Important Facts about India
Introduction
The official Sanskrit name for India is Bharat. INDIA has been called Bharat even in Satya yuga (Golden Age). The name `India’ is derived from the River Indus, the valleys around which were the home of the early settlers. The Aryan worshippers referred to the river Indus as the Sindhu. The Persian invaders converted it into Hindu. The name `Hindustan’ combines Sindhu and Hindu and thus refers to the land of the Hindus.
India is the Largest democracy in the world, the 7th largest country in the world and one of the most ancient and living civilizations.
Although modern images & descriptions of India often show poverty, India was one of the richest countries till the time of British in the early 17th Century. Christopher Columbus was attracted by India’s wealth and was looking for route to India when he discovered America by mistake.
The number system was invented by India. Aryabhatta was the scientist who invented the digit zero. The ‘place value system’ and the ‘decimal system’ were developed in 100 BC in India. The University of Nalanda built in the 4th century was one of the greatest achievements of ancient India in the field of education.
Ayurveda is the earliest school of medicine known to mankind. The father of medicine, Charaka, consolidated Ayurveda 2500 years ago. The value of “pi” was first calculated by the Indian Mathematician Budhayana, and he explained the concept of what is known as the Pythagorean Theorem. He discovered this in the 6th century, which was long before the European mathematicians.
Algebra, trigonometry and calculus also orignated from India. Quadratic equations were used by Sridharacharya in the 11th century. The largest numbers the Greeks and the Romans used were 10^6 whereas Hindus used numbers as big as 10^53 with specific names as early as 5000 B.C. during the Vedic period. Even today, the largest used number is Tera: 10^12.
Sushruta is regarded as the father of surgery. Over 2600 years ago Sushrata & his team conducted complicated surgeries like cataract, artificial limbs, cesareans, fractures, urinary stones and also plastic surgery and brain surgeries.
Usage of anesthesia was well known in ancient India medicine. Detailed knowledge of anatomy, embryology, digestion, metabolism, physiology, etiology, genetics and immunity is also found in many ancient Indian texts.
India: At a Glance
Capital | New Delhi |
Area | 32,87,263 |
Area-wise in | 7th |
Population-wise | 2nd |
Location | India extends between latitudes 8o4’N and 37o6’N. |
Stretch | 3,214 |
Land | 15,200 km |
Coastline | 7516.5 km |
Neighbouring Countries | India shares its political borders with |
Physical | The mainland (i)The great mountain zone, (ii)The (iii)The (iv)The |
Rivers | The main rivers of the Himalayan group are the |
Climate | There are |
Fauna | Approx. 89,451 species |
Population | Total 1,210,193,422 |
| Males 623,724,248 |
| Females 586,469,174 |
Literacy | Total 74.04% |
| Males 82.14% |
| Females 65.46% |
Density of | 382 |
Sex ratio | 940 |
Child Sex | 914 females |
Telephone | +91 |
National Things
National Flag
The National Flag is the horizontal tricolor of deep saffron (kesaria) at the top, white in the middle, and dark green at the bottom in equal proportion. At the center of the white band is a navy blue wheel, which is a representation of the Ashoka Chakra at Sarnath.
National Emblem
The National Emblem of India is derived from the time of the Emperor Ashoka. The emblem is a replica of the Lion of Sarnath, near Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. The Lion Capital was erected in the third century BC by Emperor Ashoka to mark the spot where Buddha first proclaimed his gospel of peace and emancipation to the four quarters of the universe.
National Anthem
The Jana Gana Mana is the national Anthem of India, composed by Rabindranath Tagore. It was officially adopted by the constituent Aseembly as the Indian national anthem on January 24, 1950.
National Song
Bankim Chandra Chatterji’s composed song “Vande Mataram” was adopted as the National Song. It has an equal status with “Jana Gana Mana”. It was first sung in the 1896 session of the Indian National Congress.
National Animal
Tiger is the National Animal of India. It is symbol of India’s wildlife wealth. The magnificent tiger, Panthera tigris, is a striped animal.
National Bird
The Peacock, Pavo cristatus, is the national bird of India. Emblematic of qualities such as beauty grace, pride.
National Fruit
Mango is the national fruit of India. Described as the “Food of the Gods”, in the sacred Vedas, the fruit is grown almost in all parts of India.
National Flower
Lotus botanically known as the Nelumbo Nucifera is the national flower of India.
National Tree
Banyan Tree is the National Tree of India. This huge tree towers over its neighbours and has the widest reaching roots of all known trees.
National Calendar
The Saka calendar is the national calendar of India. It is used, alongside the Gregorian calendar.
National Days
- 26th January (Republic Day)
- 15th August (Independence Day)
- 2nd October (Gandhi Jayanti; Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday)
Government
Country Name: Republic of India; Bharat Ganrajya
Government Type: Sovereign Socialist Democratic Republic with a Parliamentary system of Government
Official Languages: Hindi, English
Administrative Division: 28 States and 7 Union Territories.
Independence 15th August 1947 (From the British Colonial Rule)
Constitution: The Constitution of India came into force on 26th January 1950.
Legislature: Sansad
Legal System: The Constitution of India is the fountain source of the legal system in the Country.
Executiv Branch: The President of India is the Head of the State, while Prime Minister is the Head of the Government, and runs office with the support of Council of Ministers who form the Cabinet Ministry.
Legislativ Branch: The Indian Legislature comprises of the Lok Sabha (House of the people) and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) forming both the Houses of the Parliament.
Judicia Branch: The Supreme Court of India is the apex body of the Indian legal system, followed by other High Courts and subordinate Courts.
Facts about India
- India is the world’s largest, oldest, continuous civilization.
- India is the world’s Largest democracy.
- India never invaded any country in her last 1000 years of history.
- When many cultures were only nomadic forest dwellers over 5000 years ago, Indians established Harappan culture in Sindhu Valley (Indus Valley Civilization)
- There are 300,000 active mosques in India , more than in any other country, including the Muslim world
- Chess (Shataranja or AshtaPada) was invented in India.
- India is one of the few countries in the world, which gain independence without violence.
- India has the second largest pool of Scientist and Engineers in the World.
- India is the largest English speaking nation in the world.
- India is the only country other than US and Japan, to have built a super computer indigenously.
- India has the largest number of Post Offices in the world
- One of the largest employer in the world is the Indian Railways , employing over a million people
- The Baily Bridge is the highest bridge in the world. It is located in the Ladakh valley between the Dras and Suru rivers in the Himalayan mountains. It was built by the Indian Army in August 1982
- The Vishnu Temple in the city of Tirupathi built in the 10th century, is the world’s largest religious pilgrimage destination. Larger than either Rome or Mecca, an average of 30,000 visitors donate $6 million (US) to the temple everyday.
- Varanasi, also known as Benaras, was called “the Ancient City” when Lord Buddha visited it in 500 B.C., and is the oldest, continuously inhabited city in the world today.
- Martial Arts were first created in India, and later spread to Asia by Buddhist missionaries.
- Yoga has its origins in India and has existed for over 5,000 years.
First in India
Men | |
Field | Person |
President of Indian Republic | Dr. Rajendra Prasad |
Prime Minister of free India | Pt. Jawahar Lai Nehru |
Indian to win Nobel Prize | Rabindranath Tagore |
President of Indian National Congress | W. C. Banerjee |
Muslim President of Indian National Congress | Badruddin Tayyabji |
Muslim President of India | Dr. Zakir Hussain |
British Governor General of India | Lord William Bentinck |
British Viceroy of India | Lord Canning |
Governor General of free India | Lord Mountbatten |
Indian to be Governor General of free India | C. Rajgopalachari |
Man who introduced printing press in India | James Hicky |
Indian to join the I.C.S. | Satyendra Nath Tagore |
Man in space | Rakesh Sharma |
Prime Minister of India who resigned without completing the full term |
Morarji Desai |
Indian Commander – in – Chief of India | General Cariappa |
Chief of the Army Staff | Gen. Maharaj Rajendra Singhji |
Indian member of the Viceroy’s executive council | S. P. Sinha |
President of India who died while in office | Dr. Zakir Hussain |
Prime Minister of India who did not face the Parliament | Charan Singh |
Field Marshal of India | S.H.F. Manekshaw |
Indian to get Nobel prize in Physics | C.V. Raman |
Indian to receive Bharat Ratna award | Dr. Radhakrishnan |
Indian to cross English channel | Mihir Sen |
person to receive Jnanpith award | Sri Shankar Kurup |
Speaker of the Lok Sabha | Ganesh Vasudeva Mavalankar |
Vice – President of India | Dr. Radhakrishnan |
Education Minister | Abul Kalam Azad |
Home Minister of India | Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel |
Indian Air Chief Marshal | S. Mukherjee |
Indian Naval Chief | Vice Admiral R. D. Katari |
judge of International Court of Justice | Dr. Nagendra Singh |
Person to receive Paramveer Chakra | Major Somnath Sharma |
Person to reach Mt. Everest without oxygen | Sherpa Anga Dorjee |
Chief Election Commissioner | Sukumar Sen |
Person to receive Magsaysay Award | Acharya Vinoba Bhave |
Person of Indian origin to receive Nobel Prize in Medicine | Hargovind Khurana |
Chinese traveller to visit India | Fahein |
Person to receive Stalin Prize | Saifuddin Kitchlu |
Person to resign from the central cabinet | Shyama Prasad Mukherjee |
Foreigner to receive Bharat Ratna | Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan |
Person to receive Nobel Prize in Economics | Amartya Sen |
Chief Justice of Supreme Court | Justice Hiralal J. Kania |
Women |
|
Field | Person |
The first lady to become “Miss World” | Rita Faria |
The first woman judge in Supreme Court | Mrs. Meera Sahib Fatima Bibi |
The first woman Ambassador | Miss C.B. Muthamma |
The first woman Governor of a State in free India | Mrs. Sarojini Naidu |
The first woman Prime Minister | Mrs. Indira Gandhi |
The first woman to climb Mount Everest | Bachhendri Pal |
The first woman to climb Mount Everest twice | Santosh Yadav |
The first woman President of the Indian National Congress | Mrs. Annie Besant |
The first woman chief justice of a High Court | Mrs. Leela Seth |
The first woman pilot in Indian Air Force | Harita Kaur Dayal |
The first woman President of the UN General Assembly | Mrs. Vijaya Laxmi Pandit |
The first woman Chief Minister of an Indian State | Mrs. Sucheta Kripalani |
The first woman chairman of UPSC | Roze Millian Bethew |
The first woman Director General of Police (DGP) | Kanchan Chaudhary Bhattacharya |
The first woman Lieutenant General | Puneeta Arora |
The first woman Air Vice Marshal | P. Bandopadhyaya |
The first woman chairperson of Indian Airlines | Sushma Chawla |
The first woman I.P.S. Officer | Mrs. Kiran Bedi |
The first and the last Muslim woman ruler of Delhi | Razia Sultan |
The first woman to receive Ashoka Chakra | Nirja Bhanot |
The first woman to cross English Channel | Aarti Saha |
The first woman to receive Nobel Prize | Mother Teresa |
The first woman to receive Bharat Ratna | Mrs. Indira Gandhi |
The first woman to receive Jnanpith Award | Ashapurna Devi |
Important Sites in India
Place | City / State |
Ajanta | Aurangabad ( Maharashtra ) |
Akbar’s Tomb | Sikandara (Uttar Pradesh ) |
Ambernath Cave | Kashmir ( Jammu & Kashmir ) |
Amber Palace | Jaipur (Rajasthan ) |
Anand Bhavan | Allahabad ( Uttar Pradesh ) |
Bhakra Dam | Punjab ( Punjab ) |
Birla Planetarium | Kolkata ( West Bengal ) |
Black Pagoda | Konark (Orissa ) |
Bodhisattva (Ajanta Caves ) | Aurangabad ( Maharashtra ) |
Brihadeeswara Temple | Tanjore (Tamil Nadu ) |
Brindavan Gardens | Mysore ( Karnataka ) |
Buland Darwaza | Fatepur Sikri ( Uttar Pradesh ) |
Charminar | Hyderabad ( Andhra Pradesh ) |
Chenna Kesava Temple | Belur (West Bengal ) |
Chilka Lame | Near Bhubaneswar ( Orissa ) |
Dal Lake | Srinagar ( Jammu & Kashmir ) |
Dilwara Temples | Mt. Abu ( Rajasthan ) |
Elephanta Caves | Mumbai ( Maharashtra ) |
Golden Temple | Amirtsar (Punjab ) |
Gol Gumbaz | Bijapur (Karnataka ) |
Hanging Gardens | Mumbai ( Maharashtra ) |
Hawa Mahal ( Palace of Winds) | Jaipur (Rajasthan ) |
Mahakaleeswar Temple | Ujjain ( Madhya Pradesh ) |
Mahesuramurthi ( Trimurti ) | Elephanta Caves ( Maharashtra ) |
Howrah Bridge | Kolkata ( West Bengal ) |
Island Palace | Udaipur ( Rajasthan ) |
Itmad – ud – Daulah’s Tomb | Agra ( Uttar Pradesh ) |
Jagannath Temple | Puri (Orissa ) |
Jama Masjid | Delhi ( Delhi ) |
Jantar Mantar | New Delhi ( Delhi ) |
Jog ( Geresoppa ) Falls | Mysore ( Karnataka ) |
Kailasanath Temples | Ellora (Maharashtra ) |
Kanyakumari Temples | Kanyakumari (Tamil Nadu ) |
Khajuraho Temples | Bhopal ( Madhya Pradesh ) |
Konark Temple | Puri (Orissa ) |
Lal Bagh Gardens | Bangalore ( Karnataka ) |
Malabar Hills | Mumbai ( Maharashtra ) |
Manmandir Palace | Gwalior Fort ( Madhya Pradesh ) |
Marble Rocks | Jabalpur ( Madhya Pradesh ) |
Marina Beach | Chennai ( Tamil Nadu ) |
Meenakshi Temple | Madurai ( Tamil Nadu ) |
Padmanabha Temple | Trivandrum ( Kerala ) |
Panch Mahal | Fatepur Sikri ( Uttar Pradesh ) |
Tower of Fame | Chittorgarh (Rajasthan ) |
Thiruvalluvar Statue | Kanyakumari (Tamil Nadu ) |
Vivekananda Memorial | Kanyakumari (Tamil Nadu ) |
Foreign Invader Visitors to India
The first European Invader on Indian soil | Alexander, the Great |
The first European to visit India | Marco Polo |
The first Chinese Pilgrim who came to India | Fahien |
The first British Prime Minister to visit India | Harold Macmillan |
The First U.S. President to visit India | D. Elsenhower |
The first Soviet Prime Minister to visit India | V. Bulganin |
Geographical Epithets
Epithets | City |
Golden City | Amritsar |
Manchester of India | Ahmedabad |
City of Seven islands | Mumbai |
Queen of Arabian Sea | Cochin |
Space City | Bangalore |
Garden City of India | Bangalore |
Silicon Valley of India | Bangalore |
Electronic city of India | Bangalore |
Pink City | Jaipur |
Gateway of India | Mumbai |
Twin City | Hyderabad –Sikandarabad |
City of festivals | Madurai |
Deccan Queen | Pune |
City of Buildings | Kolkata |
Dakshin Ganga | Godavari |
Old Ganga | Godavari |
Egg bowls of Asia | Andhra Pradesh |
Soya region | Madhya Pradesh |
Manchester of the South | Coimbatore |
City of Nawabs | Lucknow |
Venice of the east | Cochin |
Sorrow of Bengal | Damodar River |
Sorrow of Bihar | Kosi River |
Blue Mountains | Nilgiri |
Queen of the Mountains | Mussoorie (Uttaranchal) |
Sacred river | Ganga |
Hollywood of India | Mumbai |
City of Castles | Kolkata |
State of five rivers |