Indian cuisine is characterized by a great variety of regional styles and sophisticated use of herbs and spices. The staple foods in the area are rice (mainly in the south and east of the country) and wheat (mainly in the north). Spices at the origin, a native of the Indian subcontinent who are now consumed worldwide include black pepper; on the other hand, hot chili peppers, popular in India, have been introduced by the Portuguese. Indian traditional dress varies considerably among regions in its colors and styles, and depends on various factors, including climate. Popular Styles of dress draped in clothing, such as women sari and dhoti or lungi for men; also sewn garments like shalwar kameez for women and kurta pajamas, and the European-style trousers and shirts men are also popular. Many religious festivals are of Indian origin, although many are celebrated regardless of caste and creed. Some of the most popular festivals Diwali, Pongal, Holi, Onam, Vijayadashami, Bihu, Durga puja, the two Eids, Christmas, Ugadi, Buddha Jayanti and Vaisakhi. India has three national holidays. Other sets of holidays, ranging between nine and twelve years old, are officially observed in the different states. Religious practices are an integral part of everyday life and are a very public affair. The traditional Indian family values are highly respected, but urban families now prefer a system of the nuclear family as a result of the socio-economic situation of the constraints imposed by the system from the traditional joint family.

India's national sport is hockey if cricket is the most popular sport of India. In some states, particularly those in the northeast and in the states of West Bengal, Goa and Kerala, football (soccer) is also a popular sport. Recently, tennis has also grown in popularity. Chess, commonly regarded as having originated in India, is also becoming increasingly popular with the increasing number Indian grandmasters. Sports include traditional kabaddi, kho-kho and gilli - danda, which will play at the national level. India is home to the ancient discipline of yoga and the former martial arts, and Kalarippayattu Varma Kalai.India is the largest democracy in the world. For most of its democratic history, the federal government of India was led by the Indian National Congress (INC). State politics have been dominated by several national parties including the INC, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Communist Party of India (CPI), and various regional parties. From 1950 to 1990, except for two brief periods, the INC received a parliamentary majority. The INC has been out of power between 1977 and 1980, when the Janata Party won the elections because of public discontent with the "emergency" declared by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. In 1989, a Janata Dal-led coalition National Front alliance with the Front of the left coalition won the elections but managed to stay in power for only two years.

The years 1996-1998 were a period of turmoil in the federal government with a number of alliances raged ephemeral. The BJP briefly formed a government in 1996, followed by the United Front coalition. In 1998, the BJP formed the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), with several regional parties and became the first non-Congress government to complete a five-year term. In 2004, Indian elections, the INC has won the largest number of Lok Sabha seats and formed a government with a coalition called the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), supported by various left-wing parties and members of the opposition BJP