States of India: Complete List with Capitals & Map

India has 28 states and 8 Union Territories (UTs). That's the answer. After the J&K Reorganization Act 2019, Jammu & Kashmir was bifurcated into two UTs — J&K (with legislature) and Ladakh (without legislature). So the count moved from 29 states + 7 UTs to 28 states + 8 UTs.

Every UPSC aspirant must know this list cold. It appears in Prelims, Mains (GS I Geography), and even interviews when examiners ask about administrative divisions or border disputes.

Related: National Symbols of India: Complete List for UPSC

All 28 States of India with Capitals

Let's start with the states, organized by zone. Zone-wise grouping is both geographically intuitive and a frequent exam format.

North Zone States

*Delhi (NCT) is technically a UT with legislature, listed here for reference.

Key facts for North Zone:

• Rajasthan is the largest state by area in India (342,239 km²)
• UP is the most populous state (~241 million, Census 2011)
• Chandigarh is the shared capital of both Punjab and Haryana — a unique administrative arrangement
• Uttarakhand was carved out of UP in 2000. Its original name was Uttaranchal, changed in 2007.

South Zone States

Key facts for South Zone:

• Telangana is India's youngest state, carved out of Andhra Pradesh in 2014
• Andhra Pradesh had its capital shifted to Amaravati after Hyderabad was designated as the shared capital during a 10-year transition period (ending 2024)
• Kerala has the highest literacy rate among Indian states (~96%)
• Tamil Nadu's capital Chennai was formerly known as Madras

East Zone States

Key facts for East Zone:

• Jharkhand was carved out of Bihar in 2000. Known for mineral wealth — coal, iron ore, bauxite.
• West Bengal borders Bangladesh and shares a long international boundary
• Odisha (formerly Orissa) renamed officially in 2011
• Bihar is the third most populous state after UP and Maharashtra

West Zone States

Key facts for West Zone:

• Gujarat and Maharashtra were created on May 1, 1960 from the bifurcation of Bombay State — that's why May 1 is celebrated as Maharashtra Day and Gujarat Day
• Goa is the smallest state by area in India (3,702 km²)
• Goa became a state only in 1987, 26 years after its liberation from Portuguese rule (1961)
• Maharashtra is the second most populous state and home to Mumbai, India's financial capital

Central Zone States

Key facts:

• Madhya Pradesh was the largest state by area until Rajasthan overtook it. It's now second largest.
• Chhattisgarh was carved out of MP in 2000. Rich in forests and tribal population.

Northeast Zone States

Key facts for Northeast:

• The Seven Sisters = Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura. Sikkim joined later.
• Sikkim merged with India in 1975 — formerly a kingdom under Chogyal (king)
• Arunachal Pradesh is disputed by China, which calls it "South Tibet"
• Nagaland was India's first state with a special provision — the Nagaland Church and traditional customs get constitutional protection under Article 371(A)
• Mizoram has the second highest literacy rate in India after Kerala

All 8 Union Territories of India with Capitals

Critical distinction: Three UTs have their own legislatures — Delhi, J&K, and Puducherry. The remaining five are governed directly by the Centre through a Lieutenant Governor or Administrator.

Lakshadweep is the smallest UT by area (32 km²) and the only UT that is a coral archipelago.

Ladakh is the largest UT by area (59,146 km²) but has the lowest population density in India.

J&K Reorganization 2019 — What Changed and Why It Matters

The Jammu & Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019 is one of the most significant constitutional changes in recent Indian history. Here’s what you must know for UPSC:

Before August 5, 2019:

• J&K was a full state with special status under Article 370
• It had its own Constitution, flag, and special residency laws
• Total count: 29 states + 7 UTs

After August 5, 2019:

• Article 370 was effectively abrogated
• J&K was bifurcated into two UTs:

1. UT of J&K — with a legislature (like Delhi and Puducherry)
2. UT of Ladakh — without a legislature (governed directly by Centre)

• Total count changed to: 28 states + 8 UTs

Why Ladakh got no legislature: The government argued that Ladakh's sparse population (about 274,000) and strategic location (borders China and Pakistan) made direct central administration more appropriate.

Supreme Court angle: A 5-judge Constitution Bench upheld the abrogation of Article 370 in December 2023 but directed the restoration of statehood to J&K. The election was held in 2024, but as of 2026, J&K remains a UT.

States Created After 1990

Three states were carved out of existing states between 2000 and 2014:

All three states formed in 2000 came into existence under the NDA government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Telangana was created under the UPA government of Manmohan Singh.

Smallest and Largest States: Key GK Facts

By Area

By Population (Census 2011)

Reorganization of States: Historical Background

India's state map has been redrawn multiple times since 1947. Here's the timeline:

1947-1950: Princely States Integration

• Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel led the integration of 565 princely states
• Most acceded through Instrument of Accession

1956: States Reorganization Act

• Most important reorganization in Indian history
• States Reorganization Commission (Fazl Ali Commission) recommended linguistic basis
• Created new states on linguistic lines: Andhra (Telugu), Karnataka (Kannada), Kerala (Malayalam), Maharashtra (Marathi), Gujarat (Gujarati)

1960: Bombay State bifurcated

• Gujarat (Gujarati speakers) and Maharashtra (Marathi speakers) formed on May 1, 1960

1963: Nagaland — 16th state of India

1972: Northeast reorganization

• Meghalaya, Manipur, Tripura became states

1987: Goa, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh became states

2000: Three new states — Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand

2014: Telangana — India's 29th state (now we're at 28 after J&K reorganization)

States Sharing International Borders

This is a frequent UPSC topic. Know which states border which countries.

States with Special Constitutional Provisions

Several states have special provisions under Article 371:

GK Questions on States of India

These are the type of questions UPSC asks — or questions that commonly appear in state PSC exams and SSC:

Q1. Which is the largest state by area in India? Answer: Rajasthan (3,42,239 km²)

Q2. Which state was India's 29th state before J&K reorganization? Answer: Telangana (formed June 2, 2014)

Q3. Which two states share the capital city Chandigarh? Answer: Punjab and Haryana. Chandigarh is a Union Territory and serves as the capital of both states.

Q4. How many states and UTs does India currently have? Answer: 28 states and 8 Union Territories (after J&K Reorganization Act, 2019)

Q5. Which UT has the largest area? Answer: Ladakh (59,146 km²)

Q6. Telangana was carved out of which state? Answer: Andhra Pradesh (bifurcated on June 2, 2014)

Q7. Which state has the longest coastline? Answer: Gujarat (approximately 1,600 km of coastline)

Q8. Which northeastern state was formerly a kingdom that merged with India in 1975? Answer: Sikkim

Frequently Asked Questions

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