and a sloth bear, hyenas, jackals. Of the small animals of the Deccan, squirrels are remarkable - striped, or palm, and giant Malabar, from rodents - dormouse and musky shrew.

The avifauna is very rich, many species of birds are famous for their colorful plumage (pink-winged Cramer's parrots, red-headed weavers, black drongos, kingfishers, fruit pigeons, black-and-red larvae, pink-cheeked bulbuls, golden-fronted leaflets). Species diversity and abundance of crane-like (rare black-necked crane, Indian crane antigone, Egyptian herons, etc.), storks (Indian marabou, etc.), parrots, honey plants, ravens, waterfowl (pelicans, teals, ducks) are striking.

Banking roosters are the ancestors of domestic chickens, and wild peacocks, often found in Central India, are mostly descendants of birds bred in the gardens of the Mughal rulers. The Indian starling, or myna, has spread to many tropical regions. There are vultures, kites and crows. In winter, the number of birds almost doubles - birds arrive for wintering from Europe and North Asia.

India has a diverse fauna of reptiles. There are cobras, including the largest poisonous snake in India - the king cobra, pythons and many other snakes (ribbon krait, or bungar, coral snakes, Russell's viper, rattlesnake, or pit viper, snake, shield-tailed snakes, blind snake, egg snakes, ok 25 species of snakes), geckos, chameleons, in the estuaries of the Bay of Bengal - crocodiles. In the waters of the Ganges and the Brahmaputra, there are freshwater, or Gangetic, Susuk dolphins from 1.8 m to 2.5 m long and the Gangetic gharial crocodile up to 6.6 m long.

Of the insects, centipedes and scorpions are numerous, but small insects, primarily termites, bring the main damage.

Attractions

The country of one of the oldest civilizations in the world, the richest natural conditions and warm climate, India simply cannot but attract the attention of millions of tourists. The majestic Himalayas and mysterious Tibet, the sacred river Ganges and the tropical forests of the Western Ghats, dozens of seaside resorts and the "golden triangle", numerous monuments of past centuries and a huge number of museums, all this is the national pride of this country.

On weekdays, banks are open from 10.00 to 14.00, on Saturday - from 10.00 to 12.00. There are branches that are open in the evenings or on Sundays. All banks are closed during public holidays, as well as on June 30 and December 31.

In major cities, you can use a credit card. The most common are Master Card, Visa International and American Express.

Useful information for tourists

India attracts tourists with exotic and cheap prices. On the streets, in gardens, parks and on the roads of any city in the country, animals walk peacefully, ignoring motorists.

The abundance of shops, shops and shops makes a stunning impression on tourists. Here you can buy almost everything. In India, it is customary to bargain, but not in the same way as in Arab countries. Here they seek discounts on goods according to the so-called Dutch scheme: the price named by the merchant is gradually reduced with the utterance of the magic word “expensive”. In the process of trading great importance play intonation and gestures. If the Indian agrees, he shakes his head from side to side, if not, he nods from top to bottom. Paper money - rupees - can be dirty and worn. If the bill has holes, it will be accepted for payment, but if the corners are torn off or the edges are torn, it must be replaced.

Any place where you can eat is called a restaurant. After the meal, the waiter brings the bill and puts it face down. It is customary to pay for it with a large bill that exceeds the cost of lunch. It is customary to give tea 10% of total amount accounts. Food in India is unusually cheap. Hinduism forbids the consumption of alcoholic beverages, so they are not served in the restaurant, but in some establishments they are allowed to bring with you. On Fridays in India, dry law is observed, and alcohol cannot be obtained for any money.

Handshakes are not accepted in India. Instead, Hindus use the traditional gesture of raising their joined palms to their chin as if in prayer, and shaking their heads with the words: "Namaste". Thus, local residents greet not only each other, but also their guests.

The history of the state and law of Ancient India in legal science is considered in several periods:

1) Ancient period

(IV - first half of II millennium BC)

2) Vedic period

(second half of the 2nd century BC - the middle of the 1st century BC)

3) Mauryan Period

(second half of the 1st century BC - 1st century AD)

Socio-political system. The reasons for the emergence and development of the state and the law of Ancient India have characteristic features, as in all states ancient east:

● irrigation production

● farming

● economic needs of society

The structure of the ancient Indian society consisted of 4 varnas and was built according to the hierarchy:

1) Brahmins (God-born sons)

2) kshatriyas (warriors)

3) vaishyas (merchants, artisans, farmers)

4) Shudras (laborers)

Brahmins had superiority over all lower varnas and were recognized as messengers of God, taught religion and sciences.

Kshatriyas were obliged to carry out protection in the state.

Vaishyas, as well as the two higher varnas, belonged to the privileged class of ancient Indian society. Their duties included usury, trade, agriculture, the study of rituals and rituals, and the distribution of alms.

Shudras belonged to the lowest varna. The primary duty of a sudra was to serve the three varnas (Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas).

Based on the religious ideas of ancient Indian society, varnas originated from the body of the cosmic Giant Purusha:

→ Head - Brahmins

→ Hands - Kshatriyas

→ Thighs - Vaishya

→ Feet - Sudras

Slaves in Ancient India, as in all states of the Ancient East, were not recognized as a subject of law. Prisoners of war, debtors and children born from a slave fell into slavery.

Political system. According to the form of government, Ancient India was a unitary state, according to the form of government - a monarchy. The hierarchy of power was as follows:

1) Tsar (power is unlimited, but subject to liability for improper performance of their duties)

2) central authorities

3) prince - the head of the province

4) rajuk - the head of the region

5) mukhya - the head of the city

6) headman - the head of the village

The legal status of the monarch in ancient India differed sharply from the status of the ruler ancient egypt and Ancient Babylon. The tsar was not deified, he bore civil and criminal liability to the people and the state, and did not have the right to impose punishments on privileged social groups.

Right. The main sources of law in ancient India are the Laws of Manu, compiled by the Brahmins in the 2nd century BC. BC. - II century. AD

The laws of Manu were of a pronounced ideological nature and established unequal positions for various strata of society.

The legal monument consisted of 12 chapters and 2685 articles, regulated religious, moral and legal relations.

An extensive list of items and types of property in the collection of rules of conduct indicates the development of civil law relations, as well as clearly defined methods of acquiring property:

→ inheritance

→ conquest

→ purchase

→ receiving as a gift

→ usury

→ for the performance of a certain amount of work

→ charity

The Laws of Manu spelled out the rules on the need for compensation for damage in case of damage to someone else's property.

Despite the fact that the source of law did not regulate the age of onset of legal capacity, transactions concluded by slaves, children, the elderly or mentally ill people were declared invalid.

Marriage and family relations were based on the principles of patriarchy and the unequal status of family members (gender, age and origin).

Marriage between a higher and lower varna was forbidden.

When considering criminal cases, the tsar was instructed to take into account the objective and subjective aspects of the offense committed when choosing a measure of punishment.

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2. The political structure of ancient India

It is characterized by a caste structure of society, which is largely preserved in our time. Since the basis of the world is Brahman, and the world is a universal man - Purusha, it turns out that the actual creator of the world is a wise man. The creation of the world is identical to the process of asking questions, the answers to which structure society. From the mouth of Purusha, a varna (social stratum, strata) of brahmins/sages is created; from the hands - varna of kshatriyas - warriors; from the thigh - vaishya - varna of farmers, artisans, merchants; from the feet - varna shudras - slaves. The latter cannot take part in solving the affairs of the country, the state, since they do not have their own thoughts - they are called upon to fulfill the decisions of other varnas.

The transition from one varna to another is possible, but for this a person must make significant efforts in acquiring the skills of cognitive thinking. That is, one must have a strong desire to know the truth, which is revealed by the efforts of thinking, designed according to the eightfold noble path of the Buddha, which opens the way to the happiness of nirvana as a state of non-existence of suffering. The path presupposes right understanding, right motivation, right speech, right behavior, right way of life, right aspiration, right thinking, right contemplation.

Since such a path is difficult, a caste society and a state that preserves it have become established. The prospects for equality are related to the extent to which a person is able to develop in himself the main qualities - thinking, faith, perseverance, action, happiness. This is very important for the modern student: “Be afraid of ignorance, but be even more afraid of false truths; don't trust your feelings. Because they will lead you into self-deception... A mind that errs is even worse for a person. than a malicious and hated enemy, an enemy.

2. Political doctrines of Antiquity

a) The doctrine of Plato (428-348 BC) about the state

He proceeded from the fact that man is a social "animal". Therefore, he must overcome the impulses of his biological nature. Without a policy - a community - a person feels his incompleteness. Hence the desire to create associations in which this incompleteness would not be felt. But objectively, in each policy, two opposite and hostile policies are created - one for the poor, the other for the rich. In each of them also there is a division for different properties.

The policies differ among themselves according to the forms of government. These are: a) timocracy or timarchy - the power of a small number of the best, strong in mind and reasonable will; b) oligarchy as the power of several former timocrats who got rich, but at the same time lost interest in a reasonable form of government policy; c) democracy - the power of the people as the power of the majority over the minority, the power of the poor over the rich; d) tyranny - the power of one over all, based on cruel coercion to a certain way of life.

These forms of government cyclically replace one another, for the reason that gradually the rational-volitional action of timocracy is transformed into a wayward will, subject to the attractiveness of property and financial wealth, which outweighs the attractiveness of moral motives and the rule becomes oligarchic. Gradually, observing the behavior of the authorities, the people become the same. The more profit becomes the goal of existence in the eyes of the people, the faster the oligarchy turns into democracy. The main thing in democracy is not that the majority rules, but that immoral motives of behavior dominate: "impudence begins to be considered education, willfulness - freedom, licentiousness - pomp and luxury, shamelessness - courage." Therefore, logically, democracy gives rise to a tyrant and a tyrannical form of government, “after all, excessive freedom should naturally lead both the individual and the polis to nothing else but slavery.”

In contrast to this, Plato developed the concept of an ideal state, possible from the standpoint of a mind pure from willfulness and self-will. “The wise have a policy if it is good-natured and virtuous. But good-nature/piety/virtue, obviously, is some kind of knowledge, because after all, not by ignorance, but by knowledge, good advice is given. This determines social structure an ideal state in which the leading role belongs to the sages as carriers of the philosophical level of knowledge and the way of life corresponding to them, and not to psychophysiological emotions and instincts. "The union of reason and correct (objective) teaching can be found among the few, the best for nature and the best for education." Correct thoughts, but received without appropriate upbringing and education - "thoughts are bestial and slavish."

The best way of social structuring of the policy is the one in which the position of a person in it is determined by the sages in accordance with the talent inherent in each person. “Doing your own thing and not clinging to much else is exactly what justice is.” That is, the structure of the ideal state is as follows: wise men, warriors, artisans. If a person independently follows the path of self-knowledge, then he will choose the place that corresponds to his abilities and which the sages would also determine. This means that a person himself is able to form a correct idea of ​​himself on the path of self-knowledge and become a conscious political being. If he does not follow this path, the sages indicate it to him.

b) The doctrine of politics by Aristotle (384-322 BC)

For the first time, he clearly defined a person as a political being, capable, through speech, to come to an understanding of the differences between good and evil, justice and injustice, and on this basis to create a state as an institution for coordinating and managing all the diversity of needs and interests that govern the life of people. The basis is the assertion of law as a measure of justice. Therefore, he believed that the state as a whole is a necessary primary socio-political entity, ahead of the individual and the family. The state is formed as a union of several, but not infinitely large, settlements, otherwise it will be difficult to manage it. He who invented the institution of the state has rendered mankind the greatest service.

The state really exists as long as its political structure remains identical to its essence, with which citizens identify their individual consciousness and their own way of life. “Three qualities must be possessed by those who intend to embrace the highest positions: first, to sympathize with the existing state system; then, have the proper ability to perform the duties associated with the position; thirdly, to be distinguished by piety and justice, corresponding to each type of state system. People should be similar to each other in understanding the essence of the state, otherwise it will not be strong, strong, will not create for them the standard of living that they would perceive as the highest good. After all, it was created for this.

The state is people who inhabit a certain territory and are political, not biological beings. That is, they are citizens. They are those "who take part in court and public meetings," that is, in management, with the aim of general public benefit, which comes not from the position, but from the ability to manage. Only those inclined and capable of a philosophical level of thinking, and not any artisan or anyone else, has the right to manage, since he has an essential dimension of objective reason, identical to the political consciousness of a person in the status of a citizen.

Forms of government divided into right and wrong. He attributed the monarchy to the first as royal power, the power of reason; aristocracy - the power of a few with the best mind and management abilities; polity - the power of the majority over the minority in the case when the majority has the concept of honor and courage, characteristic of soldiers as defenders of the state. Since the majority rarely possess such qualities, in the right forms of government, a virtuous minority governs. The second includes deviations from the correct forms: from the monarchy - tyranny, from the aristocracy - the oligarchy, from the polity - democracy. Tyranny pursues the interest of one ruler; oligarchy - the benefit of property citizens; democracy - the benefits of poor citizens. But none of them pursues the general public good.

If management is carried out in the interests of the common good of all people, then these are the correct forms. With the right forms, people are citizens, with the wrong forms, they are just a population. Types of government differ not in whether the majority or minority governs, but in the ratio of the poor and the rich. The first property is random, the second is the main one. Therefore, the state is created for the sake of general well-being, because only in this case can there be control in the form of a polity. If it is achieved, justice will be established in the country, since the vast majority will be equal both at the level of property well-being and at the level of law. In this case, the population will acquire the property of citizens.

To the greatest extent, democracy deviates from the correct forms of government, in which almost no one pursues the common good, because there are no political virtues. Therefore, such a government can and often does lead to the disappearance of the state altogether. Or it radically changes: the monarch again begins to rule as the bearer of the rational component of the soul, in which the virtue of prudence is born, which produces reasonable ideas, laws and embodies them in public life.

Aristotle understood the monarchy primarily as the power of the monopoly power of reason, and not the power of an individual. “It is desirable that the law rule, and not any of the citizens. Therefore, whoever demands that the law rule, obviously demands that only the deity and reason rule, and whoever demands that man rule, introduces the bestial / animal nature into this. Because passion is something animal and anger leads the rulers astray, even if they were the best people; on the contrary, the law is the mind free from uncontrolled impulses.

That is why the more people supreme power, the more likely it is to deviate from the monarchical principle of governance presented by law, the greater the arbitrariness (“and lawlessness”) in the organization of the state system, especially in one political body of different types of states that constantly compete with each other, including up to the “war of all against all” .

It should be noted that the political doctrine of Aristotle is largely implemented in modern civilized democratic states, the backbone of which is civil society.

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INDIA, General information, State structure and form of government

Area - 3,166,414 km2. Population - 1095.3 million people. Capital -. New Delhi (301 thousand people)

General information

India is located in Southern part. Asia. Official name -. Republic. India, comes from the ancient Persian Hindu word, which in turn is derived from the historical name of the river. Ind. The ancient Greeks called Ali the Indo Indians (Indus people). Constitution. India also recognizes the second name -. Bharat, which comes from the Sanskrit name of the ancient Indian king, whose history was described in the Mahabharata. The third name is. Hindustan, used since the times. Empire. Great. Mughals, but has no official status.

India is the seventh largest country in the world and one of the largest states. Asia. Its territory is 3166414 km2. India occupies a peninsula. Hindustan, forming the central part. South. Asia. In the north. India borders on Bhutan. China and. Nepal, in the east - with. Bangladesh and. Myanmar (modern name. Burma), to the north in the west - with. Pakistan. Its territory stretches for 3200 km from the mountain range itself. Himalayas in the north to the cape. Komorin in the south, where the waters merge. Arabian Sea. Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean, from west to east - at 2740 km the highest point

Mountain. Nanga Parbat (8126 m). India is washed in the east. Bay of Bengal, in the south -. Polk Strait and Indian Ocean, west

Arabian Sea. Part. India are included. Andaman and. Nicobar Islands, as well as the islands. Lakshadweep. Amindivsky and. Minicoy in the southeastern part. Arabian Sea. The length of the coastline is 6083 km.

Part. India includes part of the territory. Jammu and. Kashmir, some sections of the border are disputed. China and. Pakistan. A significant obstacle to the development of cross-border tourism is the presence of a high mountain system. Himalayas, located on the border with. China. Nepal and. Bhutan. B. India's political tensions c. Pakistan. Off the coast. India is an island. Sri Lanka, which is divided with. Indian university. Polk Strait, the width of which is about 50 km.