India+Page+Three

[|India] is one of the most religiously diverse nations in the world, with [|religion] playing a central role in the lives of most Indians. The Indian constitution declares India to be a [|secular] republic and protects the rights of citizens to worship and propagate any religion or faith.[|[1]][|[2]] Over 80% of the people in India practice [|Hinduism], which has its origins within the [|Indian subcontinent]. [|Islam] is practised by 13.4% of Indians, [|Christianity] by 2.3%, and [|Sikhism] by 1.8%.[|[3]] [|Buddhism] and [|Jainism] both arose on the [|Indian subcontinent] and have a world-wide presence; in addition, [|Zoroastrianism] and [|Judaism] have a long history in India, but their present-day numbers are small. Considerations of religion hold a great significance in the private lives of Indians and inter-religious marriages are generally taboo. Publicly, however most Indians adopt a venerating attitude towards other religions and retain a secular outlook. Inter community clashes have never found support in the social mainstream, and it is generally percieved that its causes are petty political goals rather then ideological differences. The countries secular credentials can be judged from the fact that at present the country's [|President] is a Muslim, the [|Prime Minister] a Sikh and the ruling alliance's [|chairperson] a Christian. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_India

Hindi Kashmiri Punjabi Marathi
 * Predominate Languages:**


 * [[image:india-map-languages.jpg width="651" height="520"]]

[|www.mapsofindia.com/maps/india/indianlanguages.htm]

Literacy Rates:** Male- 70.2% Female- 48.3% total- 59.5%

//male:// 39.42 deaths/1,000 live births //female:// 29.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.) || //male:// 66.28 years //female:// 71.17 years (2007 est.) || https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/print/in.html
 * Infant mortality rate: || //total:// 34.61 deaths/1,000 live births
 * Life expectancy at birth: || //total population:// 68.59 years

Population Below Poverty line:

25%

An Indian baby:

http://shopping.zeenews.com/gifts-to-india/gifts-T581.html

To: Indian culture page