INDIA is a kaleidoscope of contrasts: an ancient civilization but a young nation; a rich history and culture but a poor level of social development; one country but many languages; one law but several religions. India’s essence is in its innate diversity.

	India is the world’s seventh largest country in geographical size, a peninsula with a geographical area of 3,287,263 square km (about 80 times the size of The Netherlands).
	India shares political borders with seven countries: Afghanistan and Pakistan (Northwest), China, Bhutan and Nepal (North), and Myanmar and Bangladesh (East).
	India has a wide range of climatic conditions on account of its varied geographical boundaries, but in most parts the monsoon tropical climate predominates.
	India has an enormous biodiversity wealth with more than 45000 flora species and 82000 fauna species, due to its wide range of climatic conditions.