SIXTEEN THINGS ABOUT INDIA WHICH EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW

1. India's scientific base situated in Antarctica-

Dakshin Gangotri- India's first scientific base in Antarctica, It was established during 1983-1984. This was the first time an Indian team spent a winter in Antactica to carry out scientific works. The station was built in eight weeks by an 81-member team.

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Maitri- Maitri is India's second permanent research station in Antarctica as part of the Indian Antarctic Program. Work on the station was first started by the Indian Expedition which landed there in end Dec 1984, the team was led by DR B B Bhattacharya. The station has modern facilities to carry out research in various disciplines, such as biology, earth sciences, glaciology, atmospheric sciences, meteorology, cold region engineering, communication, human physiology and medicine.

2. India has the second largest network of paved highways, after the U.S.-

The national highways network of India is a network of highways that is managed and maintained by agencies of the Government of India. These highways measured over 100,087 km (62,191 mi) as of June 2016, including over 1,000 km (620 mi) of limited-access expressways (motorways). Besides this, there are numerous state highways as well.

3. Nearly 49% of high-tech startups in the Silicon Valley and Washington D.C. are owned by Indians and/or Indian-Americans-

4. Indian Army is world's Third largest standing army comprising over 1.1 million men in uniform

5. Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) or Mangalyaan-

 It was launched on 5 November 2013 by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and It is India's first interplanetary mission and ISRO has become the fourth space agency to reach Mars, after the Soviet space program, NASA, and the European Space Agency. It is the first Asian nation to reach Mars orbit, and the first nation in the world to do so in its first attempt. Among these nations, India has conducted this mission at the least expense of money among these successful nations.

6. The Tallest Building of India- Imperial Towers

The Imperial is located in Tardeo, Mumbai.The Imperial Towers, designed by Mumbai architect Hafeez Contractor as his most recognisable project to date, were designed as India's tallest towers consisting of  61 floors. Construction of another skyscraper named 'Imperial III'  has begun which will have 116 floors and the construction is estimated to be completed till 2020-2021 and will be the tallest tower in India.


The imagined image of Imperial III

7. India has the most number of cell-phone users in the world-

With 7,324,782,000 people using cell-phones in India, it has become the country with most number of cell phone users in the world. The numbers are only to increase in times to come.

8. Largest Postal Network in the world-

India even has a floating post office which is situated in Dal Lake which was inaugurated in August, 2011.

9. The USB was invented by an Indian 'Ajay Bhatt'-

Ajay V. Bhatt, is an Indian-American computer architect who developed  the USB. The first USB technology began development in 1994, co-invented by Ajay Bhatt of Intel and the USB-IF (USB Implementers Forum, Inc). The organization comprised of industry leaders like Intel, Microsoft, Compaq, LSI, Apple and Hewlett-Packard.

10. Shushruta- The 'first Surgeon of the World' also known as 'The Father of Surgery'.

Shushruta is also called "The Father of Surgery" on account of the extraordinarily accurate and detailed accounts of surgery to be found in the work. He has also been called "The First Plastic Surgeon". He is regarded to have been lived in the coastal region of the present state of Andhra Pradesh and also regarded to have imparted knowledge to Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam physicians who later claim to have expertise 

11. Largest school of the world (In terms of number of students)-

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the City Montessori School in Lucknow, India, had 39,437 pupils and 2,500 teachers on December 29, 2011.

12. First country to smelt Zinc by distillation process-

India was the first to smelt zinc by the distillation process, an advanced technique derived from a long experience of ancient alchemy. The ancient Persians had also attempted to reduce zinc oxide in an open furnace but had failed. Zawar in the Tiri valley of Rajasthan is the world’s first known ancient zinc smelting site. The distillation technique of zinc production goes back to the 12th Century AD and is an important contribution of India to the world of science.

13. Largest fair in the world- Kumbh Mela

At any given place, the Kumbh Mela is held once in 12 years. There is a difference of around 3 years between the Kumbh Melas at Haridwar and Nashik; the fairs at Nashik and Ujjain are celebrated in the same year or one year apart. The exact date is determined according to a combination of zodiac positions of the Jupiter, the Sun and the Moon. At Nashik and Ujjain, the Mela may be held while a planet is in Leo (Simha in Hindu astrology); in this case, it is also known as Simhastha. At Haridwar and Allahabad, an Ardha ("Half") Kumbh Mela is held every sixth year; a Maha ("Great") Kumbh Mela occurs after 144 years.

Kumbh Mela is so populus that it is even visible form the space.

14. Bandra Worli Sealink has steel wires equal to the earth's circumference-

It took a total of 2,57,00,000 man hours for completion and also weighs as much as 50,000 African elephants. A true engineering and architectural marvel.

15. The Indian national Kabaddi team has won all World Cups-

India has won all five men's Kabaddi World Cups held till now and have been undefeated throughout these tournaments. The Indian women's team has also won all Kabaddi World Cups held till date.

16. Most number of cricket stadiums in the world-

Although the first ever cricket match was played between Australia and England, India has more stadiums than any other country in the world. There are forty four cricket stadiums in India with many more under construction.

The 'Eden Gardens' in Kolkata is reffered to as 'The Mecca of Indian Cricket'.