Indian States and Their Capitals 2025, 28 States And 8 UTs in India

List of Indian States And Their Capitals 2025: India has 28 states and 8 union territories. Check their capitals formation dates and official languages here.

Indian States and Their Capitals

Indian States and Their Capitals:  India is a vast and culturally diverse country. It is divided into 28 states and 8 union territories, each with a capital serving as the administrative, legislative, and judicial center. Knowing the names of these Indian states and their capitals is essential for general knowledge and is often tested in competitive exams. This article provides an organized list of Indian states and their capitals, along with union territories, and their capitals.

 

Indian States and Their Capitals 2025

India is the 7th largest country by land area and the 2nd most populated in the world. The country is divided into states and union territories to ensure smooth governance. Below is a table listing all 28 states, their capitals, and the year of formation.

List of Indian States and Their Capitals 2025

Here is the complete list of all 28 states in India, their capitals, and their respective formation dates:

S.No. Name of the

State

Capital Date of Formation
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 2000
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

Union Territories and Their Capitals

India has 8 union territories, each controlled and managed by the central government. Some of them have their own legislatures. Below is a table with their names and capitals:

Name of the Union Territory Capital
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

Special Features of Indian States

Each state in India has a unique cultural and historical identity. Here are some interesting facts about a few states:

State Speciality
Andhra Pradesh Famous for spicy food and historical landmarks like Charminar in Hyderabad.
Assam Known for tea plantations and Kaziranga National Park.
Bihar Rich in history, home to Bodh Gaya and ancient Pataliputra city.
Goa Popular for beautiful beaches and vibrant nightlife.
Kerala Famous for backwaters, Ayurvedic treatments, and lush greenery.
Maharashtra Financial hub with Mumbai as the heart of Bollywood and business activities.
Himachal Pradesh Renowned for picturesque hill stations and adventure tourism.
Tamil Nadu Known for classical dance forms and magnificent temples.

Difference Between States and Union Territories

India is administratively divided into states and union territories, each serving distinct purposes. States have their own governments and enjoy a federal relationship with the central government. Union territories, on the other hand, are directly governed by the central government, although some have legislative assemblies. Below is a table highlighting the key differences between states and union territories.

Aspect States Union Territories
Administrative Head Governor Administrator or Lieutenant Governor
Government Type Elected by people Managed by the central government
Powers Federal relationship with the Centre Unitary relationship with the Centre

Number of States in India and Their Capitals in 2025

India has a total of 28 states and 8 union territories in 2025. Each state and union territory has a capital that plays a key role in administration and has historical and cultural importance.

Indian States, Their Capitals, and Languages

Each state in India has a unique cultural identity, including its language. Below is a table showing the states, their capitals, and the primary languages spoken.

State Capital Language(s)
Andhra Pradesh Amaravati Telugu
Arunachal Pradesh Itanagar English
Assam Dispur Assamese
Bihar Patna Hindi
Chhattisgarh Raipur Hindi
Goa Panaji Konkani
Gujarat Gandhinagar Gujarati
Haryana Chandigarh Hindi
Himachal Pradesh Shimla Hindi
Jharkhand Ranchi Hindi
Karnataka Bengaluru Kannada
Kerala Thiruvananthapuram Malayalam
Madhya Pradesh Bhopal Hindi
Maharashtra Mumbai Marathi
Manipur Imphal Meitei (Manipuri)
Meghalaya Shillong English
Mizoram Aizawl Mizo
Nagaland Kohima English
Odisha Bhubaneswar Odia
Punjab Chandigarh Punjabi
Rajasthan Jaipur Hindi
Sikkim Gangtok English, Nepali
Tamil Nadu Chennai Tamil
Telangana Hyderabad Telugu
Tripura Agartala Bengali, Kokborok
Uttar Pradesh Lucknow Hindi
Uttarakhand Dehradun Hindi
West Bengal Kolkata Bengali

Union Territories and Languages

Union Territory Capital Language(s)
Andaman & Nicobar Islands Port Blair Hindi, English
Chandigarh Chandigarh Punjabi, Hindi
Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu Daman Gujarati, Hindi
Delhi New Delhi Hindi, English
Jammu & Kashmir Srinagar (Summer), Jammu (Winter) Hindi, Urdu, English
Lakshadweep Kavaratti Malayalam, English
Puducherry Puducherry Tamil, Telugu, English
Ladakh Leh Ladakhi, Hindi, English

How States and Capitals Evolved in India

In 1956, India had 14 states and 6 union territories. Over time, more states were created based on language and cultural differences. For example:

  • Telangana and Andhra Pradesh: Though both states speak Telugu, they were separated to meet people’s needs better.
  • Andhra Pradesh is building a new capital called Amaravati to develop the state better and manage governance more efficiently.
  • Jharkhand: This state was created by separating it from Bihar because of cultural and administrative reasons.

Now, India has 28 states and 8 union territories, all playing a part in the country’s rich culture and identity.

Indian States and Their Capitals Recent Changes

  • 2020: Dadra and Nagar Haveli merged with Daman and Diu to form one union territory. This reduced the total number of union territories to eight.
  • 2019: Jammu and Kashmir lost its special status under Article 370. It was divided into two union territories — Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. Ladakh officially became a union territory on October 31, 2019.

These changes show the efforts to manage India better and ensure smooth governance for all regions.

Conclusion

Knowing the Indian states and their capitals is essential for every citizen. It not only helps in competitive exams but also fosters a better understanding of the country’s diversity and governance system.

Are you preparing for UPSC 2025? Join IAShub’s UPSC coaching batches to boost your preparation. Enroll now!

Indian States and Their Capitals FAQs

Each Indian state has a capital for administration and sometimes a separate one for the judiciary. For example, Karnataka's capital is Bengaluru, while its judicial capital is Bangalore.

India has 28 states, not 29. Jammu and Kashmir was turned into two union territories — Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. Ladakh is now a separate union territory.

Telangana is the newest state, formed in 2014 after being separated from Andhra Pradesh.

There are 8 union territories in India.

guest

0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Join theIAShub’s Mains Answer Writing Program

Refine your answer writing skills and elevate your UPSC preparation with personalized support and expert feedback.

Fill out the form to get started with the program or any other enquiries !

Let's Connect with Counselor

Empowering Future Leaders with theIAShub

theIAShub is dedicated to shaping the next generation of civil servants by providing a transformative preparation platform tailored to the unique challenges of UPSC CSE. From mastering the foundational concepts for Prelims to crafting impactful answers for Mains and excelling in the Personality Test, we ensure every aspirant is equipped with the skills and strategies required to succeed.
With a perfect blend of online and offline learning options, our programs are designed to deliver personalized guidance and cutting-edge resources. theIAShub’s renowned Test Series for GS Prelims, Mains, CSAT, Essay, and Optional Subjects empowers aspirants through continuous evaluation and improvement, fostering a deep understanding and readiness for every stage of the examination.

Shaping Aspirants into Visionary Leaders

At theIAShub, our mission is to inspire, guide, and empower aspirants to transform their potential into tangible success. Through our innovative mentorship ecosystem, aspirants receive individualized feedback, actionable strategies, and focused attention that help them overcome challenges and achieve their goals. As pioneers in UPSC preparation, we combine expertise, innovation, and commitment to create an unparalleled learning experience. Whether through engaging workshops, insightful resources, or interactive sessions, theIAShub fosters a community where aspirants not only prepare for exams but also develop the mindset of future leaders dedicated to nation-building.

Join theIAShub and become part of a transformative journey, where your aspirations meet the guidance, support, and excellence needed to succeed in the world of civil services.