Interesting Facts and Basic Information about India for Competitive Exam

Basic Information and Interesting Facts about India

Things Every Indian Should Know

India is country located in southern Asia with over 1.3 billion people, India is the most populous democracy in the world. It is federal constitutional republic governed under a parliamentary system. It has a lot of diversity in language, customs, traditions and many other things.

Motto: “Satyameva Jayate” (Sanskrit) - “Truth Alone Triumphs”

Anthem: “Jaya Gana Mana” – “Thou Art the Ruler of the Minds of All People”

                Lyrics and Music: Rabrindranath Tagore

                   Adopted:  24 January 1950 and it was first publicly sung on 27 December 1911 at the Kolkata Session of the Indian National Congress.

National Song: “Vande Mataram” – “ I Bow to thee, Mother”

                 Lyrics: Bankim Chandra Chattopadhaya

                    Music: Jadunath Bhattacharya

                    Adopted: 24 January 1950

Important facts about India:

•  Area:      Total:                      3,287,263 km²

                                  Water:                   9.6%

• Longitudinal extent:      68°7’ East to 97°25 East
• Latitudinal extent:          8°4’ North to 37°6’ North
• North-south extent:       3214 km
• East west extent:             2933 km
• Land Frontiers:                 15200 km
• Total Coastline:                 7516.6 km
• Longest Coastline:            Gujarat
• Number of states:             29
• Union territories:               7
• Land Neighbours:               Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar.
• Northern most point:        Indira Col
• Southern most point:        Indira point or Pigmallion point in Great Nicobar
• Western most point:         West of Ghaur Mota in Gujarat
• Eastern most point:           Kibithu (Arunachal Pradesh)
• Southern most tip:            Kanyakumari
• Active volcano:                   Barren Island in Andaman and Nicobar Islands 
• Largest city:                         Mumbai
• Life Expectancy:                 68.8 Years (2017 estimate)
• Birth Rate:                           19birth/1000 population (2017 estimate)
• Death rate:                           7.3 death/1000 population (2017 estimate)

Indian Standard Time (IST):

Indian Standard Time is calculated on the basis of 82.5°E longitude which passes through Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh Odisha, Chattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh. IST is 5 hr 30 min Ahead of GMT(Greenwich Mean Time)

State Emblem of India:

Motto- Satyameva Jayate

Adopted- 26 January 1950

The State Emblem of India, as the national emblem of India is called, is an adaptation of the Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath. It is preserved in the Varanasi Sarnath Museum in India. An Act to protect to prohibit the improper use of State Emblem of India for professional and Commercial purpose and for matters Connected Therewith or incidental thereto. (Act no. 50 0f 2005)

 Awards:

Civilian Awards:

• Bharat Ratna: It is awarded in the recognition of exceptional  service/performance of the highest order in any field of human endeavour.
• Padma Awards:

                    (a) Padma Vibhushan:  Awarded for exceptional and distinguished service.
                    (b) Padma Bhushan: Awarded for distinguished services of high order.
                    (c) Padma Shri: Awarded for distinguished service.

Military Awards:

• Wartime gallantry awards

                    (a) Param Vir Chakra

                    (b) Maha Vir chakra

                    (c) Vir Chakra

• Peacetime  gallantry awards:

                    (a) Ashok Chakra award

                    (b) Kirti Chakra

                    (c) Shaurya Chakra

• Wartime Distinguished service

                    (a) Sarvottam  Yudh Seva Medal

                    (b) Uttam Yudh Seva Medal

                    (c) Yudh Seva Medal

• Peacetime Distinguished Service

                    (a) Param Vishisht Seva Medal

                    (b) Ati Vishishit Seva Medal

                    (c)  Vishihit Seva Medal

• Wartime/Peacetime service awards

                  (a) Sena Medal / Nau Sena Medal / Vayusena Medal

Literature awards:

• Janapith Award ( highest literary honour)
• Sahitya Academy Award
• Sahitya Academy fellowship
• Saraswati samman
• Bhasha samman
• Translation Awards
• Anand Coomarswamy fellowship
• Premchand Fellowship

National Awards:

• Children Awards:

             (a) National Child Award for Exaceptional Achievement

             (b) National Bal Shree Honour

• Women Award:

             (a) Nari Sakti Purashkar

National Sport Awards:

• Rajib Gandhi Khel Ratna
• Arjuna Award
• Dronacharya Award
• Dhyan Chand Award
• C.K. Nayudu Award

Film/Music/Art  Awards:

• National Film Awards
• Dada Sahe Phalke Award
• Filmfare Awards
• Sangeet Natak Akademi Purashkar (Akademi Award)
• Lalit Kala Akademi Award

Interesting Fact: longest, Largest, Biggest etc.(in world)

• The world largest solar power park is located in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
•  India has World largest recycling system of waste material.
• Indian Hockey Team has been the most successful Olympics team with 8 gold, 1 silver, and 2 bronze Olympics Medals.
• India is the largest Importer of Defence Equipment.
• Indian film industry(Bollywood) is the Largest film Industry of the world. Bollywood produces more movies per year  than any other film industry  in the world.
• India has largest population of Tigers.
• India has highest numbers of child labour.