Question

which countries comprise the Indian subcontinent

Answer 1

Pakistan  Bangladesh Nepal  Bhutan  Sri Lanka

Answer 2

I would rather vote for a separate-continent status for India and its adjacent ones. Below are the reasons:

Geological History: India was an independent  land mass floating in the Indian ocean after the break-up from Africa along with Australia.  Gradually it drifted towards Eurasian plate and finally collided with it in order to from the Great Himalayan Range, the roof of the world. Now, India and Australia constitute a single tectonic plate called Indo-Australian Plate.If Australia was awarded with a continent status,  why can't India (including the neighbouring countries: Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Maledives; for convenience let us call these countries along with India as just 'India'). Still, the Indo-Australian plate is moving towards Eurasian plate 40 mm per year. If Europe which is attached to Asia along one side is considered as a continent why can't India? Note:The Geological Indian continent does not coincide with Ethno-Cultural Indian continent i.e., The Ethno-Cultural Indian continent also includes Afghanistan, Myanmar, Tibet and Iran along with the countries above mentioned