States and Union Territories of India. List of all with capitals

states and union territories of india

Table of Contents

List of All Indian States and Union Territories (UTs)

Introduction

India, the world’s largest democracy, is a federal union comprising 28 states and 8 Union Territories (UTs). Each state has its own government, while the UTs are administered by the Central Government of India. The states and UTs vary significantly in terms of geography, culture, language, and economy. This article provides a detailed list of all Indian states and UTs, along with their capitals, key features, and important facts.

States of India (28 States)

Each Indian state has its own elected government and legislative assembly. Below is a list of all 28 states along with their capitals and some key details.

1. Andhra Pradesh

Capital: Amaravati (de facto), Hyderabad (until bifurcation completion)
Official Language: Telugu
Key Features: Famous for Tirupati temple, beaches, and agriculture.

2. Arunachal Pradesh

Capital: Itanagar
Official Language: English
Key Features: Known for scenic mountains and Buddhist monasteries.

3. Assam

Capital: Dispur
Official Language: Assamese
Key Features: Famous for tea plantations and the Kaziranga National Park.

4. Bihar

Capital: Patna
Official Language: Hindi
Key Features: Birthplace of Buddhism, historic Nalanda University.

5. Chhattisgarh

Capital: Raipur
Official Language: Hindi, Chhattisgarhi
Key Features: Known for rich mineral resources and tribal culture.

6. Goa

Capital: Panaji
Official Language: Konkani
Key Features: Famous for its beaches, nightlife, and Portuguese heritage.

7. Gujarat

Capital: Gandhinagar
Official Language: Gujarati
Key Features: Known for Gir National Park and the Statue of Unity.

8. Haryana

Capital: Chandigarh
Official Language: Hindi
Key Features: Major agricultural and industrial hub.

9. Himachal Pradesh

Capital: Shimla (Summer), Dharamshala (Winter)
Official Language: Hindi
Key Features: Famous for hill stations like Manali and Shimla.

10. Jharkhand

Capital: Ranchi
Official Language: Hindi
Key Features: Rich in minerals and forests, known for waterfalls.

11. Karnataka

Capital: Bengaluru
Official Language: Kannada
Key Features: IT hub of India, famous for Mysore Palace and Hampi.

12. Kerala

Capital: Thiruvananthapuram
Official Language: Malayalam
Key Features: Known for backwaters, Ayurveda, and literacy rate.

13. Madhya Pradesh

Capital: Bhopal
Official Language: Hindi
Key Features: Home to Khajuraho temples and wildlife reserves.

14. Maharashtra

Capital: Mumbai
Official Language: Marathi
Key Features: Financial capital of India, Bollywood hub.

15. Manipur

Capital: Imphal
Official Language: Meitei (Manipuri)
Key Features: Known for Loktak Lake and cultural heritage.

16. Meghalaya

Capital: Shillong
Official Language: English
Key Features: Home to living root bridges and high rainfall areas.

17. Mizoram

Capital: Aizawl
Official Language: Mizo, English
Key Features: Known for lush green hills and vibrant tribal culture.

18. Nagaland

Capital: Kohima
Official Language: English
Key Features: Famous for Hornbill Festival and unique tribal culture.

19. Odisha

Capital: Bhubaneswar
Official Language: Odia
Key Features: Known for Jagannath Temple and Konark Sun Temple.

20. Punjab

Capital: Chandigarh
Official Language: Punjabi
Key Features: Known for Golden Temple and agriculture.

21. Rajasthan

Capital: Jaipur
Official Language: Hindi, Rajasthani
Key Features: Known for deserts, palaces, and forts.

22. Sikkim

Capital: Gangtok
Official Language: English, Nepali
Key Features: Known for Kanchenjunga Mountain and monasteries.

23. Tamil Nadu

Capital: Chennai
Official Language: Tamil
Key Features: Famous for temples and classical arts.

24. Telangana

Capital: Hyderabad
Official Language: Telugu, Urdu
Key Features: Known for IT industry and Charminar.

25. Tripura

Capital: Agartala
Official Language: Bengali, Kokborok
Key Features: Rich cultural heritage and temples.

26. Uttar Pradesh

Capital: Lucknow
Official Language: Hindi
Key Features: Home to the Taj Mahal and Varanasi.

27. Uttarakhand

Capital: Dehradun
Official Language: Hindi
Key Features: Famous for spiritual sites and the Himalayas.

28. West Bengal

Capital: Kolkata
Official Language: Bengali
Key Features: Known for Durga Puja and Howrah Bridge.

Union Territories of India (8 UTs)

Unlike states, Union Territories (UTs) are governed directly by the Central Government. Some UTs have their own legislatures, while others are administered by a Lieutenant Governor.

1. Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Capital: Port Blair
Key Features: Known for beaches, cellular jail, and marine biodiversity.

2. Chandigarh

Capital: Chandigarh
Key Features: Serves as the capital of both Punjab and Haryana.

3. Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu

Capital: Daman
Key Features: Known for Portuguese heritage and beaches.

4. Lakshadweep

Capital: Kavaratti
Key Features: India’s smallest UT, known for coral atolls and lagoons.

5. Delhi

Capital: New Delhi
Key Features: India’s capital, home to government institutions.

6. Puducherry

Capital: Puducherry
Key Features: French colonial heritage and Auroville.

7. Jammu and Kashmir

Capital: Srinagar (Summer), Jammu (Winter)
Key Features: Known for tourism and houseboats.

8. Ladakh

Capital: Leh
Key Features: Famous for its unique landscape and Buddhist monasteries.

Conclusion

India’s 28 states and 8 UTs reflect its vast diversity in geography, culture, and governance. Each state and UT contributes uniquely to India’s rich heritage, economy, and national identity. Understanding these regions helps in appreciating the unity in diversity that defines India.

FAQs

General FAQs

How many states and Union Territories (UTs) are there in India?
- India has 28 states and 8 Union Territories as of 2024.
What is the difference between a state and a Union Territory?
- States have their own government and legislature, while UTs are governed directly by the Central Government, though some UTs have legislatures.
Which is the largest state in India by area?
- Rajasthan is the largest state by area.
Which is the smallest state in India by area?
- Goa is the smallest state by area.
Which is the most populous state in India?
- Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state.
Which is the least populous state in India?
- Sikkim has the lowest population among states.
Which is the largest Union Territory by area?
- Ladakh is the largest UT by area.
Which is the smallest Union Territory by area?
- Lakshadweep is the smallest UT by area.
Which is the most populous Union Territory?
- Delhi is the most populous UT.
Which Union Territories have a legislature?
- Delhi, Puducherry, and Jammu & Kashmir have legislatures.

Formation & Reorganization

Which was the first state formed on a linguistic basis?
- Andhra Pradesh (in 1953) was the first state formed based on language.
When was the latest state formed in India?
- Telangana was the latest state, formed in 2014 after being separated from Andhra Pradesh.
When were Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh made Union Territories?
- On October 31, 2019, Jammu & Kashmir was bifurcated into two UTs: Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
What was the capital of Jammu & Kashmir before it became a UT?
- Srinagar (summer capital) and Jammu (winter capital).
Which states were part of the former Assam province?
- Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura were originally part of Assam.
Which states were carved out of Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh in 2000?
- Chhattisgarh (from MP), Jharkhand (from Bihar), and Uttarakhand (from UP).

Capitals & Administration

How many states have more than one capital?
- Three states:
  - Maharashtra (Mumbai, Nagpur – winter)
  - Jammu & Kashmir (Srinagar, Jammu)
  - Himachal Pradesh (Shimla, Dharamshala – winter)
Which Union Territory has two capitals?
- Jammu & Kashmir (Srinagar in summer, Jammu in winter).
Which states share the same capital?
- Punjab and Haryana share Chandigarh as their capital.
Which state has its capital outside its official boundary?
- Chandigarh is the capital of Punjab and Haryana but is itself a Union Territory.

Miscellaneous

Which is the only state with a predominantly Christian population?
- Nagaland has a majority Christian population.
Which state has the highest literacy rate?
- Kerala has the highest literacy rate.
Which state has the highest number of official languages?
- Sikkim recognizes 11 official languages.
Which Indian state has the longest coastline?
- Gujarat has the longest coastline.
Which Union Territory is known for its French influence?
- Puducherry is known for its French colonial heritage.

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