States and Union Territories of India and Their Capitals
Quick Answer
States and union territories of India and their capitals refer to the administrative divisions of India along with the cities where their governments are located. India currently has 28 states and 8 union territories, each with its own capital city where administrative and legislative activities are conducted.
- Total states: 28
- Total union territories: 8
- Each state has its own government
- Union territories are administered by the central government
Summary
Understanding the states and union territories of India and their capitals is an important part of general knowledge and geography. India is divided into several administrative regions to make governance easier. These regions include states with elected governments and union territories administered by the central government.
In this guide, you will find the complete list of states and union territories along with their capitals. You will also learn how many states and union territories exist in India today and why these divisions are important for governance and administration.
What Are States and Union Territories of India?
States and union territories of India refer to the administrative divisions used to govern the country efficiently. A state has its own elected government responsible for regional administration, while a union territory is governed directly by the central government.
States generally manage local governance such as education, health, agriculture, and infrastructure. Union territories may have limited legislative powers and are administered by a Lieutenant Governor or Administrator appointed by the central government.
Businesses operating across different states in India must also follow certain tax compliance rules when transporting goods. If you want to understand the latest requirements for goods movement, you can read our detailed guide on GST E-Way Bill Limit in India | Invoice & Distance Rules, which explains when an e-way bill is required and the applicable limits for interstate and intrastate transport.
How Many States and Union Territories Are There in India?
India currently has 28 states and 8 union territories. These administrative divisions help the government manage governance across different regions, cultures, and populations.
| Type | Number |
|---|---|
| States | 28 |
| Union Territories | 8 |
| Total Administrative Units | 36 |
List of States of India and Their Capitals
| No. | State | Capital |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andhra Pradesh | Amaravati |
| 2 | Arunachal Pradesh | Itanagar |
| 3 | Assam | Dispur |
| 4 | Bihar | Patna |
| 5 | Chhattisgarh | Raipur |
| 6 | Goa | Panaji |
| 7 | Gujarat | Gandhinagar |
| 8 | Haryana | Chandigarh |
| 9 | Himachal Pradesh | Shimla |
| 10 | Jharkhand | Ranchi |
| 11 | Karnataka | Bengaluru |
| 12 | Kerala | Thiruvananthapuram |
| 13 | Madhya Pradesh | Bhopal |
| 14 | Maharashtra | Mumbai |
| 15 | Manipur | Imphal |
| 16 | Meghalaya | Shillong |
| 17 | Mizoram | Aizawl |
| 18 | Nagaland | Kohima |
| 19 | Odisha | Bhubaneswar |
| 20 | Punjab | Chandigarh |
| 21 | Rajasthan | Jaipur |
| 22 | Sikkim | Gangtok |
| 23 | Tamil Nadu | Chennai |
| 24 | Telangana | Hyderabad |
| 25 | Tripura | Agartala |
| 26 | Uttar Pradesh | Lucknow |
| 27 | Uttarakhand | Dehradun |
| 28 | West Bengal | Kolkata |
For readers who want additional background about the administrative divisions of India, you can refer to the detailed explanation available on States and Union Territories of India. This resource explains the historical formation and governance structure of the states and union territories in India.
States of India with Capitals and Formation Year
The table below shows the states of India along with their capitals and the year in which the states were formed. This information is useful for students preparing for competitive exams and for anyone studying Indian geography and administrative history.
| State | Capital | Formation Year |
|---|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | Amaravati | 1956 |
| Maharashtra | Mumbai | 1960 |
| Gujarat | Gandhinagar | 1960 |
| Haryana | Chandigarh | 1966 |
| Uttarakhand | Dehradun | 2000 |
| Jharkhand | Ranchi | 2000 |
| Chhattisgarh | Raipur | 2000 |
| Telangana | Hyderabad | 2014 |
List of Union Territories of India and Their Capitals
| No. | Union Territory | Capital |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andaman and Nicobar Islands | Port Blair |
| 2 | Chandigarh | Chandigarh |
| 3 | Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu | Daman |
| 4 | Delhi | New Delhi |
| 5 | Lakshadweep | Kavaratti |
| 6 | Puducherry | Puducherry |
| 7 | Ladakh | Leh |
| 8 | Jammu and Kashmir | Srinagar (Summer), Jammu (Winter) |
Difference Between States and Union Territories
| Feature | States | Union Territories |
|---|---|---|
| Governance | Elected government | Administered by central government |
| Legislative power | Full legislative authority | Limited legislative power |
| Administrative head | Chief Minister | Lieutenant Governor / Administrator |
Important Facts About States and Capitals
- Mumbai is the capital of Maharashtra and is also the financial capital of India.
- New Delhi serves as the national capital of India.
- Chandigarh is the shared capital of Punjab and Haryana.
States and Capitals of India PDF Download
If you want a quick revision or printable study material, you can download the complete list of states and capitals of India in PDF format. The PDF includes all 28 states and 8 union territories along with their capitals in an easy-to-read table format. This is especially useful for students preparing for competitive exams and general knowledge tests.
- Complete list of 28 states and their capitals
- List of 8 union territories and capitals
- Printable table format for quick revision
- Useful for competitive exams and general knowledge
You can download the printable list here: States and Capitals of India PDF
Map of India Showing States and Capitals
A political map of India showing all states and their capitals helps in understanding the geographical distribution of administrative regions. Maps make it easier to remember state locations and their capital cities while studying geography or preparing for competitive examinations.
Below is a reference map of India highlighting the states, union territories, and their capitals.
GST State Code List of India (States and Union Territories with Codes)
Along with the list of states and union territories of India and their capitals, it is also important to understand the GST state codes used in taxation and compliance. Each state and union territory in India is assigned a unique GST state code, which forms the first two digits of the GSTIN (Goods and Services Tax Identification Number). These codes are widely used in GST registration, invoice generation, return filing, and e-way bills. The GST state code system helps in identifying the location of a business and ensures proper tax distribution between the central and state governments. Below is the complete and updated GST state code list for all states and union territories of India, useful for students, professionals, and taxpayers.
| No. | State | Capital | GST Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jammu and Kashmir | Srinagar / Jammu | 01 |
| 2 | Himachal Pradesh | Shimla | 02 |
| 3 | Punjab | Chandigarh | 03 |
| 4 | Chandigarh | Chandigarh | 04 |
| 5 | Uttarakhand | Dehradun | 05 |
| 6 | Haryana | Chandigarh | 06 |
| 7 | Delhi | New Delhi | 07 |
| 8 | Rajasthan | Jaipur | 08 |
| 9 | Uttar Pradesh | Lucknow | 09 |
| 10 | Bihar | Patna | 10 |
| 11 | Sikkim | Gangtok | 11 |
| 12 | Arunachal Pradesh | Itanagar | 12 |
| 13 | Nagaland | Kohima | 13 |
| 14 | Manipur | Imphal | 14 |
| 15 | Mizoram | Aizawl | 15 |
| 16 | Tripura | Agartala | 16 |
| 17 | Meghalaya | Shillong | 17 |
| 18 | Assam | Dispur | 18 |
| 19 | West Bengal | Kolkata | 19 |
| 20 | Jharkhand | Ranchi | 20 |
| 21 | Odisha | Bhubaneswar | 21 |
| 22 | Chhattisgarh | Raipur | 22 |
| 23 | Madhya Pradesh | Bhopal | 23 |
| 24 | Gujarat | Gandhinagar | 24 |
| 25 | Daman and Diu | Daman | 25 |
| 26 | Dadra and Nagar Haveli | Silvassa | 26 |
| 27 | Maharashtra | Mumbai | 27 |
| 28 | Karnataka | Bengaluru | 29 |
| 29 | Goa | Panaji | 30 |
| 30 | Lakshadweep | Kavaratti | 31 |
| 31 | Kerala | Thiruvananthapuram | 32 |
| 32 | Tamil Nadu | Chennai | 33 |
| 33 | Puducherry | Puducherry | 34 |
| 34 | Andaman and Nicobar Islands | Port Blair | 35 |
| 35 | Telangana | Hyderabad | 36 |
| 36 | Andhra Pradesh | Amaravati | 37 |
| 37 | Ladakh | Leh | 38 |
Note: GST state code is the first two digits of GSTIN used for identifying the state of registration.
📌 Similar guides: Indian PIN Code Meaning, Structure & Digits Breakdown Explained,, List of All Counties Calling ISD Codes rto ifsc and holiday.
Conclusion
The states and union territories of India and their capitals form the foundation of the country’s administrative structure. With 28 states and 8 union territories, India manages governance across diverse regions and populations effectively. Knowing these divisions is useful for general knowledge, education, and competitive examinations.
📌 Explore more useful lists and codes in our complete reference hub .
Related Guides
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- GST E-Way Bill Limit in India covering e-way bill distance limit & GST transport rules
- To understand the administrative structure of India in detail, you can read this explanation about administrative divisions of India.
- If you want to explore geographical information about Indian states, the list of states and union territories of India provides a comprehensive overview of each region.
- Students preparing for geography or general knowledge exams can also review the geography of India to understand how the country's regions are organized.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How many states are there in India?
India currently has 28 states, each governed by its own elected government and capital city responsible for regional administration.
How many union territories are there in India?
India has 8 union territories that are administered directly by the central government with varying levels of legislative authority.
What is the capital of India?
The capital of India is New Delhi, which is the administrative and political center of the country.
Which city is capital of two states?
Chandigarh serves as the capital of both Punjab and Haryana.
Which union territory has two capitals?
Jammu and Kashmir has two seasonal capitals: Srinagar in summer and Jammu in winter.
