The capital of the country is New Delhi, and the largest city is Mumbai. The Indian territory borders Pakistan in the west, China, Nepal and Bhutan in the north, and Myanmar and Bangladesh in the east. Access to the Indian Ocean in the south, the Arabian Sea in the southwest and the Bay of Bengal in the southeast.
India stands out as one of the fastest growing economies. Since gaining independence from Great Britain in 1947, the country has gone through the process of becoming a multicultural and multi-religious society. India is a member of many international organizations. The country is a member of the UN, WTO, BRICS and G20. India is known for its rich cultural heritage with architectural monuments (such as the Taj Mahal) and ancient traditions in the fields of art, literature and philosophy.
Visa
Before arriving in India for tourist or business purposes, you need to apply for a visa. A visa to India is a prerequisite for entry for most foreign citizens. The permit can be obtained both in the traditional paper version and in electronic form.
You can get a visa for a period of 1 month to 5 years with the right of single or multiple entry. The validity period of the permit is based on the goals and personal circumstances of the applicant. The current visa policy of the government classifies all types of visas based on the purpose of the trip as follows:
- Tourist.
- Business.
- Working.
- Entrance.
- Student's room.
- Internship program.
- Medical
- And others.
Learn more about the process of obtaining a visa to India, the subtleties and nuances of registration in the full article on our website. Find answers to basic questions and solutions to typical problems.
Residence permit
A residence permit in India becomes an opportunity for a long-term stay in the country on legal grounds. This is a permit that allows foreigners to temporarily reside in the country without issuing visas for each entry. The document is issued for a period of 1 year and allows you to extend the right if there are justifying reasons.
The state offers various types of residence permits, depending on the purpose of the stay of a foreign citizen. Traditionally, the most in demand are work permits and business permits. In addition, the following main types can be distinguished:
- For training.
- For family reunion and marriage.
- For remote work.
- For investors.
Do you want to learn more about how to get a residence permit in India and what prospects the new status opens up? Then the profile article of our website will provide detailed instructions and useful tips.
Citizenship
Permanent residence in India provides access to one of the most actively developing economies in the world and a variety of personal privileges. The procedure is available to foreign citizens who have been living in the country for a long time, running a business or planning a family life. According to the current migration policy, foreigners can invest money in the economy and speed up the standard receipt process.
Currently, there are several ways to acquire citizenship:
- By origin
- Through marriage
- By naturalization
- For the investment.
If you are interested in learning more about the current procedures for obtaining Indian citizenship, their features, then we recommend that you read the full article on this topic. In it you will find detailed instructions and useful tips to get the most information about the issue.
Passport
An Indian identity card is an important step in the process of legalizing one's status and access to the privileges provided by the state. Among other features, the passport allows you to visit 90+ countries of the world without a visa or on simplified grounds. The standard validity period is 10 years, and for children – 5 years.
The main ways to obtain a document include:
- The right of birth.
- Naturalization.
- Registration.
- Restoring the status.
Learn more about how to get an Indian passport, what steps need to be taken, what documents to collect and what restrictions exist in the target article of our website.
Climatic conditions
The climate of India is characterized by diversity – from a tropical monsoon climate in the south to a temperate and even alpine climate in the north. The country is divided into 6 main climatic zones: tropical humid and dry, subtropical humid, mountainous and tropical, desert.
Monsoon winds significantly affect the climate of India – they bring heavy rains from June to September. The average annual precipitation ranges from less than 100 mm in the Tar Desert to more than 11,000 mm in Cherapunji. Temperatures in the summer months can reach 50°C in some areas, and in the winter fall below zero in the Himalayas.
Climatic conditions directly affect the development of agriculture, which depends on monsoon rains. At the same time, the diversity of climatic zones allows you to grow a wide range of crops, from rice and wheat to tea and spices. However, the country is also prone to natural disasters such as floods, droughts and earthquakes, especially in the seismically active regions of the Himalayas and the northeast.
Demographics
According to the 2023 census, India's population has exceeded 1.4 billion people. This characterizes it as the most populated country in the world, which has overtaken China. The ethnic composition of India is extremely diverse and includes more than 2,000 ethnic groups. Indians make up the bulk of the population, but there are also significant minorities – the Dravidians in the south and the Tibeto-Burmese peoples in the northeast.
The main religion here is Hinduism (about 79.8% of the population). Islam (14.2%), Christianity (2.3%), Sikhism (1.7%), Buddhism (0.7%) and Jainism (0.4%) are also practiced. India is the cradle of four major world religions – Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. There are also followers of Zoroastrianism, Judaism and Baha'iism.
The official languages at the union level are Hindi and English. The Constitution recognizes 22 official languages, including Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi and Urdu. In total, there are more than 1,600 languages and dialects in the country.
According to this indicator, the country ranks 165th out of 236 countries and territories. Despite the improvement in health indicators, India is facing challenges in the field of health care, especially in rural areas.
Economy
India has the sixth largest economy in the world by nominal GDP and the third largest by purchasing power parity. The country's GDP in 2023 amounted to about $3.5 trillion. India's economy is mixed and diverse, dominated by agriculture, industry and a fast-growing service sector that accounts for more than 55% of GDP.
The field of information technology and outsourcing of services is one of the leading industries, attracting significant foreign investment. India's strengths include the pharmaceutical industry, automobile manufacturing, steel, textiles, and gemstone mining.
According to the Reserve Bank of India, the inflation rate in 2023 was about 6%. This is an acceptable indicator within the target range. Despite the high rates of economic growth, the country is facing serious problems. There is income inequality, poverty and unemployment.
Among the advantages of the Indian economy are a large domestic market, a young and growing population, and significant potential in the field of innovation and entrepreneurship. However, infrastructure constraints, bureaucracy and corruption remain serious obstacles to development.
Freedom of movement (visa-free countries)
Holders of an Indian passport have the possibility of visa-free or facilitated entry to 61 countries around the world. The Indian passport ranks 72nd in the world ranking for freedom of movement, along with the Gambia, Uganda, and Sao Tome. Visa-free entry or visa on arrival is available in the Maldives, Nepal, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and some Caribbean countries.
However, to travel to most countries in Europe, North America and Australia, a visa must be obtained in advance. This limits the global mobility of Indian citizens compared to passport holders in developed countries. The Government of India is making efforts to conclude new visa facilitation agreements with various States.
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