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 the Himalayas in the 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 the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA) and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).