What's Up, World? India

Something big is about to happen to India! Today, it’s the seventh largest in the world when it comes to size. But India will soon be first in population.  

For hundreds of years, China has had more people than any other place on Earth. But a recent study says that India’s population is on track to reach close to a billion and a half people next year. For the first time, that number will be a bit higher than China’s. It’s also four times as much as that of the U.S. (The U.S. population will be about 335 million in 2023.) 

Population growth can be a challenge for any country. The more people a nation has, the more care and support it must provide. India is working to give an education and jobs to its millions of people. 

Keep reading for more about life in this fascinating nation. 

Indians have been playing kabaddi for thousands of years. Kabaddi is a sport that’s like tag. Two teams score points by tagging and tackling other players. Millions of Indians watch kabaddi pros on TV.

On hot days, many Indians like to cool down with a sweet frozen treat called kulfi. It’s like ice cream but thicker and creamier. It also takes longer to melt. So you have more time to enjoy!

The Taj Mahal might look like a castle. But it’s really a tomb. A ruler had it built about 400 years ago for his wife who had passed away. Millions of tourists visit each year. 

Every year on October 2, Indians celebrate the birthday of Mohandas Gandhi. He was a peaceful leader who helped the country gain its freedom from Great Britain in 1947. Gandhi died in 1948.

Bengal tigers can be spotted in forests in India. These animals make up about half of the world’s total tiger population.

India is the only country in the world where both tigers and lions live in the wild.