India: Introduction

India is located in Southern Asia bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. Neighboring countries include Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, China, Nepal, and Pakistan. India has a diverse geology; upland plain (Deccan Plateau) in south, flat to rolling plain along the Ganges river, deserts in west, and Himalayas in north. The government is a federal republic. The chief of state is the President and the head of government is the Prime Minister. India has a market economy in which the prices of goods and services are determined in a free price system. India is a member of Bay of Bengal Initiative for MultiSectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) and South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).