FACTS

Location: Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and Pakistan

Area (only Total) total: 3,287,590 sq km

Climate: varies from tropical monsoon in south to temperate in north

Terrain: upland plain (Deccan Plateau) in south, flat to rolling plain along the Ganges, deserts in west, Himalayas in north

Population: 1,147,995,898

Main Language (only first): English

Government type: federal republic

Capital (Name): New Delhi

Capital (Time Difference): UTC+5.5

Independence: 15 August 1947 (from UK)

National holiday: Republic Day, 26 January

HOLIDAYS

January 21 1Eid ul Zuha*

January 10 Muharram (Islamic New Year).

January 26 Republic Day**

March 6 Mahashivratri*

March 20 Milad-Un-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet).

March 21 Good Friday*

March 24 Easter Monday

May 12 Buddha Purnima

April 18 Mahavir Jayanthi*

August 15 Independence Day**

August 24 Janmashtami1

October 9 Dussehra (Vijaya Fashami)

October 2 Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday**

October 1 Eid ul Fitr*

October 28 Diwali (Deepavali)

November 11 Guru Nanak's Birthday

December 25 Christmas Day*

December 26 Boxing Day

December 29 Muharram (Islamic New Year)

*Restricted holidays - Given at the discretion of the organization/employer.

**National Holidays

1 Date may change

Weekend - Sunday