Capital
New Delhi
Founder
Constituent Assembly of India
Duration
Ongoing
Category
Empire
Timeline
1947 CE
Independence
India gains independence from British rule on 15 August.
1950 CE
Republic
India becomes a republic with the adoption of its Constitution.
1962 CE
Sino-Indian War
Border conflict with China.
1971 CE
Bangladesh Liberation War
India's military intervention leads to the creation of Bangladesh.
1991 CE
Economic Liberalization
India opens its economy to global markets.
1998 CE
Nuclear Tests
India conducts nuclear tests at Pokhran.
2008 CE
Chandrayaan-1
India's first lunar probe.
2014 CE
Mars Orbiter Mission
ISRO's successful Mars mission.
Geography
Map of Empire
Forts
Temples
Governance
Administration
Federal parliamentary democratic republic; President (head of state), Prime Minister (head of government); bicameral Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha)
Prosperity
Economy
Mixed economy; one of the world's fastest-growing major economies; IT services, manufacturing, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, space technology
Currency: Indian Rupee (INR)
Defense
Military
Indian Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force) — third-largest standing army in the world; nuclear weapons capability; space program (ISRO)
Design
Architecture
Modernist (Le Corbusier's Chandigarh, Louis Kahn's IIM Ahmedabad); contemporary skyscrapers; preservation of historical monuments; urban development
Heritage
Culture
Vibrant democracy with diverse languages, religions, and traditions; Bollywood; Indian classical arts; modern literature; thriving tech and startup culture
Legacy
Achievements
Largest democracy in the world by population
Economic liberalization (1991) leading to rapid growth
Successful space program (ISRO — Mars Orbiter Mission, Chandrayaan)
Nuclear power status
Unified the country from princely states into a single nation
IT and software services leadership globally
Constitution of India — the world's longest written constitution
Sunset
Decline
N/A (ongoing)
Connections
Related Kingdoms
Sources
Historical References
India After Gandhi
Comprehensive history of post-independence India.
The Idea of India
Exploration of India's national identity.
India: A History
Survey of Indian history from ancient to modern times.
Constitution of India
Adopted on 26 January 1950.