The Republic of India is an ancient and wonderful nation with a great history of diverse peoples, religions, and cultures.  It covers an area that is approximately one third of the U.S., with over a billion people, speaking 18 major languages, including 1600 different dialects, in approximately 600,000 towns.  The capital, New Delhi, has a population of over 13 million.  Over 60% of the nation lives in deep poverty, on an income that is less than $350 a year.   Approximately 40% are illiterate. 

The major religions are: Hindu 83%, Muslim 12%, Christian 2%, Sikh 2%, with Buddhist, Jain & Parsi comprising the remaining percent. 40% of the nation are children,  13 million of these are forced into child labor.  An additional 18 million are involved in prostitution, drug trafficking and street crime.  6% of these children are infected with HIV/Aids. 

STATES OF INDIA:
There are 28 states:
ANDHRA PRADESH, ARUNACHAL PRADESH, ASSAM, BIHAR, CHHATTISGARH, GOA, GUJARAT, HARYANA, HIMACHAL PRADESH, JAMMU & KASHMIR, JHARKHAND, KARNATAKA, KERALA, MADHYA PRADESH, MAHARASHTRA, MANIPUR, MEGHALAYA, MIZORAM, NAGALAND, ORISSA, PUNJAB, RAJASTHAN, SIKKIM, TAMIL NADU, TRIPURA, UTTAR PRADESH, UTTARANCHAL, WEST BENGAL.

UNION TERRITORIES OF INDIA:
ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS, CHANDIGARH, DADRA & NAGAR HAVELI, DAMAN & DIU, LAKSHADWEEP, PONDICHERY.