India, in 2022, consists of 28 states and 8 Union Territories. These states were reorganized based on linguistic lines under the States Reorganization Act of 1956. As a sovereign, secular, and democratic republic with a parliamentary system of government, India functions as a federation of states.
The President serves as the constitutional head of the Executive at the Union level, while in the states, the Governor, as the representative of the President, assumes the role of the head of the Executive. The governance system in states closely mirrors that of the Union.
Each of the 28 states and 8 Union Territories in the country possesses a unique demography, history, culture, dress, festivals, and language. Every state has its own Chief Minister who oversees the state’s administration.
India’s diversity enriches it with a mosaic of multicultural experiences, showcasing a rich heritage and an array of attractions. It stands as the world’s seventh-largest country by area, the second most populous nation, and the most populous democracy globally.
India’s Constitution was adopted on 26th November 1949 and came into effect on 26th January 1950. The boundaries of Indian states were reorganized based on linguistic considerations through the States Reorganisation Act of 1956.
List of All 28 States and Their Capital
| States | Capitals |
| Andhra Pradesh | Amaravati |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Itanagar |
| Assam | Dispur |
| Bihar | Patna |
| Chhattisgarh | Raipur |
| Goa | Panaji |
| Gujarat | Gandhinagar |
| Haryana | Chandigarh |
| Himachal Pradesh | Shimla |
| Jharkhand | Ranchi |
| Karnataka | Bangalore |
| 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 |
| Uttarakhand | Dehradun |
| Uttar Pradesh | Lucknow |
| West Bengal | Kolkata |
About the States of India
Andhra Pradesh:
- Capital: Amaravati (proposed), but Hyderabad is the temporary capital.
- Interesting Fact: Andhra Pradesh is known for its rich cultural heritage, including the classical dance form of Kuchipudi and various traditional art forms.
Arunachal Pradesh:
- Capital: Itanagar.
- Interesting Fact: Arunachal Pradesh is one of the most ecologically diverse states in India, with a vast variety of flora and fauna. The state is known as the “Land of the Rising Sun” because it is the first place in India to see the sunrise.
Assam:
- Capital: Dispur.
- Interesting Fact: Assam is famous for its tea production and is one of the largest tea-producing regions in the world. The state also has rich wildlife and is home to the Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the habitat of the one-horned Indian rhinoceros.
Bihar:
- Capital: Patna.
- Interesting Fact: Bihar is one of the oldest inhabited places in the world and has a rich historical background, being home to ancient civilizations like Magadha and the Mauryan Empire.
Chhattisgarh:
- Capital: Raipur.
- Interesting Fact: Chhattisgarh is known for its diverse tribal culture, and the state has several unique and colorful tribal festivals.
Goa:
- Capital: Panaji.
- Interesting Fact: Goa is renowned for its beautiful beaches, vibrant nightlife, and Portuguese-influenced architecture. It was a Portuguese colony until 1961 when it was annexed by India.
Gujarat:
- Capital: Gandhinagar.
- Interesting Fact: Gujarat is the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the Indian nation. The state is also famous for its rich industrial and business development.
Haryana:
- Capital: Chandigarh (shared with Punjab).
- Interesting Fact: Haryana is known for its significant contribution to India’s agricultural output and is often referred to as the “Green Land of India.”
Himachal Pradesh:
- Capital: Shimla.
- Interesting Fact: Himachal Pradesh is a popular tourist destination due to its picturesque landscapes, hill stations, and adventure activities like trekking and skiing.
Jharkhand:
- Capital: Ranchi.
- Interesting Fact: Jharkhand is known for its mineral wealth, and it is one of the leading states in India in terms of mineral production.
Karnataka:
- Capital: Bengaluru.
- Interesting Fact: Karnataka is the home of India’s Information Technology hub, Bengaluru, popularly known as the “Silicon Valley of India.”
Kerala:
- Capital: Thiruvananthapuram.
- Interesting Fact: Kerala has the highest literacy rate among Indian states and is known for its high-quality healthcare system.
Madhya Pradesh:
- Capital: Bhopal.
- Interesting Fact: Madhya Pradesh is home to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Khajuraho Group of Monuments and the Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka.
Maharashtra:
- Capital: Mumbai.
- Interesting Fact: Maharashtra is the most populous state in India and is the economic and entertainment hub of the country, being home to Bollywood.
Manipur:
- Capital: Imphal.
- Interesting Fact: Manipur is known for its vibrant culture, and its classical dance form, Manipuri, is renowned worldwide.
Meghalaya:
- Capital: Shillong.
- Interesting Fact: Meghalaya is famous for its living root bridges, which are handmade by the local Khasi and Jaintia tribes using the roots of the Ficus elastica tree.
Mizoram:
- Capital: Aizawl.
- Interesting Fact: Mizoram has the highest concentration of tribal people among all Indian states and is known for its handicrafts and handloom products.
Nagaland:
- Capital: Kohima.
- Interesting Fact: Nagaland is known for its unique tribal festivals, especially the Hornbill Festival, which showcases the state’s cultural heritage.
Odisha:
- Capital: Bhubaneswar.
- Interesting Fact: Odisha is home to the Konark Sun Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its architectural brilliance.
Punjab:
- Capital: Chandigarh (shared with Haryana).
- Interesting Fact: Punjab is the land of the five rivers and is known for its rich agricultural production, particularly wheat and rice.
Rajasthan:
- Capital: Jaipur.
- Interesting Fact: Rajasthan is famous for its royal heritage, magnificent palaces, and forts, attracting tourists from all over the world.
Sikkim:
- Capital: Gangtok.
- Interesting Fact: Sikkim is India’s least populous state and is known for its natural beauty and organic farming practices.
Tamil Nadu:
- Capital: Chennai.
- Interesting Fact: Tamil Nadu is the cradle of Dravidian culture and is famous for its classical dance form of Bharatanatyam.
Telangana:
- Capital: Hyderabad.
- Interesting Fact: Telangana was carved out of Andhra Pradesh as the 29th state of India in June 2014, making it the youngest state in the country.
Tripura:
- Capital: Agartala.
- Interesting Fact: Tripura is known for its rich cultural heritage and is famous for the Tripuri dance form and various traditional crafts.
Uttar Pradesh:
- Capital: Lucknow.
- Interesting Fact: Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state in India and has a rich historical background, with several ancient monuments and cities like Agra and Varanasi.
Uttarakhand:
- Capital: Dehradun.
- Interesting Fact: Uttarakhand is often referred to as “Devbhoomi” (Land of the Gods) due to the presence of numerous religious sites and pilgrimage centers.
West Bengal:
- Capital: Kolkata.
- Interesting Fact: West Bengal is known for its intellectual and cultural contributions, being home to renowned personalities in literature, arts, and politics.
FAQ
- Are there 28 or 29 states in India?
India has 28 States and 8 Union Territories. The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, of 2019, converted the state of Jammu & Kashmir into two Union Territories, J&K and Ladakh.
- Which is the newest state in India?
Telangana is the newest in India. It was divided from Andhra Pradesh on June 2, 2014.
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