India
The Republic of India (Bharat): a multiparty federal republic of 28 states and 8 union territories — the world's most populous country, its largest electorate, and the home of the world's longest written constitution.
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- Established
- 1947
- Country
- India
- Official name
- Republic of India (Bharat in Hindi)
- Capital
- New Delhi
- Government
- Multiparty federal republic; two legislative houses — the Council of States (245 seats) and the House of the People (543 seats)
- Federal units
- 28 states and 8 union territories
- Population
- 1,450,935,791 (2024, World Bank); the world's most populous country since April 2023 (United Nations)
- Economy
- $3.76 trillion nominal GDP (2024, World Bank); the world's fifth-largest economy in 2024
- Official languages
- Hindi (Devanagari) and English; 22 scheduled languages
- Constitution
- Adopted 26 November 1949, in force 26 January 1950; the longest written constitution in the world
- Electorate
- 96 crore eligible voters in the 2024 general election
India — officially the Republic of India, Bharat in Hindi — is a multiparty federal republic of 28 states and 8 union territories, with its capital at New Delhi (Britannica). It is governed by the world’s longest written constitution, adopted on 26 November 1949 and in force since 26 January 1950 (Business Standard). India became the world’s most populous country in 2023, according to United Nations estimates, and runs the world’s largest democratic elections (Britannica; Moneycontrol).
The constitutional order
India’s Constitution was adopted by the 299-member Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949 and came into force on 26 January 1950 (Business Standard). It declares India a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic, and at roughly 145,000 words it is the longest written constitution in the world (Business Standard). Drafted under B. R. Ambedkar, it began with 395 articles and has since grown to 448 (Business Standard). The government is a multiparty federal republic with two legislative houses — the Council of States (245 seats) and the House of the People (543) — with Droupadi Murmu as President and Narendra Modi as Prime Minister (Britannica; Business Standard). Article 343 makes Hindi in Devanagari the Union’s official language, with English continuing for official purposes; states choose their own official languages, and the Eighth Schedule lists 22 scheduled languages (Central Institute of Indian Languages; Britannica).
A federal union of 28 states and 8 union territories
India’s federal map was redrawn in recent years. On 31 October 2019 the state of Jammu and Kashmir ceased to exist and became two union territories — Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh — under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, after Parliament ended the state’s special status under Article 370 (Hindustan Times). The reorganization left 28 states and nine union territories (Hindustan Times). On 26 January 2020, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu merged into a single union territory by an Act of Parliament, bringing the count to eight (The Hindu). Jammu & Kashmir kept an elected legislature (like Puducherry); Ladakh did not (like Chandigarh) (Hindustan Times). A UN brief notes that under India’s federal structure, states set their own policy priorities — Kerala and Tamil Nadu cut fertility below replacement level two decades before the country as a whole (UN DESA).
The world’s largest electorate
India’s general elections are the largest democratic exercise in the world. For the 2024 Lok Sabha general election the Election Commission’s rolls listed 96 crore eligible voters, up from roughly 91 crore in 2019 — alone exceeding the combined electorates of the next four largest democracies: the United States, Indonesia, Brazil and Pakistan (Moneycontrol). Women were over 47 crore of the electorate, nearly 49 percent, and the gender ratio on the rolls rose from 928 in 2019 to 948 in 2024 (Moneycontrol). Running it needed some 12 lakh polling booths and 1.5 crore polling personnel (Moneycontrol). Turnout reached 67 percent in 2019, up from 45 percent in the first national general election of 1951–52 — participation rising even as the electorate grew more than fivefold, from 17.32 crore registered voters in 1951 to 96 crore in 2024 (Moneycontrol).
Population and economic scale
India became the world’s most populous country in April 2023 at 1,425,775,850, surpassing mainland China — the first change since UN tracking began in 1950 (UN DESA). The World Bank puts India’s 2024 population at 1,450,935,791 (World Bank). The last completed census was in 2011; the 2021 census was delayed by the pandemic (UN DESA). The UN projects a population peak around 2064, with fertility at 2.0 births per woman in 2022 (UN DESA). The World Bank values 2024 nominal GDP at $3.76 trillion, fifth-largest that year — but IMF estimates slipped India to sixth in 2025 at $3.92 trillion without the economy shrinking, implying dollar-denominated rankings now move more on the rupee’s exchange rate than on domestic growth (World Bank; News18). The IMF projects 6.5 percent growth for 2026 and 2027, keeping India the fastest-growing major economy (News18).
The stories the state tells its children
India’s institutions also commission children’s stories. The series Krish, Trish and Baltiboy, from Mumbai studio Graphiti Multimedia, dramatizes lesser-known freedom fighters including Wazir Ram Singh Pathania (Himachal Pradesh) and Birsa Munda (Jharkhand) (AnimationXpress; The Tribune). “Bharat Hain Hum” — Season 2 — was launched by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting at the International Film Festival of India in Goa, attended by actor Nagarjuna, and streams on the public Waves platform, Doordarshan and OTT (The Tribune). In December 2024 Prime Minister Narendra Modi named it on Mann Ki Baat, a “superhit” among children about freedom-struggle figures “not discussed much,” in 12 Indian and 7 foreign languages (Prime Minister’s Office; The Tribune). Its second film earned a children’s-animation nomination at the 21st Cairo International Film Festival for Children; directors Munjal Shroff and Tilak Shetty called it an attempt to “resurrect and nurture the dying folk art forms” of India (AnimationXpress).
India at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Area | 3,287,263 km² (7th largest) (Britannica) |
| Federal units | 28 states and 8 union territories (Britannica) |
| Population | 1,450,935,791 (2024); most populous since Apr 2023 (World Bank; UN DESA) |
| Economy | $3.76T nominal GDP (2024); 5th largest that year (World Bank; News18) |
| Constitution | Adopted 26 Nov 1949; in force 26 Jan 1950; longest written (Business Standard) |
Frequently asked questions
Why is the country called both India and Bharat? The official name is “Bharat” in Hindi and “Republic of India” in English. Because Hindi in Devanagari is the Union’s official language while English continues for official purposes, the country’s two official names reflect bilingual administration — not two different entities.
How many states and union territories does India have? India has 28 states and 8 union territories. The count changed twice in recent years: in October 2019 the state of Jammu and Kashmir was split into two union territories, and in January 2020 the union territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu were merged into a single territory.
What makes India’s Constitution distinctive? At ~145,000 words it is the world’s longest written constitution. Adopted on 26 November 1949 and in force from 26 January 1950, it declares India a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic and has grown from 395 to 448 articles.
What this profile does not claim
- No 2025 GDP rank is asserted: IMF vintages disagree (sixth per latest estimates, fourth per an earlier projection); only the 2024 fifth place is consistent.
- No census-based current population is given: the last census was 2011, the 2021 round was delayed, and figures are UN or World Bank estimates.
- The World Bank’s $3.76 trillion and IMF’s $3.5 trillion 2024 GDP figures are different vintages, reported with sources.
- PIB-only KTB details are omitted: the release was inaccessible (HTTP 403), so the government’s role rests on The Tribune and the PMO transcript.
- No “largest city” is named: sources differ on city definitions.
Timeline
- 1947
- British rule ends on 14–15 August; the date is celebrated annually as Independence Day.
- 1949
- The 299-member Constituent Assembly adopts the Constitution on 26 November.
- 1950
- The Constitution comes into force on 26 January; India becomes a republic.
- 2011
- India's most recent completed census is conducted; the planned 2021 census is later delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 2019
- On 31 October the state of Jammu and Kashmir ceases to exist and is converted into two union territories, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, leaving India with 28 states and nine union territories.
- 2020
- On 26 January the union territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu merge into a single territory, bringing the union-territory count to eight.
- 2023
- In April India's population reaches 1,425,775,850 and surpasses mainland China's, making India the world's most populous country.
- 2024
- The Lok Sabha general election is fought on rolls listing 96 crore eligible voters, the largest democratic exercise in the world; in December the Prime Minister names the animated series Krish, Trish and Baltiboy on his Mann Ki Baat radio address.
What we could not verify
These claims came up in research and could not be confirmed. They are recorded here rather than published as fact or quietly dropped. If you hold a source that settles one, please tell us.
- The PIB press release on the KTB Season 2 launch (PRID 1966550) was inaccessible (HTTP 403) from this research environment; its details (episode counts, the Central Bureau of Communication's exact co-producer credit) are not asserted here.
- IMF GDP-rank vintages disagree for 2025: later estimates place India sixth at $3.92 trillion, while an earlier projection had it fourth. Only the 2024 fifth-place rank is consistent across sources and is asserted.
- The World Bank's 2024 GDP figure ($3.76 trillion) differs from the $3.5 trillion 2024 figure quoted via IMF data in the News18 piece; different data vintages, both reported with sources.
- No census-based current population is asserted: the last completed census was 2011 and the 2021 census was delayed by the pandemic. All figures used are UN or World Bank estimates.
- No 'largest city' is named: sources differ on city-proper versus metropolitan-area definitions, and no full-read source settled the ranking.
Sources
12 sources (10 tier 1, 2 tier 2), each opened and read against the claim it supports. Every source is independent of the subject; no first-party material is cited. See the source policy.
Built from twelve sources read in full: ten tier1 (Business Standard, Britannica, Hindustan Times, The Hindu, UN DESA, World Bank, News18, The Tribune, the Prime Minister's Office transcript, and the Central Institute of Indian Languages, a Government of India body) and two tier2 (Moneycontrol, AnimationXpress). The PIB press release on the KTB Season 2 trailer launch (PRID 1966550) returned HTTP 403 from this research environment and could not be read; the government co-production facts are therefore sourced from The Tribune and the PMO transcript instead, and PIB-only details are not repeated here. Wikipedia was used only as a lead index for candidate facts, never as a citation.
- Supports: Constitution adopted 26 Nov 1949, in force 26 Jan 1950; sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic; longest written constitution (~145,000 words); 395 articles/22 parts/8 schedules originally, 448 articles now; B. R. Ambedkar drafting committee; Droupadi Murmu as President; Narendra Modi as Prime Minister Open original source
- Supports: 28 states and eight union territories; capital New Delhi; constitutional/multiparty federal republic; two legislative houses (Council of States 245, House of the People 543); official languages Hindi and English; official name Bharat (Hindi)/Republic of India (English); area 3,287,263 sq km, 7th largest; most populous 2023 per UN; independence 14–15 Aug 1947; 22 scheduled languages; border countries Open original source
- Supports: J&K state ceased to exist at midnight 30/31 Oct 2019; converted into two UTs under the J&K Reorganisation Act 2019 after Article 370 abrogation; states now 28, UTs up to nine; J&K UT has a legislature like Puducherry, Ladakh does not like Chandigarh Open original source
- Supports: Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli merged into a single UT effective 26 Jan 2020 under Act 44 of 2019, passed by Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha; UT count comes down to eight; merged UT named Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu Open original source
- Supports: April 2023 population 1,425,775,850 surpassing mainland China; first change since UN tracking began 1950; India's last census 2011, 2021 census delayed by COVID; fertility 2.0 (2022) vs 2.1 replacement; population to peak ~2064; under India's federal structure state governments set own policy priorities (Kerala/Tamil Nadu examples) Open original source
- Supports: Population 2024: 1,450,935,791; GDP (current US$) 2024: $3,760,813,470,500.86 (~$3.76 trillion) — the basis for the stat+source+implication sentence Open original source
- Why India Slipped From Fifth To Sixth Largest Economy Despite Being Fastest-Growing Major Nation? Tier 1Supports: IMF estimates: India 6th in 2025 at $3.92 trillion behind the UK at $4 trillion; 5th in 2024; US/China/Germany/Japan 2025 figures; slip driven by rupee depreciation not shrinking output; fastest-growing major economy; IMF projects 6.5% growth in 2026 and 2027; earlier projections of 4th by 2027 and 3rd by ~2031 Open original source
- Supports: Modi names 'Krish, Trish and Baltiboy' (KTB – Bharat Hain Hum) as a children's favourite; series about lesser-discussed freedom-struggle heroes; Season 2 launched at IFFI Goa; broadcast in many Indian and foreign languages on Doordarshan and OTT; Constitution completing 75 years on 26 Jan 2025 Open original source
- Second season of animated series Krish, Trish, and Baltiboy: Bharat Hain Hum launched at IFFI Tier 1Supports: Ministry of Information and Broadcasting launched KTB Season 2 at IFFI; series celebrates India's lesser-known freedom fighters; 12 Indian + 7 international languages, 150 countries; on Waves (Prasar Bharati's OTT); fighters include Wazir Ram Singh Pathania (Himachal Pradesh) and Birsa Munda (Jharkhand); actor Nagarjuna at the launch Open original source
- Supports: Article 343: Hindi in Devanagari script is the official language of the Union, English to continue; Official Languages Act 1963 provides for English alongside Hindi for all official purposes of the Union; Article 345: states adopt their own official languages; Eighth Schedule languages Open original source
- Supports: 2024 Lok Sabha the largest democratic exercise in the world; eligible voting population exceeds the combined next four largest democracies (US, Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan); 96 crore eligible (2024) vs 91 crore (2019); 47 crore women (~49%); gender ratio 948 (2024) vs 928 (2019); 12 lakh polling booths; 1.5 crore polling personnel; 2019 turnout 67%, 1951-52 45%; 17.32 crore registered voters in 1951 Open original source
- Krish, Trish and Balti Boy 2 nominated at 21st Cairo International Film Festival for Children Tier 2Supports: Mumbai-based Graphiti Multimedia's KTB2 nominated in children's animation at the 21st Cairo International Film Festival for Children (23–30 March 2012); based on Indian folk stories, folk art and folk music; directors Munjal Shroff and Tilak Shetty quoted on resurrecting dying folk art forms Open original source
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