Known as the Republic of India, India is a large and diverse country in South Asia. It is the world’s largest democracy and the seventh-largest nation by land area. The country is known for its rich cultural heritage, including thousands of years of history, numerous languages, religions, traditions, and vibrant arts. Its geography ranges from the Himalayan mountains in the north to tropical coastlines in the south, with fertile plains, deserts, plateaus, and major river systems such as the Ganges. India also has a mixed economy, with major sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, information technology, services, and a rapidly growing start-up ecosystem. It is also renowned for its contributions to science, mathematics, philosophy, literature, and spirituality.
Its capital, New Delhi, lies in the larger metropolitan area of Delhi, and serves as the seat of the Government of India. Designed by British architects Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker, New Delhi is known for its wide boulevards, government buildings, monuments, and historical sites such as India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhavan (the President’s residence), and the Parliament House.
UTC+5:30.
Frequent floods, earthquakes, severe cyclones, frequent landslides, and recurring droughts.
For traffic/driving violations;
Other violations include:
The official languages of India are Hindi and English, but Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Punjabi and many more are also spoken.
Vehicles drive on the left side in India, and traffic signals and signs are similar to many international systems and often displayed in English plus a local language. The minimum driving age is 18 years, but the renting age is typically 21 - 25 depending on the company and vehicle. Additionally, renters need to have held their licence for at least one year, and drivers 25 or under may have to pay extra fees or require more documents to rent. UK drivers are required to have the 1949 International Driving Permit (IDP) alongside their valid licence for rental companies and authorities. Do be aware: there have been instances of unlicenced vehicle rentals (rented with no paperwork), which pose serious legal and safety risks.
State highways are usually in good condition, but are narrow compared to national highways and expressways. Rural roads sometimes have potholes, broken edges, unmarked speed bumps, poor lighting, and pedestrians, cattle, tractors and bikes travelling on them, and mountain roads can be steep, narrow, winding roads with sharp hairpin bends, alongside landsides occurring during monsoon or after snowfall, falling rocks, sudden fog, and low visibility. It is best to avoid night driving, and drive on mountain roads if you have experience on those kind of roads.
In addition; India does experience monsoon reason (June - September) which causes flooding, waterlogging and mud to roads, and in winter (December - February), drivers can experience fog, plus snow and ice on hill roads. And drivers should also expect: lane discipline to be loosely followed, sudden overtaking, motorbikes appearing from blind spots, animals wandering into roads, and occasional drivers who drive on the wrong side in rural areas.
Petrol in India is available everywhere (unleaded by default), while diesel is widely available and EV charging is becoming more available in major cities, highways and expressways. Fuel stations are full-service where cash is commonly accepted in smaller towns, and card and digital payments are accepted in highway stations. However; make sure the meter has been reset before fuelling, avoid being distracted by attendants trying under fill you and make you pay more, always ask for a receipt since attendants may trick you to pay double, and don't fall for fake premium fuel offers.
Fuel stations are easily available in major cities, national highways and expressways, but in Himalayan regions, rural deserts, and remote hill states, stations are scarce. If you're driving in remote or mountain areas, fill up whenever you see a station.
Some states like Delhi, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu have specific rules, often with lower limits in urban areas or higher on certain highways.
The BAC limit is 0.03%
Mandatory for all front-seat occupants and recommended for all passengers.
Children under 12 years old or 135cm tall must use an appropriate child seat or booster in the rear. Never the front.