List of Indian States, Union Territories, and Capitals

India, with its massive population, holds the title of being the world's most populous country and ranks seventh in terms of land area. It is a diverse nation, comprising various states and union territories, each with its own unique cultures and traditions. In total, India consists of 28 states and 8 Union Territories. The present structure of the Indian Federation is a result of several amendments that began with the States Reorganisation Act of 1958. This article provides a comprehensive list of Indian states and union territories along with their respective capitals.

List of Indian States

The following is the list of Indian states, along with their capitals and the year of their formation:

1. Andhra Pradesh - Amaravati (Formed on 1st November 1956)
2. Arunachal Pradesh - Itanagar (Formed on 20th February 1987)
3. Assam - Dispur (Formed on 26th January 1950)
4. Bihar - Patna (Formed on 26th January 1950)
5. Chhattisgarh - Raipur (Formed on 1st November 2000)
6. Goa - Panaji (Formed on 30th May 1987)
7. Gujarat - Gandhinagar (Formed on 1st May 1960)
8. Haryana - Chandigarh (Formed on 1st November 1966)
9. Himachal Pradesh - Shimla (Formed on 25th January 1971)
10. Jharkhand - Ranchi (Formed on 15th November 2000)
11. Karnataka - Bengaluru (Formed on 1st November 1956)
12. Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram (Formed on 1st November 1956)
13. Madhya Pradesh - Bhopal (Formed on 1st November 1956)
14. Maharashtra - Mumbai (Formed on 1st May 1960)
15. Manipur - Imphal (Formed on 21st January 1972)
16. Meghalaya - Shillong (Formed on 21st January 1972)
17. Mizoram - Aizawl (Formed on 20th February 1987)
18. Nagaland - Kohima (Formed on 1st December 1963)
19. Odisha - Bhubaneswar (Formed on 26th January 1950)
20. Punjab - Chandigarh (Formed on 1st November 1956)
21. Rajasthan - Jaipur (Formed on 1st November 1956)
22. Sikkim - Gangtok (Formed on 16th May 1975)
23. Tamil Nadu - Chennai (Formed on 26th January 1950)
24. Telangana - Hyderabad (Formed on 2nd June 2014)
25. Tripura - Agartala (Formed on 21st January 1972)
26. Uttar Pradesh - Lucknow (Formed on 26th January 1950)
27. Uttarakhand - Dehradun (Winter) and Gairsain (Summer) (Formed on 9th November 2000)
28. West Bengal - Kolkata (Formed on 1st November 1956)

List of Union Territories

India also has 8 Union Territories, which are directly governed by the Central Government. Here is the list of Union Territories, along with their capitals and the year of their formation:

1. Andaman and Nicobar Islands - Port Blair (Formed on 1st November 1956)
2. Chandigarh - Chandigarh (Formed on 1st November 1966)
3. Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu - Daman (Formed on 26th January 2020)
4. Delhi - New Delhi (Formed on 9th May 1905)
5. Jammu and Kashmir - Srinagar (Summer) and Jammu (Winter) (Formed on 31st October 2019)
6. Lakshadweep - Kavaratti (Formed on 1st November 1956)
7. Puducherry - Pondicherry (Formed on 1st November 1954)
8. Ladakh - Leh (Formed on 31st October 2019)

Differences Between States and Union Territories

States and Union Territories in India have distinct characteristics and governing structures. Here are the key differences between them:

States:

• States have their own administrative units and elected governments.
• The executive head of a state is the Governor.
• The relationship between states and the Central Government is federal.
• States are administered by a Chief Minister elected by the people.

Union Territories:

• Union Territories are controlled and administered by the Central Government.
• The executive head of a Union Territory is the President.
• Union Territories have a unitary relationship with the Central Government, where all powers rest with the Union.
• Union Territories, except Delhi, Puducherry, and Jammu & Kashmir, are administered by an Administrator appointed by the President.
• The real head of Union Territories is the Lieutenant Governor.

This list of Indian states, union territories, and their capitals provides a comprehensive overview of the administrative divisions of India. Each state and union territory contributes to the rich cultural fabric of the country, making India a diverse and vibrant nation.

Sources:

• List of States in India
• List of Union Territories in India