The main India abbreviation is IN, the ISO 3166 two letter code for the country. The three letter version is IND, and you will see it on passports, sports scoreboards, shipping documents and data tables.
Many people also search for an India full form, as if the name were an acronym. It is not. India is a real name with a long history, drawn from the Indus River, so there is no phrase hidden in its letters. Lists that claim otherwise are made up after the fact.
Quick facts
Two letter code
IN (ISO 3166)Three letter code
INDNumeric code
356Internet domain
.inCalling code
+91Currency code
INR, Indian rupeeTime zone
IST, India Standard Time, UTC+5:30Not to be confused with
IN for Indiana in US addresses
Every India abbreviation and code
| Code | Type | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|
| IN | ISO two letter code | Online forms, shipping labels, databases |
| IND | Three letter ISO code | Passports, trade data, sports results |
| 356 | ISO numeric code | Banking and statistics systems |
| .in | Internet country domain | Website addresses based in India |
| +91 | Telephone country code | Calling an Indian phone number from abroad |
| INR | Currency code | Exchange rates, invoices, bank transfers |
| IST | Time zone | Meeting invites and flight times |
The only lowercase item is the .in web ending; the rest use capitals and no periods.
Is there an India full form?
No. The word India is a proper name with no initials inside it. The word traces back to the Indus River in the northwest of the subcontinent. Ancient Persian and Greek writers named the land after the river, and Latin passed the name to English. The river's older Sanskrit name is Sindhu.
Social media posts sometimes share a supposed India full form built from English words. These are backronyms, invented to fit the letters, and none has any official standing. The difference between a name and a set of initials is laid out in acronym vs abbreviation.
India, Bharat and the official name
The country's constitution opens its first article with the words "India, that is Bharat." Both names are official. Bharat comes from ancient Sanskrit texts and is widely used in Hindi and other Indian languages. The formal name in English is the Republic of India, and the formal name in Hindi is Bharat Ganarajya.
Neither name has a separate short form in everyday English writing. The ISO codes IN and IND cover both.
IN for India vs IN for Indiana
In the United States, IN is also the postal code for Indiana. On a US mailing label, "Fort Wayne, IN 46802" means Indiana. On an international shipping form with a separate country field, IN means India.
Online checkout: A drop down menu marked Country shows "India (IN)." A separate box marked State shows "Indiana (IN)." The field name tells you which one the code means.
When sending mail from the US to India, write the full word INDIA as the last line of the address rather than the code, so postal sorters see it clearly.
Codes travelers and sports fans see
- Passports and visas: the nationality line reads IND.
- International sports: scoreboards and medal tables show IND next to the flag.
- Airports: each city has its own three letter airport code, such as DEL for Delhi and BOM for Mumbai, which are separate from the country code.
- Vehicles: the oval sticker for cars driven abroad uses IND.
Codes for other nations live in the full country, city and airport codes section, or compare with the China abbreviation.
Quick tips for writing it
- Use IN in two letter country fields and IND where three letters are required.
- In sentences, spell out India. It is short enough that abbreviating saves nothing.
- Do not add periods: write IN, not I.N.
- Use INR, not Rs. alone, when an exchange rate or invoice needs to be read worldwide.
Questions people ask
What is the abbreviation for India?
The standard abbreviation for India is IN, the ISO two letter code. The three letter code is IND, used on passports and in sports.
What is the India full form?
India has no full form, because it is not an acronym. The name comes from the Indus River, and any phrase built from its letters is invented.
Is IND or IN correct for India?
Both are correct. IN is the two letter code and IND is the three letter code; which one you use depends on how many letters the form or system wants.
What is India's country calling code?
India's calling code is +91. Callers outside India dial it ahead of the local number.
Does IN stand for India or Indiana?
Both, depending on context. In a US address, IN is Indiana. In a country field or international list, IN is India.