Chennai is the capital city of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is one of the oldest cities in India and one of the most cosmopolitan. It is the region's economic, transportation, and cultural centre. Since the colonial era, Chennai has been a significant city, influencing other cities around the world. It is famous for its astonishing temples, vibrant arts scene, and modern IT parks. Some of the places that make it famous include the amazing ancient temples, Marina Beach, Chennai Central Railway Station, Guindy National Park, and the Santhome Cathedral.

The Census in India is done every 10 years, and 2011 was the last time it was conducted. The next census is scheduled for 2021. According to the 2011 census, Chennai had a population of 7,088,000. Chennai is known for its diversity, with people from various religious and ethnic backgrounds residing in the city. As per the 2011 census, 81.3% of the population in Chennai identified as Hindu, 9.45% as Muslim, 7.72% as Christian, and the remaining as other religions or no religion. The city houses millions of residents who collectively speak numerous languages, including Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Urdu, and English. Chennai is also home to the world's second-longest urban beach - Marina Beach.

Chennai has always been a commercial city and today enjoys the status of having one of the largest city economies in India. The city thrives in trade and commerce and has a vibrant culture steeped in commerce. It has a GDP of over $59 billion. The size of its economy is larger than that of several Asian nations. The Chennai Port handles millions of tons of cargo every year.

The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) is responsible for planning the infrastructure in the city. It identifies a range of infrastructure priorities for Chennai, from new energy, water and sewerage infrastructure, to enhanced digital connectivity and new rail, road and metro schemes. Some of the investment is provided by the private sector. This has generally worked well in Chennai, although business is particularly concerned at the lack of capacity in digital infrastructure.