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Those eligible to vote in India’s general election represent more than 10% of the world’s population and they have been taking part in the largest democratic exercise in history.

Skip largest democratic exercise India held its first elections in 1951-2 after the country gained independence from the UK in 1947. This year there are more than 900 million eligible voters – nearly four times as many as the United States – the next largest democracy. End of largest democratic exercise

Over the past five weeks voters have been choosing representatives for the Indian parliament, and in turn deciding if Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi will run the country for another five years. Results are expected on 23 May.

What is at stake?

Whoever wins these elections and forms a government will control the destiny of the world's largest democracy.

While they are in charge, India’s economy is likely to overtake the UK’s and become the world’s fifth-largest.

Skip India’s economy Narendra Modi was swept to power in 2014 with bold economic promises, but his record in office has been mixed. Economic growth has hovered around 7% a year and some ambitious reforms – like a Goods and Services tax - have been praised. Others, like the sudden withdrawal of large-value banknotes in 2016, are seen as a failure. End of India’s economy

Its population meanwhile - at more than 1.34bn people - is predicted to soon surpass China’s 1.39bn.

Hundreds of millions of Indians have escaped poverty since the turn of the millennium but huge challenges remain.

Skip poverty The proportion of Indians that live below the international poverty line decreased from 21.6% in 2011 to an estimated 13.4% in 2015, according to the World Bank. End of poverty

Unemployment is a major concern and is especially high among young people.

Skip Unemployment Leaked government data in January revealed that unemployment – at 6.1% - is at the highest it’s been since 1972-73, with nearly one in five 15-29 year-olds unable to find a job. End of Unemployment

Millions of farmers are angry about low crop prices.

Skip farmers are angry Indian agriculture has been blighted by falling crop prices, a depleting water table and drought in the last few years. Regular protests are held and suicides among farmers are common. End of farmers are angry

How the nuclear-armed country engages with the outside world – and manages a tricky relationship with its neighbour Pakistan – is also of immense importance to international security.

Skip relationship with its neighbour Pakistan India and Pakistan have fought three wars since independence from Britain in 1947. They both have nuclear weapons. One of the main points of dispute is the Kashmir region, which both claim in full but control in part. Tensions there recently spilled over, with each side carrying out air strikes. End of relationship with its neighbour Pakistan

Who is being elected?

Indians are voting for members of parliament and the job of prime minister tends to go to the leader of the party or coalition with most seats. The current PM is Narendra Modi.

Skip Narendra Modi India’s current prime minister has had an extraordinary political journey. Rising from a modest background, he went on to become the three-time chief minister of the western state of Gujarat. The 2014 election victory that propelled him to the national leadership was the most comprehensive since 1984. End of Narendra Modi

His main rival is opposition leader Rahul Gandhi.

Skip Rahul Gandhi Mr Gandhi is heir to the famous Gandhi-Nehru political dynasty. He took over from his mother, Sonia Gandhi, as Congress Party president in December 2017. Mr Gandhi has long been seen as aloof and a poor campaigner, but that image has been changing in recent times. End of Rahul Gandhi

Parliament has two houses: the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

Skip Rajya Sabha Members of India’s upper house are elected by state lawmakers. The president also nominates 12 members for their contribution to the arts, sport or business. End of Rajya Sabha

The lower house – Lok Sabha – is the one to watch.

Skip Lok Sabha Lok Sabha is a Hindi term for ‘House of the people’. Its members are directly elected by voters. End of Lok Sabha

It has 543 elected seats and any party or coalition needs a minimum of 272 MPs to form a government.

At the last election in 2014, Mr Modi’s BJP won 282 seats.

Skip BJP The Bharatiya Janata Party is the largest party in the National Democratic Alliance, a centre-right to right-wing coalition of parties. End of BJP

Mr Gandhi’s Congress Party only took 44 seats in 2014 – down from 206 in 2009.

Skip Congress Party The Indian National Congress or Congress Party is India’s oldest political party. It forms part of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) - a coalition of centre-left parties. End of Congress Party

Why does voting take so long?

Because of the enormous number of election officials and security personnel involved, voting will take place in seven stages between 11 April and 19 May.

Different states will vote at different times.

Votes will be counted on 23 May and results are expected on the same day.

Who will win?

This election is being seen as a referendum on Mr Modi, a polarising figure adored by many but also accused of stoking divisions between India’s Hindu majority and the country’s 200 million Muslims.

Skip India’s Hindu majority About 80% of Indians are Hindu. Muslims make up nearly 15% of the population. Other significant minorities include Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains. End of India’s Hindu majority

Until a few months ago, Mr Modi and his BJP party were seen as the overwhelming favourites. But the loss of key states in December’s regional elections injected a sense of serious competition into the national vote.

Skip loss of key states The party lost control of the states of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. These are all part of India’s Hindi-speaking heartland, which helped Mr Modi win in 2014. End of loss of key states

Analysts are divided on whether Mr Modi will be able to win a simple majority again.

A recent escalation of tensions with Pakistan has given the BJP a new and popular issue to campaign on.

It will be hoping that a focus on patriotism will help the party to get past the serious challenge mounted by powerful regional parties and Congress.