India, the seventh-largest country in the world by land area, is a vast nation with a rich cultural diversity. It comprises 28 states and 8 Union Territories, each having its own capital. These capitals are the administrative hubs where the government of each state operates.
India is a federal union comprising 28 states and 8 Union Territories (UTs). Each state has a legislative, executive, and judicial framework, with its capital being the primary seat of government. In this article, we cover not only the names of these capitals but also the fascinating characteristics that make them significant.
Understanding the capitals is important for students preparing for competitive exams such as UPSC, SSC, RRB, and others, as questions about states and capitals often feature in general knowledge sections.
List of Indian States and Capitals (2024)
Here is the comprehensive list of all the states in India along with their respective capitals:
| 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 (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 |
| Uttar Pradesh | Lucknow |
| Uttarakhand | Dehradun |
| West Bengal | Kolkata |
3. Union Territories and Their Capitals
Union Territories (UTs) in India are governed directly by the Central Government. Here’s the list of UTs and their capitals:
| Union Territory | Capital |
|---|---|
| Andaman and Nicobar Islands | Port Blair |
| Chandigarh | Chandigarh |
| Dadra and Nagar Haveli & Daman and Diu | Daman |
| Lakshadweep | Kavaratti |
| Delhi | New Delhi |
| Puducherry | Puducherry |
| Jammu and Kashmir | Srinagar (Summer), Jammu (Winter) |
| Ladakh | Leh |
4. Interesting Facts About Indian Capitals
- Delhi (Capital: New Delhi) is not just the capital of India but also a Union Territory. New Delhi is one of the most populous cities in the world.
- Mumbai is the capital of Maharashtra and serves as the financial hub of India, hosting the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and several major corporations.
- Bengaluru, the capital of Karnataka, is known as the “Silicon Valley of India” due to its status as a major tech and IT hub.
- Amaravati, the capital of Andhra Pradesh, is a newly planned city, under development to serve as a modern administrative center.
- Dehradun, the capital of Uttarakhand, is famous for its scenic beauty and serves as a gateway to several popular hill stations such as Mussoorie.
5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. How many states are there in India in 2024?
A: India has 28 states as of 2024.
Q2. Which is the smallest state in India by area?
A: Goa is the smallest state by area in India.
Q3. What is the capital of the newest state in India?
A: The newest state in India is Telangana, and its capital is Hyderabad.
Q4. Which Indian state has two capitals?
A: Jammu & Kashmir has two capitals—Srinagar (summer) and Jammu (winter).
Q5. Why is the capital of Andhra Pradesh still under development?
A: Amaravati is being developed as a planned city to serve as the new capital of Andhra Pradesh after the bifurcation of Telangana.