Language

Although the widespread use of English as an important language in India will continue to grow, it is still important to understand the diversity of languages in India. Even a minimal knowledge of a local Indian language can be a door-opener to building a good relationship with Indians.

Relationships

In India, there is a constant struggle between maintaining traditions that are uniquely Indian, and Western traditions, which look attractive. This is particularly true for the younger generation of Indians. On the one hand, they have to adapt to Western practices in their current workplaces because of their everyday interaction with overseas counterparts; on the other hand, they are pressured by their families and society to adhere to their Indian roots and traditions. This tug-of-war is of great importance particularly to foreign companies, because they are likely to make mistakes if they ignore the diversity and the difficulty of working in a multifaceted Indian society.

Business climate

Regional identity based on internal cultural differences is likely to continue as a concern for domestic and foreign companies in India.

The Pew Global Attitudes Project is an interactive database that allows users to explore public opinion trends in 55 countries on topics ranging from attitudes towards the U.S. to peoples assessments of their own lives to views about globalization, democratization and extremism and other important issues.

The country ranks as no. 85 (of 180 countries) on Transparency International’s 2008 Corruption Perceptions Index.