This document compares and contrasts cultural differences between India and France across various domains such as social interactions, family values, business practices, religious practices, languages, economies, and politics. Some key differences highlighted are that in India it is more common to say "Namaste" as a greeting and respect elders highly, whereas in France people commonly greet with "la bise" kisses on the cheek that vary by gender. Family structures also differ, with marriage being more important in India and same-sex unions now legal in France. Business etiquette and punctuality perspectives also vary between the two cultures.

1. Differences between Indian and
French Culture
SUBMITTED IN FULFILLMENT OF
REQUIREMENTS OF CULTURAL DIVERSITY
COURSE BY:
PRADUMN KUMAR MISHRA
SHADAB ALI SIDDIQUI

2. 1. Social Interactions
India
•Saying "Namaste" while folding
hands and bowing your Head is the
most common greeting among
Indians.
•Elders are highly respected and it is
considered discourteous to take name
of any senior/elder person.
•Public display of affection is
generally frowned upon.
France
•In France, in general, men shake one
another‟s hands, men do “la bise”
with women, and women do “la bise”
amongst themselves. So if you‟re a
woman you‟ll be kissing everyone on
the cheek and getting kissed by
everyone. If you‟re a man you‟ll be
kissing women on the cheek and
shaking men‟s hands.
•Public display of affection is very
common.
•Different form of addresses exist for
different formal/Informal settings.

3. 2. Family Values and Education
India
•Marriage is considered as a very
important institution
•Parents live with their children when
old
•Same sex unions are not recognized
by the state
•Indian Educational system is
decentralized with central as well as
state education boards. Private
institutes are also increasing rapidly
France
•There is recent increase in the
number of unmarried couples
•Single parent families have also
increased
•Same sex marriages are allowed
•The French educational system is
highly centralised. It is divided into
three different stages: primary
education, secondary education; and
higher education

4. 3. Business Interactions
India
•Shaking hands is a common practice in business
interations
•Decisions are strongly influenced from the top.
Usually one person makes all major decisions.
•Business cards are exchanged and Indians are very
conscious of the protocol.
•Initial business entertainment is done in
restaurants in prestigious hotels. Business can be
discussed during meals.
•For business, men generally wear suits and ties
•Gifts are not normally expected at the first meeting.
Gifts may be given once a relationship develops.
France
• It is not acceptable in France to „drop in‟ on
someone unannounced and such conduct will be
taken as an act of rudeness, whatever the occasion.
•Punctuality is treated quite casually in France,
although there are some regional differences, the
further South you go the more casual the approach
to time is.
•Gift-giving among business associates is not
common practice in France.
•Fashion and appearance are much more important
in France than in most other countries in the world.
Even low-paid, entry-level executives buy the best
clothes they can afford. Generally, dress tends to be
on the formal side for both men and women,
whether in business or social situations.
•France is ranked in the top 25 countries (on the
Corruption Perception Index of government
organisations) in the world for being perceived as
least corrupt compared to 176 other countries.
•Offices open early as well as close early and
weekends are sanctimonious

5. 5. Traffic
India
There are too many traffic problems
in India such as
•Congestion
•Pot holes
•Primitive means of transportation
like Bullock Carts in rural areas
•Open floundering of rules
•Lack of means of public transport
France
The traffic scenario is much better
due to
•Efficient vehicles
•Excellent quality of roads
•Rules and regulations are followed
•Excellent means of public transport

6. 6. Religious Settings
India
•Religion in India is characterized by
a diversity of religious beliefs and
practices. India is the birthplace of
four of the world's major religions;
namely Hinduism, Buddhism,
Jainism and Sikhism.
•According to the 2001 census,[1]
80.5% of the population of India
practise Hinduism. Islam (13.4%),
Christianity (2.3%), Sikhism (1.9%),
Buddhism (0.8%) and Jainism (0.4%)
are the other major religions followed
by the people of India.
France
•France is a country where freedom of
religion and freedom of thought are
guaranteed by virtue of the 1789
Declaration of the Rights of Man and
of the Citizen.
•Major religions in France include the
Catholic Church, Islam, various
Protestant churches, Hinduism,
Judaism, Russian Orthodoxy and
Armenian Christianity making it a
multi-confessional country.

7. 7. Lingual Settings
India
• India has recognized Hindi and
English as official languages.
• Other than English and Hindi, there
are 20 other official languages
belonging to different regions across
India.
France
• France has only recognized French
as the official language.
• A few minority languages recognized
by French Constitution.
• Threat of Anglicisation has forced
French people to take many steps for
safeguarding their language.

8. 8. Economy
India
Rank
Currency
9th (nominal) / 3rd (PPP)
1 (INR) () = 100 Paise
$1.824 trillion (nominal) 10th;
GDP
2012)
$4.684 trillion (PPP: 3rd; 2012)
GDP growth 3.986% (2012–13)[1]
GDP per
$1,491 (nominal: 141st;
capita
2012)[$3,829 (PPP: 130th; 2012)]
agriculture: 17.4%, industry:
GDP by sector 25.8%,services: 56.9% (2012 est.)
Population
below poverty
line
29.8% (2010)
France
GDP Rank
Currency
GDP
GDP growth
5th (nominal) / 9th (PPP)
1 euro (€1) = 100-cent
Nominal : $2.609 trillion USD (2012)
[4]
-0.1% (Q3 2013)
GDP per capita Nominal : $41,141 (2012) [5]
agriculture (1.9%), industry (18.3%),
services (79.8%) (2012 est)
GDP by sector
Population
below Poverty
Line
8.8% (2012)

9. 9. Politics
India
As a sovereign, socialist, secular and
democratic republic, India is the
seventh largest nation in the world, in
geographical terms, and the second
most populous nation in the world
France
France is a unitary, semi-presidential
republic.

10. 10 Daily chores
India
Easy and affordable availability of
labour for daily chores like
•Cooking
•Cleaning
•Gardening
•Electrical problems
•Car Problems (Fixing of Punctures)
France
Most of the daily chores are done by
the people themselves due to the
difficulty in availability as well as the
high cost of such services

11. Thank You