Introduction of States & Capitals of India
India, a union of states, is a Sovereign, Secular, Democratic Republic governed through a Parliamentary system. The country consists of 28 states and 8 Union Territories. The Union Territories are administered by an Administrator appointed by the President. Each State and Union Territory, regardless of its size, showcases a unique blend of demography, history, culture, traditional attire, festivals, languages, and much more, reflecting the nation’s rich diversity.
History of States & Capitals of India
When India gained independence in 1947, the nation faced immense turmoil. Territories were divided between India and Pakistan, and the princely states—565 in total—were given the option to join either country or remain independent. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, known as the “Iron Man of India,” took on the monumental task of integrating these princely states into a unified India.
This marked the beginning of India’s ongoing process of forming states and union territories. States have been created based on linguistic distinctions, such as Andhra Pradesh, Bombay State, and Punjab, which were carved out to reflect their unique languages. Others were established for administrative convenience, such as Jharkhand from Bihar and Uttarakhand from Uttar Pradesh.
More recently, in 2019, the Union Territories of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh were formed following the abrogation of Article 370, driven by national security considerations. This dynamic process reflects India’s efforts to balance regional identity with administrative efficiency.
Formation of States & Capitals of India
Under Part I of the Indian Constitution, the Central Government holds the authority to create and alter state boundaries. While State Assemblies can provide suggestions, their role is merely recommendatory. However, states have historically been created in response to popular demand and political pressure on the Central Government. Notable examples include the formation of Andhra Pradesh, following the self-immolation of activist Potti Sriramulu, and the creation of Telangana, which came after widespread public demand.
Governance of States & Capitals of India
The President serves as the constitutional head of the Union Executive, while the Governor represents the President as the executive head at the state level. However, the Chief Minister functions as the de facto executive head of the state, with the Governor primarily holding a ceremonial position. The Chief Minister is supported by a Council of Ministers within the Legislative Assembly, which is presided over by the Speaker. The Chief Minister is elected by the people of the state through regular elections held every five years.
List of States & Capitals of India
| State | Capital |
|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | Amaravati |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Itanagar |
| Assam | Dispur |
| Bihar | Patna |
| Chhattisgarh | Raipur |
| Goa | Panaji |
| Gujarat | Gandhinagar |
| Haryana | Chandigarh |
| Himachal Pradesh | Shimla |
| Jharkhand | Ranchi |
| Karnataka | Bengaluru |
| Kerala | Thiruvananthapuram |
| Madhya Pradesh | Bhopal |
| Maharashtra | Mumbai |
| Manipur | Imphal |
| Meghalaya | Shillong |
| Mizoram | Aizawl |
| Nagaland | Kohima |
| Odisha | Bhubaneswar |
| Punjab | Chandigarh |
| Rajasthan | Jaipur |
| Sikkim | Gangtok |
| Tamil Nadu | Chennai |
| Telangana | Hyderabad |
| Tripura | Agartala |
| Uttar Pradesh | Lucknow |
| Uttarakhand | Dehradun |
| West Bengal | Kolkata |
States & Capitals of India
1. Andhra Pradesh (Capital: Amaravati)
Andhra Pradesh was the first state created on linguistic grounds under the State Reorganisation Act of 1956.
2. Arunachal Pradesh (Capital: Itanagar)
Arunachal Pradesh became a Union Territory in 1972 and attained statehood in 1987. It shares a significant border with China, posing national security challenges.
3. Assam (Capital: Dispur)
Assam was formed in 1950 and is known for its rich wildlife, numerous national parks, and the iconic one-horned rhinoceros.
4. Bihar (Capital: Patna)
Bihar has been a state since 1912 during British colonial rule. It shares a substantial border with Nepal and is blessed with fertile lands due to the Ganga River and its tributaries.
5. Chhattisgarh (Capital: Raipur)
Carved out of Madhya Pradesh in 2000, Chhattisgarh is a landlocked state abundant in natural resources, including dense forests and valuable coal and iron mines.
6. Goa (Capital: Panaji)
Goa attained statehood in 1987, separating from the Union Territory of Goa, Daman, and Diu. Formerly a Portuguese colony, it was annexed into India following Operation Vijay in 1961.
7. Gujarat (Capital: Gandhinagar)
In 1960, Bombay State was divided into Gujarat and Maharashtra based on linguistic lines. Gujarat boasts the longest coastline in India and is the fourth-largest economy in the country.
8. Haryana and Chandigarh
- Formation: Punjab was bifurcated in 1966 to create Haryana and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, based on linguistic lines.
- Geography: Haryana is landlocked and has the 5th highest GDP per capita in India.
9. Himachal Pradesh
- Capitals: Shimla serves as the Summer Capital, while Dharamshala is the Winter Capital.
- Statehood: Achieved statehood in 1971.
- Features: A Himalayan state, it is home to the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, who lives here in exile.
10. Jharkhand
- Formation: Attained statehood in 2000 after being carved out of Bihar.
- Demographics and Resources: Known for its large tribal population and abundant minerals like iron, copper, coal, mica, limestone, and uranium.
- Challenges: Faces issues with Naxal insurgency.
11. Karnataka
- History: Established as Mysore State in 1956 for the Kannada-speaking population and renamed Karnataka in 1973.
- Geography: Borders all South Indian states, boasts a long coastline, and has a rich cultural heritage.
12. Kerala
- Formation: Created in 1956 for the Malayalam-speaking population.
- Features: Known for its Malabar coast and the highest literacy rate in the country.
13. Madhya Pradesh
- Formation: Established in 1956.
- Geography: The second-largest state in India, it is landlocked and known for its cultural heritage and forest areas.
14. Maharashtra
- Formation: Formed in 1960 after separating from Gujarat.
- Economy: Originally called Bombay, it boasts the largest economy among Indian states.
15. Manipur – Imphal
- Achieved statehood in 1972.
- Shares a long border with Myanmar and faces insurgency issues due to violence between the Kuki and Meitei communities.
16. Meghalaya – Shillong
- Initially created as a sub-state within Assam in 1969 and attained statehood in 1972.
- Known as the “Abode of Clouds,” with 70% of its area covered in forests.
17. Mizoram – Aizawl
- Gained statehood in 1987 after being carved out of Assam as a union territory.
- A landlocked state, it has the second smallest population in India, primarily consisting of tribal communities.
18. Nagaland – Kohima
- Attained statehood in 1963 by separating the Naga Hills and Tuensang area from Assam.
- A tribal state rich in natural and environmental resources.
19. Odisha – Bhubaneswar
- Established in 1950.
- Has the third-largest Scheduled Tribes population in India, a long coastline, and a rich cultural heritage.
20. Punjab – Chandigarh
- In 1966, Punjab was bifurcated to create Haryana and the Union Territory of Chandigarh.
- Known as the “Land of Five Rivers,” it is ideal for agricultural production due to its fertile plains.
21. Rajasthan – Jaipur
- Formed in 1956.
- The largest state in India by area, it is home to the Thar Desert, also known as the Great Indian Desert.
22. Sikkim – Gangtok
- Became a protectorate of India in 1947.
- Attained the status of an associated state of the Indian Union under the 35th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1974.
- Achieved full statehood in 1975 through the 36th Constitutional Amendment Act.
- The least populous state in India.
23. Tamil Nadu – Chennai
- Formed in 1950 from the historical Madras Presidency of British colonial times.
- Known for its Tamil-speaking population.
- An ancient land, home to powerful kingdoms like the Cheras, Cholas, Pandyas, and the Vijayanagara Empire.
24. Telangana – Hyderabad
- Gained statehood in 2014.
- Features the ninth-largest economy in India.
- Located on the Deccan Plateau.
25. Tripura – Agartala
- Achieved statehood in 1972.
- The third smallest state in India.
- Shares a border with Bangladesh.
26. Uttar Pradesh – Lucknow
- Established as a state in 1950.
- The most populous state in India.
27. Uttarakhand – Dehradun (Winter Capital), Bhararisain (Summer Capital)
- Formed in 2000 after being carved out of Uttar Pradesh.
- A Himalayan state rich in biodiversity.
28. West Bengal – Kolkata
- Created in 1956 to cater to the Bengali-speaking population.
- Known for its natural resources, including the Ganges Delta, Sundarbans mangrove forests, and the Darjeeling Himalayas.
List of Union Territories of India
| Union Territory | Capital |
|---|
| Andaman and Nicobar Islands | Port Blair |
| Chandigarh | Chandigarh |
| Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu | Daman |
| Delhi | New Delhi |
| Jammu and Kashmir | Srinagar (Summer), Jammu (Winter) |
| Ladakh | Leh |
| Lakshadweep | Kavaratti |
| Puducherry | Puducherry |
Union Territories of India
1. Andaman and Nicobar Islands – Port Blair
- A group of 836 islands located in the Bay of Bengal.
2. Chandigarh – Chandigarh
- Serves as the dual capital for both Punjab and Haryana.
3. Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu – Daman
- Daman and Diu: Acquired from Portuguese control through police action in 1961.
- Dadra and Nagar Haveli: Liberated from Portuguese rule in 1954, it became a union territory in 1961 via the 10th Constitutional Amendment Act.
- On January 26, 2020, these two union territories were merged to form Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
4. Lakshadweep – Kavaratti
- An archipelago comprising 36 islands in the Arabian Sea.
5. Delhi – New Delhi
- Also referred to as the National Capital Region (NCR), it is a large metropolitan area.
6. Puducherry – Puducherry
- Formerly under French control, it was handed over to India in 1954 and became a Union Territory in 1962.
7. Ladakh – Leh
- Designated as a Union Territory on August 5, 2019, after the bifurcation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.
8. Jammu and Kashmir – Srinagar (Summer), Jammu (Winter)
- Following the removal of Articles 35A and 370, it became the first state to be downgraded to a Union Territory on August 5, 2019.