? Population: India is the world?s second-most populous nation, with more than one billion people, about 75 % of whom live in rural areas.

? Life expentancy : 62.6 years.

? Sex ratio: 933 females per 1,000 males.

? Literacy rate : 65 %.

? Area: 3.3 million sq km, stretching from the Himalayas in the north to the Indian Ocean in the south.

? Religion: Officially secular. Hindus make up more than 80 % of the population, Muslims almost 12, Christians two, Sikhs two and Buddhists less than one %.

? Political system: India has a two-chamber parliamentary system. The head of state is an indirectly elected president with mainly ceremonial powers. India?s 29 states elect their own assemblies, but New Delhi has the power to impose federal rule.

? Economy: Annual per capita income averages $600. About 26 % live below the poverty line. Agriculture supports about 70 % of the population. There is substantial industry in urban areas, including steel, aircraft, ships, railway rolling stock, cars, trucks, textiles and jewellery. There has been a surge in computer software, pharmaceuticals and services.

? Main exports: Gems, jewellery, readymade garments, cotton yarn and fabrics, handicrafts, cereals, marine products, transport equipment, software and other services.

? Main imports : Crude oil, petroleum products, chemicals, machinery, electrical machinery, fertilisers, iron, steel, pearls, precious and semi-precious stones.

Profiles

Sonia Gandhi, the enigmatic leader

The enigmatic Italian-born widow of former Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi ,is now the torchbearer of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty - the legendary family clan that has ruled India for 39 of its 52 years as an independent nation. Sonia Gandhi started out as a reluctant and near reclusive politician. Indeed, after Rajiv Gandhi?s assassination in 1991, Sonia distanced herself and her children from active politics for some time. She officially took charge of the Congress Party in 1998 and was elected to parliament in the last elections in 1999.

Though the 58-year-old Mrs Gandhi has become a more open and communicative politician today, her future in Indian politics looks somewhat uncertain. Under her leadership, the party turned in its worst performance since Independence in the 1999 general elections. Congress also performed indifferently in last year?s state elections. However, the Gandhi name is still revered in India and Congress is looking to Mrs Gandhi to translate that feeling into votes.

But her political opponents continue to rake up her Italian descent as an election issue saying that the choice for voters is between an Indian or foreign leader. With Mrs Gandhi?s longer-term role still being debated, there is speculation that her children may follow her into politics - particularly her daughter, Priyanka. Originally from Turin, Italy, she met her future husband when she was a language student in Cambridge, England. The couple married in 1968 and she moved into the house of her mother-in-law and then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi. Sonia Gandhi was propelled into the forefront of the Indian political scene when her husband Rajiv was picked as the natural successor to Gandhi-Nehru crown, following the death of his brother in a plane crash in 1980. She is a familiar figure in Amethi, her husband?s rural parliamentary constituency in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh which she now represents.

Pitchforked into politics by the Congress which still largely regards a Gandhi as it?s best, crowd-pulling figure, Sonia Gandhi?s political future will be largely determined by how her party fares in this election.

Vajpayee : the charismatic builder

Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has emerged as one of his country?s most durable and charismatic leaders. He is already India?s longest serving Prime Minister outside of the once-dominant Congress Party. He has now completed six straight years in office spread over two terms. Often described as the moderate face of his Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), he has wider appeal than his more hardline colleagues. Despite a health scare two years ago, Mr Vajpayee?s position both within his party and in the country appears very strong. Those close to him say his personal mission has been to improve relations with Pakistan. As Foreign Minister in the 1970s, he managed to forge closer links with India?s rival nuclear power.

During his present term, he has made two attempts to improve ties with Pakistan - once during a failed summit in 2001 and more recently in January this year during a pathbreaking visit to Islamabad. A high caste Brahmin, he was born in 1926 in the central state of Madhya Pradesh. As a teenager he was jailed briefly for opposing British colonial rule, but played no major part in the freedom movement.

The BJP?s Hindu revivalism has antagonised most of India?s huge Muslim population, as well as other minorities and many moderate Hindus. Mr Vajpayee has, at times, tried to appeal to Muslims and other minority groups, and he has been a reassuring figure for India?s mainly secular establishment.

His personal integrity has never been seriously questioned, but arms bribery scandals have exposed corruption in his government and at times cast doubt on his judgment. A lifelong bachelor, he lists cooking as one of his hobbies and writes intellectual poetry in his spare time. Once marked out as a leader to watch by India?s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, at 79 Mr Vajpayee is in the twilight of his political career. Many believe he is now looking for a final electoral victory, one that will cement his legacy as one of India?s most powerful and successful leaders.