The major portion of the Indian subcontinent lies in the Indian tectonic plate and a minor plate within the Indo-Australian Plate.

Spread in the area of 3.28 million sq kms, it comprises of 28 states and seven union territories with a parliamentary form of government.

The total area covered is 3,287,590 sq km from which 2,973,190 sq km is covered by land and 314,400 sq km covered by water.

Located in South Asia, India is bordered by the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal in the south, and between Burma and Pakistan in the north.

The total land boundary is 14,103 km where Bangladesh covers 4,053 km, Bhutan covers 605 km, Burma covers 1,463 km, China covers 3,380 km, Nepal covers 1,690 km, Pakistan covers 2,912 km.

India's coast is 7,517 kilometers (4,671 mi) long; of this distance, 5,423 kilometers (3,370 mi) belong to peninsular India, and 2,094 kilometers (1,301 mi) to the Andaman, Nicobar, and Lakshadweep Islands.

India lies to the north of the equator between 6°44' and 35°30' north latitude and 68°7' and 97°25' east longitude. The geographic coordinates are 20 00 N, 77 00 E.

Climate varies from tropical monsoon in south to temperate in north.

The Terrain are upland plain (Deccan Plateau) in south, flat to rolling plain along the Ganges, deserts in west, Himalayas in north.

The lowest point is the Indian Ocean 0 m and the highest point: Kanchenjunga 8,598 m.