Learning the complete list of States and Capitals of India is a fundamental static GK requirement for competitive examinations like UPSC, SSC CGL, UPPSC, UP Police, and UP Board exams. India comprises 28 states and 8 union territories, each governed under a distinct administrative setup.
Below is the structured, updated list of 28 states and capitals of India along with all union territories of India, optimized for quick memorization and exam revision.
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Why Do People Search for 29 States Instead of 28?
If you are looking for the list of 29 states of India with capital PDF, it is helpful to understand the recent administrative changes. India officially had 29 states after Telangana was established in 2014. However, under the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act (2019), Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated into two Union Territories—Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
Consequently, India currently consists of 28 States and 8 Union Territories.
To assist with your exam preparation, we have compiled the complete, verified 2026 directory here. You can study the full state-by-state breakdown in the table or download the updated revision PDF directly given below.
List of 28 States and Capitals of India
India is a diverse sovereign nation divided into 28 states, each with its own state government, administrative capital, and distinct linguistic identity. The comprehensive directory provides the latest capital cities and administrative details for general awareness and exam preparation.
| S.No. | State Name | Total Districts | Capital | Official / Region Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Andhra Pradesh | 26 | Amaravati | Telugu |
| 2. | Arunachal Pradesh | 22 | Itanagar | English |
| 3. | Assam | 35 | Dispur | Assamese |
| 4. | Bihar | 38 | Patna | Hindi |
| 5. | Chhattisgarh | 28 | Raipur | Hindi / Chhattisgarhi |
| 6. | Goa | 2 | Panaji | Konkani |
| 7. | Gujarat | 33 | Gandhinagar | Gujarati |
| 8. | Haryana | 22 | Chandigarh | Hindi |
| 9. | Himachal Pradesh | 12 | Shimla (Summer), Dharamshala (Winter) | Hindi |
| 10. | Jharkhand | 24 | Ranchi | Hindi |
| 11. | Karnataka | 30 | Bangalore | Kannada |
| 12. | Kerala | 14 | Thiruvananthapuram | Malayalam |
| 13. | Madhya Pradesh | 55 | Bhopal | Hindi |
| 14. | Maharashtra | 36 | Mumbai | Marathi |
| 15. | Manipur | 16 | Imphal | Meitei (Manipuri) |
| 16. | Meghalaya | 10 | Shillong | English |
| 17. | Mizoram | 8 | Aizawl | Mizo |
| 18. | Nagaland | 16 | Kohima | English |
| 19. | Odisha | 30 | Bhubaneshwar | Odia |
| 20. | Punjab | 23 | Chandigarh | Punjabi |
| 21. | Rajasthan | 41 | Jaipur | Hindi |
| 22. | Sikkim | 6 | Gangtok | Nepali / English |
| 23. | Tamil Nadu | 38 | Chennai | Tamil |
| 24. | Telangana | 33 | Hyderabad | Telugu |
| 25. | Tripura | 8 | Agartala | Bengali / Kokborok |
| 26. | Uttar Pradesh | 75 | Lucknow | Hindi / Urdu |
| 27. | Uttarakhand | 13 | Dehradun (Winter), Gairsain (Summer) | Hindi |
| 28. | West Bengal | 23 | Kolkata | Bengali |
Here, we have given only numbers of districts of each state. Curious readers can also know the name of districts by clicking on the numbers. They will be redirected to official website of respective state government.
Note: The states and capitals mentioned in above table has been taken from official website of India.gov.in. This information on ‘The Lucknow Classes’ website was last updated on 27th August 2026. It may change with time. So, readers must check the recent data from official website given above.
List of 8 Union Territories of India and Their Capitals
Unlike full states with their own state governments, Union Territories of India are governed directly by the Central Government via an appointed Lieutenant Governor or Administrator (except Delhi and Puducherry, which have legislative assemblies).
| S.No. | Union Territory | Capital |
| 1. | Andaman and Nicobar Islands | Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair) |
| 2. | Chandigarh | Chandigarh |
| 3. | Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu | Daman |
| 4. | Delhi (NCT) | New Delhi |
| 5. | Jammu and Kashmir | Srinagar (Summer), Jammu (Winter) |
| 6. | Ladakh | Leh |
| 7. | Lakshadweep | Kavaratti |
| 8. | Puducherry | Puducherry |
Understanding States and Capitals of India on Map
Locating states and capitals of India on map simplifies spatial recall for competitive tests:
- Northern Region: Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh.
- Southern Region: Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.
- Western Region: Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Goa.
- Eastern & Central Region: Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.
- North-Eastern “Seven Sisters” & Sikkim: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, and Sikkim.
(Download our free states and capitals of india pdf note below for a high-resolution printable political map).
Important Static GK Facts About Indian States and UTs
- Rajasthan is the largest state by land area 342,269 km2 , while Goa is the smallest 3,702 km2.
- Uttar Pradesh holds the highest population in India, whereas Sikkim has the lowest population in 2026 according to Wikipedia data.
- Kerala records the highest literacy rate and sex ratio among all Indian states.
- Gujarat features the longest mainland coastline in India, stretching over 1,600 kilometers.
- Madhya Pradesh contains the largest total forest cover area in the country.
- Mawsynram in Meghalaya is the wettest place on Earth, receiving the highest average annual rainfall globally.
- Ladakh is the largest Union Territory by geographical area, while Lakshadweep is the smallest.
- Andhra Pradesh was the first state in India created on a linguistic basis in 1953.
- Seven Sisters of India refers to the northeastern group of states: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura.
Let’s Check the Knowledge
Test your preparation with these GK MCQs frequently asked in SSC, UP Police, UPPSC and other competitive examinations.
Q1. What is the capital of the newly reorganized Union Territory of Ladakh?
A) Srinagar
B) Leh
C) Kargil
D) Jammu
Answer: B) Leh
Q2. Which among the Indian states share its capital with another state?
A) Punjab
B) Haryana
C) Himachal Pradesh
D) Both A and B
Answer: D) Both A and B (Chandigarh serves as the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana).
Q3. Which of the following is the summer capital of Uttarakhand?
A) Dehradun
B) Nainital
C) Gairsain
D) Rishikesh
Answer: C) Gairsain
Q4. As per official records, what is the capital of Andhra Pradesh?
A) Visakhapatnam
B) Hyderabad
C) Amaravati
D) Kurnool
Answer: C) Amaravati
Q5. Which Union Territory was renamed ‘Sri Vijaya Puram’ from Port Blair?
A) Lakshadweep
B) Andaman and Nicobar Islands
C) Daman and Diu
D) Puducherry
Answer: B) Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Q6. How many total states and Union Territories are there in India in 2026?
A) 29 States, 7 UTs
B) 28 States, 8 UTs
C) 28 States, 9 UTs
D) 27 States, 8 UTs
Answer: B) 28 States, 8 UTs
Other Questions in form of short answers.
Q1. Which is the smallest state in India by area?
Ans. Goa is the smallest state in India with area of 3,702 km2.
Q2. Why are there 28 states instead of 29 states and capitals in India?
Ans. The state of Jammu & Kashmir was reorganized into two Union Territories—Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh—in 2019, reducing the total state count from 29 to 28.
Q3. Which is newest formed state in India?
Ans. Telangana is the newest state of India. It was officially formed on June 2, 2014, after splitting from Andhra Pradesh. Its capital city is Hyderabad.
Q4. What is the capital city of the northeastern state of Nagaland?
Ans. The capital of Nagaland is Kohima, while its largest and most populous urban center is Dimapur.
Q5. What is the capital of Mizoram, which is also the largest city and cultural center of the state?
Ans. Aizawl is the capital city of Mizoram, situated on a ridge nearly 1,100 meters above sea level.
Conclusion
Having a clear command over the States and their Capitals, their geographic distribution, and associated static GK facts gives aspirants an edge in competitive exams like UPPSC, SSC CGL, Railways, and state entrance tests. Regular practice through mock quizzes and map-based learning ensures long-term memory retention. Stay connected with The Lucknow Classes for structured notes, updated study materials, and subject-wise competitive exam preparation.
