India is the seventh largest country in the world with a total population of almost one billion people. Located in southern Asia, the country is easily recognizable on any world map—secluded from its northern neighbors by the mighty Himalayan Mountains and surrounded on its southern peninsula by the Arabian Sea to the west, the Indian Ocean to the south, and the Bay of Bengal to the east. The capital city, New Delhi, sprawled along the Yamuna River in northern India, is home to a population of 9.5 million people.

Indian history began more than 4,500 years ago, when the name described all of the lands on the Indian subcontinent, including Bangladesh and Pakistan. Early civilizations flourished in and around the Indus River valley, including the Vedic civilization considered to be the precursor of modern Hindu culture. Many foreigners influenced India over the centuries, coming either to take over the land or to set up trading settlements for its valuable spices and textiles. They brought with them other languages and traditions, creating a culturally diverse country today that uses 24 major languages—meaning they are spoken by at least one million people—and some 1,600 dialects. While most business transactions are conducted in English, the national language of India is Hindi.

Religions is one of the primary influences on Indian culture and plays a vital role in daily life for most people—particularly noticeable in Indian architecture and art. While 80 percent of Indians practice Hinduism, smaller groups include Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Jainists, Sikhs, and Zoroastrianists.

Once a British colony, India won its independence in 1947. Since then, the democratic government has begun working to alleviate some of the nation's gravest social problems, mainly caused by the caste system. Quota International has already made a difference through the New Delhi club's work for the disadvantaged in Faridabad, helping women and children in need through job training and education.

To learn more about the We Share Foundation's Club-to-Club projects in India, click here.

To review a list of Quota clubs located in India,
click here.

Visit these sites for more tourism information on India:
http://www.indiagov.org/
http://www.tourisminindia.com/

To return to the Quota Country Profiles page, click here.