States and Capitals of India, 28 States and 8 UTs in India (Updated in 2024)
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Many people don't know the names of the Indian states and their capitals. In this article, we give you a brief idea about the Indian states and capitals to increase the General Knowledge of every Indian. There are 28 states and 8 union territories in India at present. Each state of India has an administrative, legislative and judicial capital. The Chief Minister is the head of every state government. Here we have covered the list of the Indian States, Union Territories, and their capitals. This article aims to provide an overview of the Indian States and their Capitals, showcasing their importance and contributions to the nation.
States and Capitals of India
India is the 7th largest country in the world and also the 2nd most populous. India is a diverse and culturally rich Nation that comprises 28 states and 8 Union territories, each with its own unique identity, history, and administrative center. India lies in the southern Asia. India is governed by a parliamentary form of government. It gets very difficult to manage a large country from one place. So, the Indian Constitution gives the right to the central government to make states feel suitable. As responsible citizens, we should know about the states and capitals of India. The states and capitals are very commonly asked as the General Awareness Questions in several competitive exams held nationwide.
Indian States and their Capitals
India has a total of 28 states and 8 union territories. Rajasthan is the largest state in India in terms of area and Goa is the smallest state. The complete list of 28 Indian States and their capitals, and founding date are as follows.
| List of Indian States, Capitals and Formation Date | |||
| S.No. | State | Capital | Formation Date |
| 1 | Andhra Pradesh | Amaravati | 1 November 1956 |
| 2 | Arunachal Pradesh | Itanagar | 20 February 1987 |
| 3 | Assam | Dispur | 1950 |
| 4 | Bihar | Patna | 1950 |
| 5 | Chhattisgarh | Raipur | 1 November 2020 |
| 6 | Goa | Panaji | 30 May 1987 |
| 7 | Gujarat | Gandhinagar | 1 May 1960 |
| 8 | Haryana | Chandigarh | 1 November 1966 |
| 9 | Himachal Pradesh | Shimla | 25 January 1971 |
| 10 | Jharkhand | Ranchi | 15 November 2000 |
| 11 | Karnataka | Bengaluru | 1 November 1956 |
| 12 | Kerala | Thiruvananthapuram | 1 November 1956 |
| 13 | Madhya Pradesh | Bhopal | 1 November 1956 |
| 14 | Maharashtra | Mumbai | 1 May 1960 |
| 15 | Manipur | Imphal | 21 January 1972 |
| 16 | Meghalaya | Shillong | 21 January 1972 |
| 17 | Mizoram | Aizawl | 20 February 1987 |
| 18 | Nagaland | Kohima | 1 December 1963 |
| 19 | Odisha | Bhubaneswar | 1950 |
| 20 | Punjab | Chandigarh | 1 November 1966 |
| 21 | Rajasthan | Jaipur | 30 March 1949 |
| 22 | Sikkim | Gangtok | 16 May 1975 |
| 23 | Tamil Nadu | Chennai | 1 November 1956 |
| 24 | Telangana | Hyderabad | 2 June 2014 |
| 25 | Tripura | Agartala | 21 January 1972 |
| 26 | Uttar Pradesh | Lucknow | 24 January, 1950 |
| 27 | Uttarakhand | Dehradun | 9 November 2000 |
| 28 | West Bengal | Kolkata | 1950 |
Indian Union Territories and Capitals
At Present India now has 8 Union Territories. The erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir has been bifurcated into two Union Territories (UT) of J&K and Ladakh. The newly formed union territories have been formed under a reorganization act passed by the Parliament on 5-6 August 2020. After the removal of Articles 35A and 370, it became the first state to be downgraded into a Union territory and Divided into two Union territories Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
| Union Territories Name | Capital |
|---|---|
| Andaman and Nicobar Islands | Port Blair |
| Chandigarh | Chandigarh |
| Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu | Daman |
| Delhi | New Delhi |
| Jammu and Kashmir | Srinagar (Summer) Jammu (Winter) |
| Lakshadweep | Kavaratti |
| Puducherry | Pondicherry |
| Ladakh | Leh |
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States and Capitals of India Map
You can check the latest political map of India which provides the total number of states and union territories in India and their capitals at present.
Indian States with Their Specialities
Each Indian State has a unique historical and cultural background. For example, New Delhi, India's capital, has a blend of modernity and history, Iconic landmarks such as India Gate and the Istana represent the country's past difficulties as well as its future hopes. Mumbai, the state capital of Maharashtra, is the country's financial and entertainment epicenter, as well as the home of Bollywood and India's largest stock exchange.
| Indian States | Specialisation |
| Andhra Pradesh | Andhra Pradesh is known for its spicy cuisine, historical sites like Charminar and Golconda Fort in Hyderabad, and rich culture in art, music, and dance. |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Arunachal Pradesh is renowned for its breathtaking landscapes, diverse tribal cultures, and the Tawang Monastery, one of the largest monasteries in India. |
| Assam | Assam is famous for its tea plantations, Kaziranga National Park (home to the one-horned rhinoceros), Bihu dance, and traditional silk weaving. |
| Bihar | Bihar is known for its historical significance, including the ancient city of Patliputra, Buddhist pilgrimage sites like Bodh Gaya, and Madhubani art. |
| Chhattisgarh | Chhattisgarh is recognized for its tribal heritage, rich mineral resources, and the Chitrakote Waterfall, often called the "Niagara of India." |
| Delhi | Delhi is famous for iconic landmarks such as India Gate and the Istana representing the country's past difficulties as well as its future hopes. |
| Goa | Goa is famous for its beautiful beaches, vibrant nightlife, unique blend of Indian and Portuguese cultures, and seafood cuisine. |
| Gujarat | Gujarat is renowned for its industrial and business prowess, the Rann of Kutch desert, vibrant festivals like Navaratri and Diwali, and the Sabarmati Ashram associated with Mahatma Gandhi. |
| Haryana | Haryana is known for its agricultural productivity, being a hub for industries, and Chandigarh, a well-planned city known for its architecture and urban design. |
| Himachal Pradesh | elebrated for its picturesque hill stations, adventure tourism, serene landscapes, and the Dalai Lama's residence in Dharamshala. |
| Jharkhand | Jharkhand is rich in mineral resources, known for its tribal culture, and home to the Betla National Park. |
| Karnataka | Karnataka is distinguished as the "Silicon Valley of India," known for its IT industry, historical sites like Hampi, and traditional dance forms like Bharatanatyam. |
| Kerala | Kerala is famous for its backwaters, Ayurveda practices, lush greenery, and the highest literacy rate in India. |
| Maharashtra | Maharashtra is also known as financial and entertainment capital, Bollywood film industry, historical landmarks like Gateway of India, and culinary delights like Vada Pav. |
| Manipur | Celebrated for its traditional dance forms like Manipuri dance, Loktak Lake, and vibrant festivals. |
Important Points Related to Indian States
After getting the list of Indian States & Union Territories with their capitals, let us first understand how to segregate a state from a Union territory. Out of the eight union territories in India, three union territories have their own legislatures these are Delhi, Puducherry (formerly Pondicherry) and Jammu and Kashmir. Each union territory and state has a capital of its own.
| States and Capitals of India | |
| State | Union Territories |
| The state has its own administrative units with their own elected government. | Union Territories are constituent units which are controlled and administered by the Central Government. |
| The Executive Head is the Governor | The Executive Head is the President |
| The relationship with the Centre is Federal. | Unitary with the Centre. i.e. all the powers rest in the hands of the Union. |
| Administered by the Chief Minister and elected by the people. | Administered by the Administrator which is appointed by the President. ( except Delhi, Puducherry and Jammu & Kashmir) |
| The Chief Minister is the real head. | The lieutenant is the real head. |
Latest Updates
- Since 26th January 2020, India had 8 union territories. The U.T Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli have merged into a single union territory. With this merger, the number of UTs has come down to eight.
- On August 5, 2019, the central government also announced the abrogation of the special status given to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 and its division into two Union Territories i.e. UTs of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. Ladakh got a Union Territory status officially on October 31, 2019.
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