Every country has its problems, but when it comes to a third-world country—especially India, which is also the most populated in the world—just listing ten issues won’t be enough to do justice. In this article, I’ll cover ten of the worst and most hated dark facts about India that you probably didn’t know. And trust me, by the time you finish reading this, you’ll understand exactly why I’m saying this. So, let’s dive in.
1. Marriage With Animals
It may sound unbelievable, but in India, some people still “marry” animals due to deep-rooted superstitions. Though not legally recognized, many villages perform these rituals based on astrological beliefs or to ward off bad omens.
There have been cases where people, often under the advice of priests, symbolically marry a dog, donkey, or even a tree to supposedly remove bad luck before marrying a human. And no, it’s not even their pet—they just find a stray animal and perform the ritual. This bizarre practice is one of the many dark facts about India that highlights how superstition still governs the lives of many people in rural areas.
However, Indian laws like the Hindu Marriage Act (1955), the Special Marriage Act (1954), and the Muslim Personal Law only recognize marriages between humans. Additionally, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (1960) considers forcing an animal into such acts as a form of cruelty.
2. Animals as Gods
Hinduism has a deep connection with animals, often worshiping them as gods, divine vehicles (vahanas), or sacred beings. Many Hindu deities are either animal-like or closely associated with animals. Some of the most well-known include Lord Ganesha (the elephant-headed god), Lord Hanuman (the monkey god), Narasimha (the half-lion, half-human incarnation of Vishnu), Varaha (the boar incarnation of Vishnu), and Garuda (the divine eagle).
But it doesn’t stop there. Many animals are worshiped independently, including cows, snakes, peacocks, monkeys, elephants, and bulls. Believe it or not, there’s even a temple in Rajasthan where thousands of rats are worshipped as sacred beings! Hinduism is said to have over 360 million gods, turning the entire animal kingdom into an object of worship. The religious obsession with animals, is another dark fact about India, showing how mythology sometimes takes precedence over logic and practicality.
3. The Holy Food of India
Drinking cow urine (known as gomutra) is a practice followed by some Hindus in India due to religious, cultural, and so-called medicinal beliefs. However, it’s not common among the general population.
In certain Hindu traditions, it is mixed with Panchagavya—a blend of cow dung, urine, milk, curd, and ghee. Even a baby cow knows what to drink from its mother. Some people believe cow urine can cure diabetes, high blood pressure, or even cancer, despite zero scientific proof. Some Hindu nationalist groups promote it as part of India’s ancient traditions. These same people also enjoy bathing in cow dung. During the COVID-19 pandemic, some even claimed it was a cure or a “natural vaccine” against the virus, though medical experts strongly dismissed this. In reality, drinking it can cause infections, kidney damage, and other health risks. This is one of the dark facts about India that often confuses people from other parts of the world.
And do you remember the rats I mentioned earlier? It gets even crazier – people not only worship them but also drink the milk served to them. Especially those who visit the temple believe they will be reborn as rats in their next life!
4. No Toilets
Having a toilet is a luxury for many in India, where some people prefer to bathe in cow dung and drink cow urine. As of 2020, around 29% of Indians still didn’t have access to toilets, forcing them to relieve themselves along railway tracks or in bushes. A report shows that in 2000, only 14% of India’s population had access to basic sanitation. By 2011, this figure rose to 35%, and by 2015, it was about 57%, but still, 29% of the population was practicing open defecation in a country of 1.4 billion people.
Poverty and lack of infrastructure left many low-income families without proper toilets. In rural areas, some even believed that having a toilet near their home was impure or unhygienic, so they preferred open fields, thinking it was more “natural.”
Over the years, India has made progress in sanitation, but for a long time, people didn’t even realize the health risks of open defecation, such as disease outbreaks. The government and NGOs had to run awareness campaigns to change this mindset. There’s even a Bollywood movie about it called Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, made to spread awareness about using toilets!
5. Indian Godi Media
The term “Godi Media” is used in India to describe news channels perceived as biased in favor of the ruling government, particularly the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The term, popularized by journalist Ravish Kumar, comes from the Hindi word “Godi” meaning “lap” suggesting these media outlets are too close to the government, failing to hold it accountable. Critics argue that these media outlets focus on issues like Hindu-Muslim debates, communal tensions, and hyper-nationalism while ignoring important concerns such as unemployment, corruption, inflation, and human rights violations.
India’s ranking in the World Press Freedom Index has significantly declined over the years, particularly under BJP rule. In 2002, India was ranked 80th, but by 2014, when the BJP came to power, it had fallen to 140th. In 2024, the ranking dropped further to 161st out of 180 countries. This decline highlights concerns about press freedom in India, with critics citing increasing government control over media, the suppression of dissenting voices, and legal intimidation of journalists. A proposed broadcasting services bill that threatened free speech was withdrawn after significant backlash.
The BJP-led Indian government blocked the BBC documentary “India: The Modi Question” in January 2023, which examined Modi’s role in the 2002 Gujarat riots. Critics called it press suppression, while supporters saw it as biased and colonialist. This suppression of journalism and media bias is undoubtedly one of the dark facts about India that raises serious concerns about democracy. I highly recommend watching it and learning Hindi – believe me you will laugh a lot when you understand the language!
6. Rising Crime Rate
Rape is very common in India, but have you ever heard of a gang rape of a lizard? Shocking but true—four men gang-raped a lizard in Maharashtra Forest. Rape of cows and dogs is also common. A Brazilian-Spanish tourist was gang-raped by seven men while traveling in India on a motorbike tour with her husband. After she shared her experience on Instagram, it went viral. This is just one of many incidents. According to NCRB, 39,000 women were raped in 2016, and in 2018, a rape was reported every 15 minutes on average.
A 2020 Gleeden survey found that 55% of married Indians have been unfaithful, with 56% being women. It also revealed that 53% of women and 43% of men admitted to extramarital affairs, while 41% of women and 26% of men had regular sexual encounters outside marriage.
In 2022, India recorded 28,522 murders, averaging 78 per day, slightly down from 29,272 in 2021. The murder rate in 2021 was 2.1 per 100,000, and in 2020, India’s homicide rate was 2.95 per 100,000, higher than most of Asia and Europe but lower than the Americas and Africa.
A 2019 Microsoft survey found that India leads the world in fake news. Over 60% of Indian internet users were exposed to misinformation. This surpasses the global average of 57%. The World Economic Forum’s 2024 Global Risk Report ranked misinformation and disinformation as India’s top risks. These risks were considered more significant than infectious diseases and economic inequality. With rising crime rates and misinformation, the country faces serious safety and social challenges. These are dark facts about India that continue to impact its global reputation.
7. Battlefield of Religion
India, with over a billion people, is home to diverse religions, including Hinduism (79.8%), Islam (14.23%), Christianity (2.30%), Sikhism, Buddhism, and Jainism. While these faiths historically coexisted, religious tensions have intensified over time due to historical events and political shifts. The Mughal Empire’s rule and the Partition of India in 1947 left deep Hindu-Muslim divisions, which continue to shape the country’s social and political landscape. In recent decades, the rise of religious nationalism has further strained relations. Some political groups advocate for India as a Hindu nation, raising concerns among minorities, particularly Muslims and Christians, about their place in society. Religious intolerance and targeted attacks on minorities are dark facts about India that often go unnoticed in mainstream discussions.
Discrimination against Muslims has become increasingly visible. Some Hindu nationalist politicians have urged Muslim shop owners to display their names on signboards, allowing Hindus to identify and boycott them. Reports of mosque demolitions and Muslim home destructions have also increased, often justified as urban development or anti-encroachment drives. In states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Delhi, authorities have bulldozed homes and places of worship, claiming they are illegal structures. Critics argue that authorities politically motivate these demolitions, which often follow communal clashes or protests, leading to accusations of “bulldozer justice.”
Historic mosques have faced threats of demolition or repurposing. The Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi and the Shahi Idgah Mosque in Mathura are contested in courts. Hindu right-wing groups claim these sites were built over ancient temples. This has led to legal and political disputes similar to the Babri Masjid demolition in 1992.
8. Beef is More Valuable Than a Life
In India, consuming beef can lead to violence, with some Hindu mobs valuing cow protection over human life. The beef trade and consumption deeply tie to religious beliefs, creating social tensions and deadly consequences. Between 2016 and 2020, attackers lynched or attacked over 50 people—mostly Muslims and Christians—based on accusations of cow slaughter or beef consumption. A study by IndiaSpend reported that from 2010 to 2017, cow-related violence killed 28 people, with nearly 90% of these incidents occurring after 2014.
Despite these conflicts, India remains a leading player in the global beef market. The country primarily exports water buffalo meat, known as carabeef. In 2014, India became the world’s largest beef exporter, with exports growing at an annual rate of about 12% from 1999 to 2015.
9. Caste and Racism
The caste system, known as “Varna” in Hinduism, divides society into hierarchical categories. The four primary varnas are:
- Brahmins – Priests and scholars, at the top of the hierarchy.
- Kshatriyas – Warriors and rulers.
- Vaishyas – Merchants and landowners.
- Shudras – Laborers and service providers, at the bottom.
Beyond these four main categories, there exists a group traditionally referred to as “Dalits,” which literally means “Untouchables.” They were historically subjected to the most menial and degrading tasks, such as sanitation work. They were outside the formal caste system and faced systemic discrimination for centuries. Brahmins people usually don’t drink or eat anything from lower caste people like Dalits. The caste system is one of the oldest and most damaging dark facts about India.
There are several films that address the caste system in India. Some notable ones include Article 15 (2019), Sairat (2016), and Masaan (2015), which explore caste-based discrimination.
This incident highlights the harsh reality for Muslims in India. Narendra Modi approved the early release of 11 men convicted for the gang rape of pregnant Muslim woman Bilkis Bano. They were also guilty of murdering 14 members of her family, including her three-year-old daughter. Shockingly, several BJP-linked politicians welcomed these men with flowers and sweets. Luckily, authorities sent them back to jail again after two years of release.
Other than religion, India is home to 1.4 billion people, more than 1600 languages, and 2000 ethnic groups. People often fight with each other over things like language and skin color.
10. Neighbors Don’t Like India
India shares borders with eight countries—Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, and the Maldives—yet none maintain completely friendly ties with it today.
Pakistan remains India’s most hostile neighbor, with animosity rooted in the violent Partition of 1947. The two nations have fought multiple wars, primarily over Kashmir, a recurring flashpoint, especially before elections.
China, another major rival, has long-standing border disputes with India, intensified by the scars of the 1962 war. Clashes along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) persist, with reports of Chinese land grabs that the Indian government denies. Their regional rivalry and China’s strong ties with Pakistan further strain relations.
Nepal’s relationship with India, despite historical and cultural ties, has soured due to border disputes like the Lipulekh-Kalapani issue. The 2015 India-imposed blockade caused severe economic hardship, pushing Nepal closer to China and fueling anti-India sentiments.
Bangladesh maintained stable ties with India for over a decade. However, relations worsened recently after former PM Sheikh Hasina fled to India following 16 years of rule. Disputes over Teesta River water-sharing, illegal migration, and border killings have also heightened tensions. Smuggling and security concerns along their shared border remain ongoing issues.
India’s involvement in Sri Lanka’s civil war, particularly its support for Tamil militants in the 1980s, created long-term resentment. China’s growing economic and military influence has further distanced Sri Lanka from India. Disputes over fishermen and trade continue to strain relations.
Bhutan, India’s closest ally, has also faced friction due to India’s influence over its foreign policy and security. Many Bhutanese believe India limits their sovereignty, while economic dependence further complicates the relationship.
The Maldives, once a close partner, has recently seen growing anti-India sentiments. The “India Out” campaign, driven by concerns over India’s military presence, has weakened ties.
Deep-rooted issues like caste bias, religious tensions, media control, and crime overshadow India’s progress. Despite economic and technological advancements, corruption and misinformation persist. Addressing these challenges through reform and equality is crucial for a just and democratic future.
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