List of 28 States and 8 Union Territories of India (Updated List)

Understanding the states and capitals of India is a cornerstone of General Knowledge and essential for every citizen. At present, India comprises 28 States and 8 Union Territories, each playing a pivotal role in the nation's political and administrative framework. Every state manages its own legislative and judicial functions, typically governed by a Chief Minister. This comprehensive guide provides an updated list of all Indian states and Union Territories—a must-read for students and competitive exam aspirants alike. Explore each region's capital and its significance within the country.

States and Capitals of India

As the 7th largest country in the world and the 2nd most populous, India is a culturally diverse nation defined by its 28 states and 8 Union Territories. Located in Southern Asia, India operates under a robust parliamentary system. To ensure effective governance, the Indian Constitution empowers the central government to enact laws that facilitate the smooth administration of these states. Mastering this information is crucial, as states and capitals are frequently featured as key topics in national competitive examinations.

Indian States and their Capitals

India is officially divided into 28 states and 8 union territories. Rajasthan is the largest state in India by land area, while Goa remains the smallest. Below, we provide the complete list of Indian states, their capitals, and their respective formation dates.

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 has 8 Union Territories. Following the reorganization act passed by Parliament in August 2019, the former state of Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated into two distinct Union Territories: Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. This landmark shift occurred after the adjustment of Articles 370 and 35A, marking a significant evolution in India's administrative map.

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

Check the Updated List of Indian Chief Ministers and Governors for 2026

States and Capitals of India Map

Refer to the latest political map of India to visualize the current boundaries, distribution of states, and the administrative capitals of every Union Territory and state.

Indian States with Their Specialities

Each Indian state carries a unique cultural and historical legacy. New Delhi, the capital of India, seamlessly blends ancient history with modern urban growth. Similarly, Mumbai—the capital of Maharashtra—serves as the country’s premier financial hub, housing the nation’s largest stock exchange and the global center of the Bollywood film industry.

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

To better understand India's geography, it is important to distinguish between states and union territories. Notably, three union territories—Delhi, Puducherry, and Jammu and Kashmir—are unique as they maintain their own legislative assemblies, distinct from the other territories.

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 was officially granted Union Territory status on October 31, 2019.

Also Read: Comprehensive Guide to the Largest and Smallest States & UTs of India

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