Business Tips

Dress Code: On the social front, Indians on the whole are not formal people, so don't be too concerned about appearance. Business dress is the same as most other places in the world, namely suits and ties. Indian custom encourages modesty in clothing, especially for women, so cover legs and arms wherever possible. Both men and women should always remember to remove shoes when entering temples or mosques.

Greeting Someone: The Indian Hindu greeting is to put your hands together as if in prayer and tilt the head forward. Indian women will generally prefer not to shake hands; for men this practice tends to be more acceptable, although on the whole handshaking is not as common as in the West. It is usual within business circles to exchange business cards.

It is important not to use the left hand for eating as it is considered unclean. Public displays of affection, such as kissing, hugging and holding hands, are frowned upon. If you are invited to a Hindu house, do not enter the kitchen, as it may cause offence.

Business Hours and Banking: Office hours in India are 09:30 to 17:00, Monday to Friday, with an hour's break for lunch. Most New Delhi businesses will also be open on Saturday mornings from 09:30 to 13:00. Banks are unlikely to open on Saturday but will be open during weekly business hours.

Smoking: Visitors to India should remember that Sikhs and Parsees do not smoke, therefore smoking should be restricted to non-public areas.