India has a total of 22 official languages, including English and Hindi. Hindi is spoken by about 40 percent of the population; Urdu is the language common with the Muslim demographic.English is widely spoken in business, retail, and tourist areas across Mumbai.

The currency is the Indian rupee (INR), which is divided into 100 paise (singular paisa). Major currencies can be changed at banks, and authorised bureaux de change. It is illegal to exchange money through the black market and it is advisable to refuse torn notes, as no one will accept them apart from the National Bank. It is best to change money into small denominations. Major credit cards are widely accepted, particularly in tourist orientated establishments. ATMs are available in large cities and airports but are not generally available in rural areas.

The standard voltage is 230V at a frequency of 50Hz.

India utilizes Type C, Type D, and Type M plug sockets. While modern Mumbai hotels usually offer universal walls that accept European Type C plugs, an adapter is typically required to fit the standard three-pronged Type D and Type M outlets found throughout the country.

          

India operates on Indian Standard Time (IST), which is GMT+5:30.
Mumbai is 3.5 hours ahead of South Africa.

The international access code for India is +91. The city code for Mumbai landlines is (0)22.

While hotels and premium restaurants offer Wi-Fi, public hotspots generally require an active Indian mobile number to receive a compulsory One-Time Password (OTP) via text message. To ensure reliable connectivity, travelers should purchase a local prepaid SIM card (such as Airtel or Jio) at the airport arrival hall using their passport and visa.

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Passports must have a minimum validity of 6 months from the date of arrival and contain at least two blank pages. Most international travelers must secure an electronic visa (e-Visa) or a regular paper visa prior to departure.

Indian Health authorities have advised that a yellow fever vaccine is required regardless of transit less than 12 hours through Addis Ababa
Visitors should only drink bottled water and ensure that the seal on the bottle is intact.

Taxi drivers do not expect to be tipped, though it's standard to leave a gratuity for porters, guides, hotel staff and waiters in small establishments. A 10 percent service charge is often added to bills in tourist restaurants or hotels. 'Baksheesh' is common in India. It's more a bribe than a tip and is given before rather than after service.

 

It is customary to engage in small talk before getting down to business, and conversation can cover a wide range of topics that may include anything from cricket to politics. Business cards are usually exchanged on initial introduction, using the right hand only.

Handshakes are fairly common, though one should wait to see if greeted with a hand, or a 'namaste': a traditional Indian greeting of a small bow accompanied by hands clasped as if in prayer. Visitors should return the greeting as it is given. It is common for women to participate in business meetings, and hold high positions in companies, and foreign businesswomen are readily accepted.