Welcome to India

A Welcome From IKAN. 2 min read.

A street seen from above with rickshaws, parked cars and a bus between shops and houses — A market street in Greater Kailash 1Photo: Nikhilb239, CC BY-SA 4.0

A Welcome From IKAN

The world's most extraordinary assignment destination.

India does not introduce itself gently. It arrives all at once: colour, sound, scale, generosity. For you and your family, this guide is your starting compass: a way of understanding the country before its many particulars (immigration, housing, schooling, daily logistics) are layered on top through your dedicated destination programme.

Foreword

Welcome to India, a country that doesn't ask to be understood quickly. It asks to be experienced over time.

This guide is a cultural and country orientation, prepared by IKAN Talent Mobility for you and your family, whether you are relocating to India from abroad or moving within the country. It complements, rather than duplicates, the destination services material your IKAN consultant will share separately.

Inside, we have collected what matters most to settle the mind and the spirit before the move: India's geography and seven regions, its languages and faiths, the way its seasons turn, its festivals and food, the apps that quietly run daily life, and the customs that reward those who pay attention. This guide will help you navigate housing, schooling and the daily living that follows.

Read it in any order. Return to the sections that match where you are in your journey. And know that the on-ground IKAN team are an email, a call, or a namaste away.

With care from the IKAN teamIKAN Talent Mobility · India

How to use this guide

Think of this as the orientation read, the one you can open and read while in flight. The detailed destination-services workbook (immigration, FRRO, leasing, schools placement, settling-in) is delivered as a separate package by your IKAN consultant once the assignment is confirmed.

Taj Mahal AgraPhoto: Pexels, Pexels License

Indian spices marketPhoto: Pexels, Pexels License

Marine Drive MumbaiPhoto: Pexels, Pexels License

Indian street foodPhoto: Pexels, Pexels License

Indian festival lightsPhoto: Pexels, Pexels License

India in numbers

1.46B

People

Most populous nation · UN 2025 estimate

4^th

Largest Economy

Set to be 3^rd by 2030

~6.5%

Annual GDP Growth

Fastest among large economies

~29°

Latitude Span

8°N (Tamil Nadu) → 37°N (Kashmir)

🌐The country at a glance

Official Name	Republic of India (Bhārat Gaṇarājya)
Capital	New Delhi
Most Populous City	Delhi (urban agglomeration) · Mumbai is the financial capital
Government	Federal Parliamentary Republic
Currency	Indian Rupee (₹ / INR) 100 paise = ₹1
Time Zone	IST, UTC +5:30, no daylight saving
Country Code	+91
Internet TLD	.in
Drives on	Left side of the road
Power	230V · 50Hz · Plug types C, D, M

📐Geography & scale

Area	3.29 million km², 7^th largest country
Coastline	7,517 km on three sides
Land Borders	Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar
Highest Point	Kanchenjunga, 8,586 m
Lowest Point	Indian Ocean, 0 m
Major Rivers	Ganga, Brahmaputra, Indus, Yamuna, Godavari, Krishna
National Tree	Banyan
National Flower	Lotus
National Animal	Bengal Tiger
National Bird	Indian Peacock

India is not a country but a sub-continent, a layering of civilisations, languages, climates and tastes that took five thousand years to settle and still, peacefully, refuses to.

A common saying for first-time arrivals

Next chapterThe country

Already moving with IKAN?

Your homes, dates and papers are in i-Navigate, IKAN's app for families. It opens with the email address your IKAN consultant has for you, then sends you a six digit code.

Open your move Not moving with IKAN yet? Write to enquiry@ikan.com or message IKAN on WhatsApp and a consultant will reply.