India
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Capital
New Delhi
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Local time
0:33
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Population
1332.11 m
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Driving side
Left
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Calling code
+91
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Currency
₹ INR (rupee)
India
-
Capital
New Delhi
-
Local time
0:33
-
Population
1332.11 m
-
Driving side
Left
-
Calling code
+91
-
Currency
₹ INR (rupee)
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Average Salary
$ 352
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Petrol price
€ 1.10 pl
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Precipitation
1 083mm /year
Geography & travel
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Country Area
3 287 590 km2
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Protected Area
5%
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Forest Area
24%
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Agricultural area
60%
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Railways
66030km
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Annual air passengers
119.58 m
Population
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Ethnicity
Indo-Aryan - 72 %
Dravidian - 25 %
Mongoloid and other
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Religion
Hindu - 81 %
Islam - 13 %
Islam - 13 %
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Literacy rates
69.3%
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Languages
Hindi - 41 %
Bengali
Telugu
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Armed Forces
2 798 800
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Alcohol consumption
4.6 l/person
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Smoking
20.4%
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Diabetes
9.3%
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Malaria
19%
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Tuberculosis
217 per 100k
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HIV
0.3%
Economy
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Industries
textiles, chemicals, food processing, steel, transportation equipment, cement, mining, petroleum, machinery
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Agriculture
rice, wheat, oilseed, cotton, jute, tea, sugarcane, lentils, onions
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Natural Resources
coal, iron ore, manganese, mica, bauxite, rare earth elements, titanium ore, chromite, natural gas
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Energy Import
34%
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Natural Resources
coal, iron ore, manganese, mica, bauxite, rare earth elements, titanium ore, chromite, natural gas
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Renewable Energy
36%
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CO2 Emissions
2 238 377kt
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Ease of Business
100 (Best=1, Worst=200)
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ATMs per 100k people
20
What not to do when visiting India
India Don't use left hand when eating, handing things over or pointing at people. If you need a spoon for eating, you need to ask for it. The left hand is a dirty hand.
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India Don't offer to shake hands of a person of the opposite sex unless they offer first.
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India Don't touch anyone, receive or give anything with one's left hand - left hand is only used for one's "morning business".
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Did you know?
India has the most post offices than any other country (over 100,000).
India Don't kiss in public nor express affection - avoid physical contact with people of opposite sex in public.
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India Don't drink any alcohol or smoke in public - it's offensive.
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India Don't discuss religion nor disrespect the society of any religion.
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India Don't be surprised - when Indians want to say no, they nod. For yes, they shake their head.
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India Don't pull or box ones ears - it's a grave insult. Ears in India are considered sacred.
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Did you know?
India is home to over 200 million cows.
India Don't do any public preaching or handing out of tracts - activities like these are prohibited when you are on tourist visa in India.
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India Don't break temple rules when visiting a temple. Feet, particularly shoes/sandals, are considered unclean - always take them off when entering a temple (except in some Westernized urban congregations). In some temples tourists are not even allowed to walk into the most holy areas with their shirts on.
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India Don't touch the head of the person - it's a seat of the soul.
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India Don't take offers of spiritual salvation and magic remedies from saints, godmen and quacks - there is no way you can distinguish the genuine ones from the crooks.
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India Don't be shy to bargain with half price when you buy things from roadside stalls or hawkers, but don't bargain in proper shops where display "fixed price" signs.
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Did you know?
The Taj Mahal in India is made entirely out of marble.
India Don't say things like "You have such a colorful culture!" or "Where can I see an elephant?"
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India Don't talk about politics or colonial India, and don't necessary praise Congress party.
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India Don't hurt a cow - many Hindus consider the cows are holy and are offended if they are hit by strangers.
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India Don't sneeze into handkerchief while eating.
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India Don't purchase air, rail or bus tickets through strangers or unauthorised travel agents or tour operator. Avoid persistent touts and taxi-wallahs at stations to help you find your hotel. Use tourist assistance desk for proper service.
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Did you know?
India has over 50 million monkeys.
Tell us your experience
We love to hear from people who have travelled the world and know ‘what not to do’. Why not help other people on their travels?
India Don't hire any type of transportation from unlicensed operators - in case of taxis or rickshaws, try to hire them from the pre-paid booths if possible.
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India Don't drink local tap water - drink bottled water only. Don't eat fresh fruit and vegetables that you cannot peel.
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India Don't forget to place your hands together, bow and say "Namaste" when greeting. Smile all the time. Handshake with ladies especially in rural areas should be avoided.
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India Don't be surprised by not finding the public toilets - you will hardly find any. Many people have to do it in the street.
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India Don't do stupid things like wander off alone at night, or try to hitchhike. Especially, if you are white.
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Did you know?
Some playing cards in India are round.
India Don't get freaked out if people stare and point - some Indians you meet might never seen a white person before.
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India Don't walk waver books and paper, even newspaper or even touching them with your feet. Indian people treat books as a metaphor for the Goddess of learning.
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India Don't try to explore Indian road yourself nor to drive in India unless you have been trained no Indian roads.
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India Don't forget to prepare yourself at the earliest when moving around - Indian traffic and roads are hapless.
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India Don't go empty-handed when visiting someone's home. As customary, bring some small gifts as hostess gifts and as presentations to one's students, if can be as small as a postcard from your home region.
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Did you know?
India is home to North Sentinel Island, whose inhabitants are some of the last known peoples with no contact with outside civilisation.
India Don't forget homosexuality is illegal in India, however some major cities maintain underground gay scene.
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India Don't wear super tight or revealing clothes - dress modestly. Women - no sleeveless blouses, no short skirts, no shorts, no low, loose collars for women. Men - don't wear shorts.
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India Don't hunt, as killing wildlife causes serious trouble.
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India Don't forget to pull a rope stretched across the bus to get off - the bell next to driver will ring.
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India Don't let your feet touch someone else.
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Did you know?
At marriage, Indian women usually drop their father’s name and use their first name with their husband’s first name as a form of the surname.
India Don’t give frangipani or white flowers - they are used at funerals.
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India Don’t go too close to the wildlife and stray animals - always keep a safe distance.
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Tell us your experience
We love to hear from people who have travelled the world and know ‘what not to do’. Why not help other people on their travels?
Andaman and Nicobar Islands Don’t go swimming without asking locals about the conditions in the Andaman Islands - the waters may be dangerous (saltwater crocodiles...).
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