General Knowledge of India

Lets start with General Knowledge of India.

1. Basic Information

Official Name: Republic of India

Capital: New Delhi

Largest City: Mumbai

Official Languages: Hindi, English (Many regional languages are also spoken)

Currency: Indian Rupee

Population: Over 1.4 Billion (As of 2024)

Independence Day: 15th August 1947

National Flag: The tricolor of India in saffron, white, and green color, with a blue Ashoka Chakra at the center.

2. Geography

Location: India is in South Asia. The neighboring countries are Pakistan to the west; China, Nepal, and Bhutan to the north; Bangladesh and Myanmar to the east; while Indian Ocean is to the south.

Major Rivers: Ganges, Yamuna, Brahmaputra, Godavari, Krishna, Narmada.

Mountain Range: Himalayas-most elevated range of mountains in the world; Aravalli; Western Ghats; Eastern Ghats.

Major Islands: Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep Islands
Climate of the Country: India has a diverse climate pattern; from tropical south to alpine north.

3. Political System

Government Type: Federal Parliamentary Constitutional Republic

President: The head of the state-a titular position.

Prime Minister: Head of government-executive head.

4. Economy

Economic Rank: India is the 5th largest economy in the world by GDP.

Major Industries: Information Technology (IT), agriculture, textiles, telecommunications, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals.

Currency: Indian Rupee (₹)

Stock Exchanges: Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), National Stock Exchange (NSE).

5. History and Culture

Ancient Civilization: India hosts one of the oldest civilizations in the world, the Indus Valley Civilization.

Major Empires: Maurya Empire-under Ashoka, Gupta Empire, Mughal Empire, Maratha Empire, and British Raj-colonial rule.
Independence Movement- India gained independence from British rule in the year 1947 with the impetus provided by personalities such as Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Subhas Chandra Bose, among others.

Places to Visit:

• Famous Monuments
• Taj Mahal
• Agra- this is among the Seven Wonders of the World
• Red Fort (Delhi) UNESCO World Heritage site
• Qutub Minar
• Delhi- historic tower
• Gateway of India
• Mumbai

Events/Festivals:

• Diwali
• Holi
• Eid
• Christmas
• Raksha Bandhan
• Pongal
• Baisakhi

6. Science and Technology

Space Exploration: The Indian Space Research Organisation has made remarkable strides in space exploration, including the Mars Orbiter Mission and the Chandrayaan missions to the Moon.

Nuclear Power: India is a declared nuclear power and enjoys a strong nuclear energy program.

Notable Scientists: C.V. Raman, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Homi J. Bhabha.

7. Education and Literature

Famous Universities: Indian Institutes of Technology commonly called IITs, Indian Institutes of Management known as IIMs, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Banaras Hindu University.

Famous Authors: Rabindranath Tagore, R.K. Narayan, Salman Rushdie, Arundhati Roy.

Classical Literature: The Vedas, Upanishads, Ramayana, and Mahabharata plus much more works.

8. Sports

National Sport: Field Hockey (even though the most favourite sport is cricket).

Major Tournaments: Indian Premier League in cricket and Pro Kabaddi League

Olympic Achievements: Generally India has enjoyed good success in wrestling, shooting, badminton and boxing events.

Sports Personalities: Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli (Cricket); P.V. Sindhu (Badminton); M.S. Dhoni (Cricket); Abhinav Bindra (Shooting).

9. Indian States and Union Territories

Number of States: 28

Union Territories: 8

Largest State by Area: Rajasthan

Largest State by Population: Uttar Pradesh

Smallest State: Goa

Important Cities: Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad.

10. Miscellaneous Facts

National Animal: Bengal Tiger

National Bird: Indian Peafowl (Peacock)

National Tree: Banyan Tree

National Flower: Lotus

National Anthem: Jana Gana Mana (written by Rabindranath Tagore)

National Song : Vande Mataram

11. States and Union Territories of India

Indian States

Andhra Pradesh: Famous for Tirupati Temple and its rich cultural heritage.

Arunachal Pradesh: Famous for its scenic beauty and monasteries.

Assam: It is known for its Assam tea and Kaziranga National Park.

Bihar: Buddha’s land, consisting of important historical sites such as Bodh Gaya.

Chhattisgarh: Famous for forests and its mineral resources.

Goa: A popular tourist destination; it is known for beaches and churches.

Gujarat – Known for the Gir Forest, which is the home of Asiatic lions, and the Statue of Unity.

Haryana – Known for its rich agricultural produce.

Himachal Pradesh – A hill state known for its natural beauty and tourism.

Jharkhand – Rich in minerals and has many forests and waterfalls.

Karnataka – Known for its IT hub in Bengaluru and historic sites in Mysuru.

Kerala – Famous for its backwaters, beaches, and Ayurveda.

Madhya Pradesh – Land of wildlife reserves and ancient monuments.

Maharashtra – The home to Mumbai, the financial capital of India and Ajanta-Ellora Caves.

Manipur – Limelight of beauty and Manipuri dance.

Meghalaya – Rainforests and living root bridges of Meghalaya are famous.

Mizoram – Pretty state, hills and tribal culture are synonymous to Mizoram.

Nagaland – Land of  tribes famous for their specific festivals and traditions.

Odisha – Known for Konark Sun Temple and Puri Jagannath Temple.

Punjab – Due to its rich culture, Golden Temple, and Bhangra dance.

Rajasthan – Because of the forts, palaces, and Thar Desert.

Sikkim – Popular for its different biodiversity resources and Kanchenjunga mountain.

Tamil Nadu – Famous for Temples, Bharatanatyam, and Chennai city.

Telangana – Famous for its Charminar and heritage of Hyderabad.

Tripura: a small north-eastern state with its palaces and temples.

Uttar Pradesh: Contains the Taj Mahal, besides the two holiest cities, namely Varanasi and Ayodhya.

Uttarakhand: Known for pilgrimages such as Kedarnath and natural beauty.

West Bengal: Famous for Kolkata, Darjeeling, and its rich cultural heritage.

Indian Union Territories:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Pristine beaches, corals, and water sports are synonymous.

Chandigarh: Its architectural layout as a planned city and very neat and clean green environment make it famous among tourists.

Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu: Famous for a mix of Portuguese colonial past blended with serene beaches.

Lakshadweep: Crystal clear lagoons and vibrant marine life are the specialty of this place.

Delhi (NCT): The rich history, iconic monuments, and bustling urban life are what make Delhi so popular.

Puducherry: French colonial architecture, serene backwaters.

Jammu and Kashmir: Scenic beauty, houseboats, and the Himalayas.

Ladakh: Famous for dramatic landscapes, Buddhist monasteries, and adventure tourism.

For More Information about all states: – India gk

Learn more about all india– Wikipedia