ABOUT INDIA

ABOUT INDIA

India is the seventh largest country in the world. It has over one billion people living in it. It is the second most populous country in the world. India became independent from British rule on 15^th August, 1947. This meant that independence gave us the right to choose our own government.

A country is run by its government. The government looks after the welfare of the country and its people. It makes sure that its people are safe and sure. It also makes sure that their basic needs are met.

In India, we have a Central Government. The officers of the Central Government are in Delhi. The President, the Vice- President, the Prime Minister and other ministers all live and work in Delhi.

India is a big country. It is hard for the Central Government to take care of everyone. So, India is divided into smaller areas are called states. Every state has its own State Government.

There are 28 states in our country. Every state has its own capital. Every state has its own capital. Every state has its own government that consists of a Governor, Chief Minister, other Ministers and officers. They live and work in the state capital. There are small areas in India that are run directly by the Central Government. These are called Union Territories. At present India has 8 Union Territories.

Delhi is a Union Territory. Since Delhi is our Capital, it is also called the National Capital Territory. The Union Territories have their own local government. But the Central Government helps them to run.

India has many different climate zones and landforms. Its people living in different parts of the country speak different languages and follow their own customs and culture. But together we are like one big family.

The 28 Indian States and their Capitals are as follows:

1)     ANDHRA PRADESH – HYDERABAD (proposed capital AMARAVATI)

2)     UTTAR PRADESH – LUCKNOW

3)     UTTARAKHAND – DEHRADUN (winter) GAIRSAIN (summer)

4)     BIHAR – PATNA

5)     JHARKHAND – RANCHI

6)     WEST BENGAL – KOLKATA

7)     RAJASTHAN – JAIPUR

8)     PUNJAB – CHANDIGARH

9)     HARYANA – CHANDIGARH

10)                      MADHYA PRADESH – BHOPAL

11)                      MAHARASHTRA – MUMBAI

12)                      TAMIL NADU – CHENNAI

13)                      TELENGANA – HYDERABAD

14)                      ODISHA – BHUBANESWAR

15)                      SIKKIM – GANGTOK

16)                      HIMACHAL PRADESH – SHIMLA

17)                      GUJARAT – GANDHINAGAR

18)                      ASSAM – DISPUR

19)                      ARUNACHAL PRADESH – ITANAGAR

20)                      MANIPUR – IMPHAL

21)                      MEGHALAYA – SHILLONG

22)                      MIZORAM – AIZAWL

23)                      NAGALAND – KOHIMA

24)                      TRIPURA – AGARTALA

25)                      GOA – PANAJI

26)                      CHHATTISGARH – RAIPUR

27)                      KARNATAKA – BENGALURU

28)                      KERALA – THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

The Union Territories and their Capitals are as follows:

1)    ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS – PORT BLAIR

2)    CHANDIGARH – CHANDIGARH

3)    DADRA AND NAGAR HAVELI , DAMAN AND DIU – DAMAN

4)    DELHI – NEW DELHI

5)    JAMMU AND KASHMIR – SRINAGAR (summer) JAMMU (winter)

6)    LAKSHADWEEP – KAVARATTI

7)    PUDUCHERRY – PONDICHERRY

8)    LADAKH – LEH

The NATIONAL BIRD of INDIA is INDIAN PEAFOWL.

The NATIONAL ANIMAL of INDIA is TIGER.

The NATIONAL FRUIT of INDIA is MANGO.

The NATIONAL VEGETABLE of INDIA is PUMPKIN.

The NATIONAL DISH of INDIA is KHICHDI.

The NATIONAL SPICE of INDIA is TURMERIC.

The NATIONAL BEVERAGE of INDIA is LASSI.

The NATIONAL SWEET of INDIA is LADDU.

The NATIONAL SPORT of INDIA is HOCKEY.

The NATIONAL DANCE of INDIA is BHARATNATYAM.

The NATIONAL INSTRUMENT of INDIA is VEENA VINA.

The NATIONAL FLOWER of INDIA is LOTUS.

The NATIONAL FLAG of INDIA is TIRANGA.

The NATIONAL TREE of INDIA is BANYAN TREE.

The NATIONAL ANTHEM of INDIA is JANA GANA MANA.

The NATIONAL SONG of INDIA is VANDE MATARAM.

The NATIONAL EMBLEM of INDIA is LION CAPITAL OF ASHOKA.

The NATIONAL MOTTO of INDIA is SATYAMEVA JAYATE.

The NATIONAL DAYS of INDIA is INDEPENDENCE DAY and REPUBLIC DAY.

The NATIONAL CURRENCY of INDIA is RUPEE.