List of Indian States and Capitals, Updated List 2025

Q: How many states are there in India?

India is a union of 28 states and 8 union territories in the country.

Q: How many union territories are there in India?

There are 8 union territories in India at present.

Q: What is the official capital of the Republic of India?

New Delhi is the official capital of the Republic of India.

Q: Who is the head of the Union Territories of India?

Lt. Governors & Administrators are considered to be the head of a Union Territories of India.

Q: Which state has been bifurcated to make union territory?

Jammu and Kashmir is bifurcated into Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh Union Territories.

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Many people may not be fully aware of all the Indian States and Capitals. To help improve general knowledge across the country, a detailed article of States and Capitals of India is shared for your ease. Currently, India comprises 28 states and 8 union territories, each with distinct administrative, legislative, and judicial capitals. The Chief Minister leads the government in each state, playing a crucial role in state-level governance.

Indian States and Capitals

India, the world’s seventh-largest country and the second most populous, is known for its incredible diversity and rich cultural heritage. It comprises 28 states and 8 Union Territories, each with its own unique culture, history, and administrative capital. Positioned in South Asia, India operates under a parliamentary system of governance. Given the country’s vast size, managing its affairs from a single administrative center would be challenging, which is why the Indian Constitution empowers the central government to administer states effectively.

Having a basic understanding of India’s states and capitals is essential for every citizen, and this knowledge is frequently tested in UPSC Exam 2025 as part of General Awareness.

List of Indian States and Capitals

India is a diverse nation, comprising 28 states and 8 union territories, each contributing uniquely to the country’s rich cultural heritage. These states together create a vibrant combination of traditions, languages, and customs, showcasing together the colorful identity of India. Below is a List of Indian States and Capitals with the date of formation.

List of Indian States and Capitals
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

List of Union Territories and Capitals

India’s capital city, New Delhi, is a union territory. Other union territories in India include the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry. Each state and union territory in India is unique, with its own cultures, languages, and religions.

List of Union Territories and Capitals
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

Indian States with Their Specialities

Each state in India has its own unique history and culture. For example, New Delhi, the capital city, combines old traditions with modern life. Famous places like India Gate remind people of the country’s challenges in the past and its hopes for the future. Meanwhile, Mumbai, the capital of Maharashtra, is the center for finance and entertainment in India. It’s the home of Bollywood and the country’s largest stock exchange, representing India’s drive for success and creativity.

Indian States with Their Specialities
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	celebrated 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 the 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.

Latest Updates of States and Capitals of India

On January 26, 2020, India’s Union Territories (UTs) were reorganized, bringing the total count to eight.
This restructuring included merging the Union Territories of Daman and Diu with Dadra and Nagar Haveli into a single UT.
Earlier, on August 5, 2019, the Indian government revoked Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
Following this revocation, Jammu and Kashmir were divided into two new Union Territories:
- Jammu & Kashmir
- Ladakh
Ladakh officially received its Union Territory status on October 31, 2019.