India

India is a very large, very, very populated developing country (approximately 1.38 billion examples of Homo sapiens as of 2020). It is very proud of its spiritual heritage, having given the world Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism. It can also be a very fractious country, which makes sense if you skim its long politically fragmented history.

It is a vast nation marked by important religious, ethnic, and linguistic divides which have led to sporadic clashes between various groups since independence in 1947. While the country has had important episodes of conflict and endured a brief period of dictatorship under Indira Gandhi known as "the Emergency," it remains the world's largest democracy.

Politics

India also serves as an example that shows that Eastern polytheistic religions are not as immune to fundamentalism and violence as many in the West like to believe. The constitution of India guarantees freedom of religion for all. However, religion is an important factor among parts of the country's population, as seen in the success of the Hindu fundamentalist (commonly known as Hindu nationalist) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP, in English, Indian People's Party), the ruling political party in the country.[1] Additionally, religious law is allowed to govern personal matters such as divorce and inheritance, which has led to legal controversies. Indian blasphemy laws have also been used to punish criticism of religion, with conversion to or from any of them subject to legal hurdles.

Parties

There are two major political parties in India, the Indian National Congress (INC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Communist Party of India is another player in the southern state of Kerala, where unlike their crazier Maoist cousins, participates in parliamentary democracy and regularly (and surprisingly!) receive a large number of votes. However, a large number of states are governed by so-called regional parties, which more often than not, have their presence in that state only.[2] For example, the states of West Bengal and Odisha in east India, or the states of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh in South India have large regional parties in power.

The INC is widely considered secular and it has center-left orientation in political spectrum. However, the involvement of INC members in the anti-Sikh riots, coupled with statements of senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh where he described atheism as a negative attribute,[3] leaves the secular nature of the INC open to debate.[4][5]

The BJP has a center-right orientation and identifies itself as more conservative. Its parent, the right-wing RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) has promoted extremist Hindutva and religious fundamentalist views by cherry-picking from ancient Indian texts and philosophers. Some of the BJP-governed states also have anti-conversion and anti-cow slaughter laws.

Other right wing organizations like Shiv Sena,[6] Bajrang Dal[7] and some members of VHP[8] have been involved in hatred and violence towards Muslims and Christians. There have also been politicians who have called for violence against Hindus like Akbaruddin Owaisi. Recently one of the smaller political parties, the Aam Aadmi Party, won Delhi Assembly Elections against the two biggest political parties of the country, BJP and Congress.

India, along with the other seven South Asian countries, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, Bhutan and Afghanistan, is part of a regional coalition named SAARC, though there are internal hostilities between India and Pakistan in SAARC which makes SAARC an ineffective multinational alliance.

India's relations with China is poor due to ongoing border disputes, dating back to a war in 1962. Because of this, India's tiny Chinese community as well as Indians from the North East (who are more East Asian in appearance) face large amounts of social discrimination. As the result of the last dispute in 2020 which turned deadly, India enacted a blanket ban on Chinese owned software and apps. This naturally resulted in China having better relations with India's regional rivals such as Pakistan and Sri Lanka. India has also banned the import of several Chinese goods and Chinese apps including TikTok.

Economy

After independence in 1947, India tried to implement a socialist-type economy, led by their first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who was a socialist. However it was a socialist mixed economy rather than a Soviet-style command economy. India's economy was framed in this model until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. After the USSR's dissolution, India adopted the Washington consensus and started to open its markets to the private sector. As of 2020, India has the 3rd largest PPP Economy in the world.[9] Some have estimated that India will become an economic superpower.[10] Despite this, poverty is a severe problem in India. Approximately 6.7% of Indians live below the poverty line.[11] The benefits of economic liberalization have not been equitably spread, with urban centers gaining a lot more than the villages. Bureaucratic corruption is also a severe problem in India, and it makes economic progress a mere fraction of its potential. Other social problems include poor nutrition and inadequate healthcare, and economist Amartya Sen noted that India's excessive mortality due to such problems often exceed those of China during the Mao-era, and India never had anything close to Mao's insane policies.[12]

India has its own currency, the Rupee[note 1] (sign: ₹; code: INR). It was the 20^th most traded currency worldwide in 2013, right behind the Brazilian Real and the South African Rand.[13]

According to the 2016 Global Slavery Index, an estimated 18,354,700 people are enslaved in modern day India, or 1.40% of the population. By this estimate, India has the fourth highest prevalence of slavery of any country, but the highest absolute number of slaves. This includes a variety of forms of slavery, including bonded labour, forced domestic service, forced begging, forced prostitution, forced marriage, and forced recruitment for armed services.[14][15]

Military

Militarily, India is the strongest country in South Asia. The Indian military is third largest in the world in terms of military personnel, and the Indian Army is the second largest standing army. The Indian Navy is the fifth largest navy[16] and the Air Force is the fourth largest air force in the world.[17] Historically, the Indian military heavily relied upon Soviet arms and technical assistance, although it continuously developed indigenous technology. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, India has built most modern military technologies domestically, or with collaboration with foreign countries. The Indian Air Force maintains approximately 1300 combat and non-combat aircraft,[18] the Indian Army maintains nearly 5000 main battle tanks,[19] and the Indian Navy employs 155 vessels,[20] including one aircraft carrier. Six nuclear powered submarines are under construction and the Navy is undergoing a rapid modernization and expansion. Aircraft of the Indian Air Force include the 4.5 generation fighter Sukhoi Su-30MKI, which is IAF's primary air superiority aircraft. India is a de facto nuclear power. At present, India possesses two intermediate-range ballistic missiles: Agni II with a range of 2,000–2,500 km, and Agni III with a range of 3,500 km. India is developing an intercontinental ballistic missile named Surya.[21]

There are concerns of human rights violations associated with the Indian military. The Indian Peacekeeping Force in Sri Lanka is accused of human rights violations.[22] According to the Human Right Watch,

“”Attacks on civilians by militant groups[note 2] and Indian security forces continued unabated before and after the change in government. Notwithstanding the repeal of POTA,[note 3] the government continues to use other legislation to shield security forces from accountability. Indian military, paramilitary, and police forces have engaged in serious human rights abuses not just in conflict-zones such as Kashmir,[note 4] but also when dealing with criminal suspects and detainees.

Religious rights

India suffers a lot from terrorism due to both Muslim and Hindu terrorists.^{[citation needed]} The Christian church with the "baptize them all" policy is also causing trouble in India. Large and small communal riots are common, and many people die from these riots every year. A major Indian party (Bharatiya Janata Party), along with the Hindu fundamentalist organization commonly known as Sangh Parivar, are advocates of Hindu nationalism known as Hindutva. There has been no anti-evolution activity in India; however, it seems Ken Ham wants to change that.[23]

Terrorist attacks

India is a target of terrorism from several militant groups. The primary ones are Kashmiri Separatists, Islamist fundamentalists, Naxals (Maoist), Hindutva promoters and a few other separatist movements mainly in the far north-eastern states. Christian separatists in Nagaland reached a tentative peace in 2015 after decades of insurgency.[24] Allegedly, some groups of Islamist terrorists are trained and funded by India's rival, Pakistan. There was also a Sikh insurgency that has been largely crushed.

India accounts for the fourth highest number of deaths due to terrorist activities.[25]

Crimes against women

It is not unusual for women to hold high office and positions of influence and the height of the glass ceiling is roughly comparable to that in Western countries. However, the patriarchy still remains dominant, and gender-specific crimes against women are shockingly prevalent.

One report ranks India the "fourth most dangerous country for women."[26]

Acid attacks

"If you love something set it free. If it comes back it's yours. If it doesn't, it never was mutilate it beyond recognition" appears to be the philosophy of many lovestruck Indian men. Acid attacks are almost solely revenge attacks against women who spurn the advances or proposals of the attacker (or who seek a divorce). The extent of permanent disfigurement is equivalent to that of 3^rd degree burns and often results in blindness and a life behind closed doors. Like most other crimes listed here, acid attacks were on the rise in the 2008,[27] but have been dropping since 2016.[28][29]

Sexual harassment and rape

Eve Teasing is a blanket term commonly used to describe all manner of sexual harassment ranging from catcalls to violent sexual assault. Even the media uses the term and, needless to say, it trivializes the gravity of crimes being reported.

Much sexual harassment happens in the workplace. Much happens in public. We aren't just talking about wolf whistles, we are talking about fatal gang rape.[30]

Dowry

Dowry is the practice of paying gifts or money to a guy's family in exchange for him agreeing to shack up with your daughter. Weird, isn't it? Despite being outlawed for 50 years,[31] the practice is still widespread. If payment from the bride's family is not forthcoming, the groom's family (or the groom himself) may seek violent redress, often resulting in death. "Kitchen fires" happen with alarming frequency in households where a dowry dispute is occurring.

Thousands of women die in India each year as a consequence of dowry abuse.

Domestic violence

Unsurprisingly, it happens a lot. Falling down into wells to suicide after being raped has become tradition.[32]

So you've decided to reincarnate as a woman in India anyway

Of course, the trials and tribulations of being a woman in India can be easily avoided if you get aborted first. We are not referring to pro-choice abortion here; the mother rarely has a say in the matter. Systemic termination of female foetuses and newborns has a long history in India and it continues today, despite the government declaring it illegal.[33][34] There are two principal reasons for this. Males are traditionally the breadwinners and prospective parents have a better chance of being financially provided for in their dotage. The second reason is dowry. Receiving a dowry is more attractive than paying one.

If you survive birth or infanticide, you stand a 27% chance of being married off while still a minor.[35] The practice has been outlawed since 1929,[36] but hey, Rome wasn't built in a day. Notably, the 1929 law fixed girl's marriage age at 14 but it was amended in 1940 to 18. The age of consent is 18 for unmarried girls but 16 for married girls making forced marriage easier.[37]

Becoming a child-bride isn't the worst that could happen. Child trafficking for forced labour, prostitution or domestic servitude (a.k.a. rape) is a thriving industry that victimizes India's poor and marginalized communities.[38]

Gay rights

Historically, Gay rights have been recognized in India,[39] but upon arrival of British rule homosexuality was made illegal and was classified as "carnal intercourse against the order of nature", punishable by imprisonment from 10 years to life. Some journalists have argued that the Victorian-era values imposed by the British colonialists have been an influence on this homophobia and the anti-gay laws.[40][41] Leaders of the Indian National Congress,[42] Aam Aadmi Party,[43] the Communist Party of India (Marxist),[44] and even the right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party[45] have voiced support for the legalization of homosexuality. In 1996 a film named Fire caused a lot of controversy in India due to its positive portrayal of lesbianism. In 2009, a court order was passed removing the bans on gay sex imposed by the British,[46][47] however, on 11 December 2013 the Indian Supreme Court overturned the 2009 court order and re-criminalized gay sex saying it was an issue to be dealt with in Parliament. [48] However in 2017, new judges in the Indian Supreme Court determined there was a right to privacy in the constitution and in 2018 they have said gay sex is not wrong and have reversed the verdict on the section saying it would be decided in a few months.^{[citation needed]}

On 6 September 2018, the bans on homosexuality were ruled unconstitutional.[49]

Sex in India

In addition to homophobia, there are many other sexual taboos within Indian society, some of which have been criminalized; this, ironically, from the people that gave us the Kama Sutra. The sale of sex toys is banned, and publishing child pornography is a crime.

On September 2018, India legalized homosexuality.[50]

Human rights

India has a mixed record on human rights: since independence there have been periods when they have been under grave threat. This includes the Emergency of 1975-77 when human rights and the rule of law have been suspended and India ruled by decree; at the same time a mass sterilization campaign saw many men sterilized against their will.[51][52] Narendra Modi's government seems to threaten a similar era of rights abuse.[53] India's minorities, including non-Hindu religious groups such as Muslims and Sikhs, as well as lower-caste Hindus, have seen changes in their status as different governments have alternately tried to provide help and victimized or scapegoated them.

Sikhs

Sikhs are largely concentrated in the province of Punjab. An insurgency in the early 1980s, which saw the Golden Temple in Amritsar being occupied by Militants and a three day battle to remove them leaving hundreds dead including a high number of civilian casualties. The attack on the temple was seen by Sikhs worldwide as an attack on the Sikh religion fueling the insurgency, leading to the assassination of Indira Gandhi and the 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots seeing the deaths of between 8,000 and 17,000 Sikhs. Extremist violence and terrorism targeting Sikh and Hindu would continue for a further 10 years eventually petering out with diminishing public support and operations by security services.

Muslims

India also has a mixed record in how it treats its Muslim minority. This includes the 2002 Gujarat riots, in which 790 Muslims and 254 Hindus were killed, as well as widespread rape and looting and destruction of homes; Narendra Modi was Chief Minister of Gujarat at the time and is accused of allowing the murder or hundreds of Muslims.[54] In 2018 the US State Department condemned India's treatment of Muslims in its annual report on religions freedom, condemning mob violence and possible collusion by the police.[55]

Castes

Though discrimination based on caste is illegal, there is a long history of violence between castes, involving higher castes and low-caste people.[56]

Kashmir

In 2019 Modi suspended the autonomy of Kashmir, enforced martial law, and left millions of mostly Muslim Kashmiris out of Indian citizenship rights. This led to large protests which led to few deaths.

Woo and Pseudoscience in India

Established religious beliefs aside, much woo is accepted and practiced in India. In poor, rural regions, you may still find people who are subject to attacks based on accusations of witchcraft. Medical pseudoscience is widely accepted. Standing up to scientific scrutiny simply doesn't enter the picture. A relatively more recent "medical practice", Homeopathy, has gained widespread popularity. India has at least one large hospital devoted to the practice of unani, a type of heroic medicine. The health and well-being of millions of Indians is compromised daily because of the pervasiveness of many such superstitions.

A peculiar aspect about Indian politics is that many politician pay homage to religious leaders in their ashrams, not just to traditional Hindu or Muslim leaders but even to transparent charlatans like the late charismatic Sathya Sai Baba, whose organizations were involved in a lot of charity.

Some Indian gurus formed with their ashrams a state within a state, but there seems to be some change to it lately after fraudulent "gurus" such as Asaram Bapu and Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh were arrested for sexual assault. (Ram Rahim Singh has been convicted in a murder case and two rape cases as of 2019).[57]

Rice pullers and other bizarre scams abound to fleece the unwary.

Religious tradition has made it taboo to eat the world's tastiest animal that isn't bacon. A workaround for this is to eat buffalo which totally isn't the same thing.

Status of Astrology in India

What makes India's belief in Astrology special is its expansiveness and scientific status. The usage of the phrases like real astrology or scientific astrology is really common. These phrases are used to distinguish scripturally learned astrologers from the 'unscientific' ones. Basically, it is to distinguish between someone who would blatantly look stupid from those who behave like they know what they are doing. Indian space research, considered to be the forefront of scientific advancement, is making quick and appreciable progress. However even scientists at the formidable Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have indulged in ritualistic astrological practices. This could seem contradictory to a scientist somewhere other India but this the nature of Indian mindset.

Astrology in life

Astrology plays an important role in match-making throughout India. Prospective grooms and brides horoscopes are matched before they get married. There are doshams (faults) in horoscopes that need remediation also. These doshams are also said to lead to spouse deaths. Incredibly primitive rituals are also followed for remediation many times like getting ritually married to trees or animals before the actual marriage. These are not rare occurrences. Astrologers promise everything to their clients, for e.g. better pay, better business, good looking spouse, resolution of disputes, disposal of enemies etc. Marriage, birth, death and other emotionally challenging life events is what make the astrologers major market.

Astrologer remedies

The most common remedy is doing a Pooja (ritual prayer) which is to be done by a designated priest. Another extremely common remedy is stones to be worn to placate/strengthen a strong/weak celestial body in your horoscope. All the celestial bodies for e.g. Mars, Jupiter, Moon etc have their own respective stones. This is a huge market in India. It is very common to see Indian people wearing rings with stones on their fingers. Remedies go from benign to actually harmful and play on the believers psychological weakness.

Expanse of belief

It is a myth that only Hindus in India believe in Astrology. It is a commonly and diversely held belief. Commonly because Muslims, Christians and other religions in India commonly believe in Astrology. Diversely because there is no one text or belief system that is followed. Belief systems are very different from one another.

Good News

Finally, some good news for a change here.

Climate Change

• 5 years after the Paris climate accord, India is the only G20 nation to meet the emission target of 2020[58].

• India is the only developing country to get into the Top 10 in CCPI (Climate Change Performance Index) Index 2019[59].

Birth Rate

• The birth rate in India is falling rapidly, currently at 2.3.[60] While India is still relatively young and thus will continue to grow quite a bit in the near future, it's quickly leveling off.

Astronomy

Not to be confused with Astrology

India is one of the major superpowers in the space industry. India’s own government space agency is ISRO. Some of it’s achievements are...

• The MOM (Mars Orbiter Mission) or Mangalyaan (Mars-Craft in Sanskrit) made India the 4th nation to go to mars,[61] and is costed only 74 million dollars, which is lower than the budget of most hollywood movies, and just 11% of NASA’s mars orbiter missions, making it the cheapest mars mission in the world.[62][63]
• On 18 June 2016, ISRO launched twenty satellites in a single vehicle, and on 15 February 2017, ISRO launched one hundred and four satellites in a single rocket (PSLV-C37), another unbeaten world record.[64][65]

Science

• India lies third in the quantity of peer reviewed publications.
• It has the third largest pharmaceutical exports.

Dissent

• Indian farmers and workers pulled off the world's biggest one-day strike on November 26, 2020, with over 250 million people protesting against changes to labour laws and attempts to suppress farmers' rights.

Gallery

See also

• Pakistan
• Bangladesh
• Kashmir
• Dhirubhai Ambani
• Hinduism
• Bal Thackeray
• Michael Cremo
• Nirmukta
• B. R. Ambedkar
• Lemuria

External links

• See the Wikipedia article on Periyar E. V. Ramasamy.
• See the Wikipedia article on Sahodaran Ayyappan.

Notes

1. Hiya!.
2. Insurgent groups operating in India against the Indian government
3. Prevention of Terrorism Act, a controversial act which was criticized by human rights activists for human rights violations
4. A disputed territory which is the source of military conflicts between India and Pakistan

References

1. Of course, the Americans among us can't exactly criticize them for that.
2. Canada has two provinces, Saskatchewan and Quebec, who are currently run by their own regional parties: the conservative Saskatchewan Party and the separatist Coalition Avenir Quebec.
3. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-01-28/india/28368698_1_savarkar-national-flag-digvijay-singh
4. How the Congress tarnished its secular image — and its credibility to oppose Hindutva, Quartz India
5. Perks Of Being An Atheist While Politicians Promote Communal Divide by Pramit Chaterjee
6. See the Wikipedia article on Shiv Sena § Activities and criticism.
7. See the Wikipedia article on Bajrang Dal § Controversies.
8. See the Wikipedia article on Vishva Hindu Parishad § Other activities.
9. The Wall Street Journal: India Defies Turmoil With Growth of 8.8% May 31, 2008
10. India inching closer to China, will be an eco powerhouse by 2030: US report December 11, 2012
11. World Bank Report 2018, Chapter 1, page 26
12. Wiener, Jon. "How We Forgot the Cold War. A Historical Journey across America"
13. Triennial Central Bank Survey, Foreign exchange turnover in April 2013: preliminary global results (PDF)
14. Kevin Bales, et al. "India". The Minderoo Foundation Pty Ltd. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
15. An unsavoury fact: India tops global slavery index. May 31, 2016 http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/an-unsavoury-fact-india-tops-global-slavery-index/article8671904.ece
16. GlobalSecurity.org: Indian Navy
17. GlobalSecurity.org: Indian Air Force
18. Bharat Rakshak
19. rediff.com: Are you cut out for a career in the Armed Forces? April 17, 2008
20. Arab News: Two Saudi warships to visit India July 27, 2008
21. MISSLETHREAT.com: The Threat from India
22. uthr.org
23. Kens Ham's blog
24. "Naga movement: A brief history and peace accord with the Indian government", Zee News, 4 Aug 2015
25. http://www.rediff.com/news/slide-show/slide-show-1-india-fourth-most-terror-affected-country-in-the-world/20121207.htm
26. The World's Five Most Dangerous Countries for Women. Archived from the original at trust.org.
27. India's acid victims demand justice. BBC, 9 April 2008.
28. Crime in India - 2016. National Crimes Records Bureau, Ministry of Home Affairs (India).
29. Crime in India - 2017. National Crimes Records Bureau, Ministry of Home Affairs (India).
30. Six Charged With Murder in India After Rape Victim’s Death by Heather Timmons, Niharika Mandhana and Sruthi Gottipati, New York Times
31. Dowry Prohibition Act
32. "Falling down into wells to suicide after being raped has become tradition.".
33. http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-loses-3-million-girls-in-infanticide/article3981575.ece
34. https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/health/india-witnesses-one-of-the-highest-female-infanticide-incidents-in-the-world-54803
35. Table 11, Child Protection, UNICEF
36. See the Wikipedia article on Child Marriage Restraint Act.
37. Govt Stands By 1949 Law Allowing Men Sex With 15-Yr-Old Wives
38. Child Trafficking and You.
39. https://www.galva108.org/single-post/2014/05/15/Homosexuality-Hinduism-the-Third-Gender-A-Summary
40. The Guardian: India's literary elite call for anti-gay law to be scrapped September 17, 2006
41. Lesbilicious: India debates legality of homosexuality October 15, 2008
42. Bloomberg: Gandhi Slams India Court on Gay Rights in Shift for Ruling Party December 12, 2013
43. India TV: No ban on gay sex, says AAP December 13, 2013
44. People's Democracy: AIDWA Welcomes SC Directive February 10, 2002
45. SC must review Sec 377 ruling, allow gay relationships: Jaitley, Chidambaram November 29, 2015
46. newser: India Legalizes Gay Sex July 2, 2009
47. See the Wikipedia article on Fire (1996 film).
48. The Hindu: Supreme Court sets aside Delhi HC verdict decriminalising gay sex December 12, 2013
49. India court legalises gay sex in landmark ruling, BBC News
50. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/sc-delivers-historic-verdict-section-377-gone-being-gay-no-more-a-crime-in-india/articleshow/65696771.cms?from=mdr
51. See the Wikipedia article on The Emergency (India).
52. In 1976, more than 6 million men in India were coerced into sterilization, Mel Magazine
53. A new India is emerging, and it is a country ruled by fear, Amit Chaudhuri, The Guardian, 8 Oct 2019
54. Narendra Modi 'allowed' Gujarat 2002 anti-Muslim riots, BBC News, 22 Apr 2011
55. India's treatment of Muslims condemned by US government report, Independent, 23 Jun 2019
56. See the Wikipedia article on Caste-related violence in India.
57. https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/jailed-godman-gurmeet-ram-rahim-convicted-in-murder-of-journalist-1976311
58. 5 years after Paris climate accord, India only G20 nation to meet emission target - Where do other countries stand? by FPJ Web Desk (Thursday, November 19, 2020, 11:19 AM IST) Free Press Journal
59. CCPI
60. India fertility rate halves over 40 years
61. Chang, Jon M. (5 November 2013). "India Launches Mars Orbiter Mission, Heralds New Space Race". ABC News. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
62. "India Successfully Launches First Mission to Mars; PM Congratulates ISRO Team". International Business Times. 5 November 2013. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
63. Bhatt, Abhinav (5 November 2013). "India's 450-crore mission to Mars to begin today: 10 facts". NDTV. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
64. "ISRO sends record 104 satellites in one go, becomes the first to do so.". The Economic Times.
65. Barry, Ellen (15 February 2017). "India Launches 104 Satellites From a Single Rocket, Ramping Up a Space Race". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.

Nations of the world

Africa:Algeria — Democratic Republic of the Congo — Egypt — Eritrea — eSwatini — Ethiopia — Guinea — Kenya — Liberia — Libya — Mali — Nigeria — Somalia — South Africa — Sudan — Togo — Uganda — Zimbabwe

Asia: Afghanistan — Armenia — Azerbaijan — Bahrain — Bangladesh — Brunei — Burma — Cambodia — China — Cyprus — Egypt — Georgia — India — Indonesia — Iran — Iraq — Israel — Japan — Jordan — Kazakhstan — Kuwait — Kyrgyzstan — Laos — Lebanon — Malaysia — Maldives — Mongolia — Nepal — North Korea — Oman — Pakistan — Philippines — Qatar — Russia — Saudi Arabia — Singapore — South Korea — Syria — Tajikistan — Thailand — Timor-Leste — Turkey — Turkmenistan — United Arab Emirates — Uzbekistan — Vietnam — Yemen

Europe: Austria — Belarus — Belgium — Bosnia and Herzegovina — Bulgaria — Croatia — Cyprus — Czechia — Denmark — Estonia — Finland — France — Germany — Greece — Hungary — Iceland — Ireland — Isle of Man — Italy — Latvia — Lithuania — Moldova — Netherlands — North Macedonia — Norway — Poland — Portugal — Romania — Russia — Serbia — Slovenia — Spain — Sweden — Switzerland — Turkey — Ukraine — United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales) — Vatican City

North America: Canada — Costa Rica — Cuba — Grenada — Haiti — Jamaica — Mexico — Nicaragua — Panama — United States

Oceania: Australia — Kiribati — Nauru — New Zealand — Papua New Guinea — Pitcairn Islands

South America:Argentina — Bolivia — Brazil — Chile — Colombia — Ecuador — Falkland Islands (Malvinas)— Paraguay — Uruguay — Venezuela

Historical, separatist or disputed: Ancient Egypt — Belgian Congo — British Empire — Catalonia — Confederate States of America — Czechoslovakia — East Germany — French colonial empire — German Empire - Greenland — Holy Roman Empire — Imperial China — Kurdistan — Kosovo — Micronation — Nazi Germany — Palestine — Roman Empire — Soviet Union — Taiwan — Tibet — Vichy France — Western Sahara — Yugoslavia