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Greet by pressing your palms together and bow slightly. Say “Namaste” (nah-mah-stay).
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Shake hands only when offered.
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Do not hug or kiss.
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Allow women to proceed first.
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Do not point with your finger. Rather, use the hand with an upward palm.
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Standing with hands on hips is seen as aggressive.
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Do not whistle or wink.
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Do not approach women who are walking alone.
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Do not let your feet touch another person.
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Do not maintain eye contact for long periods of time.
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Ignore beggars.
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Respect age and seniority.
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Expectations differ across regions.
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Men should wear a shirt (short-sleeved is acceptable) and tie.
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Women should wear pant suits or long skirts. Skirts should cover the knees and blouses should reach high to the neck.
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Wear neutral colors.
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For social gatherings, wearing traditional Indian clothing it is seen as a gesture of friendship. Men would wear a kurta-pajama and women a salwar-suit.
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Begin business conversation with small talk.
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Be open and friendly.
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Discussing personal topics is common.
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Express disagreement indirectly.
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For scheduling, Indians do not use time so much as people and events. Therefore, be flexible.
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Appointments made early are helpful.
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Appreciate the diversity of India.
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Many businesses are family-owned.
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Subordinates stand when superiors enter the room.
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Meetings are very relaxed.
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Refusing an invitation is rude
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Be careful about eating meat. If there is meat at a meal, keep it separate from the vegetarian food.
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Be aware that many Hindus fast once a week and only eat fruit.
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Wash hands both before and after meals.
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Do not offer food from your plate to another.
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Business is done more at lunches than dinners.
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10% is a sufficient tip in most restauraunts.
Source
http://www.executiveplanet.com
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