29 States and Capitals of India: A Complete Guide to Indian Administrative Divisions
India’s federal structure comprises 29 states and 8 union territories, each with its unique identity and administrative capital. Understanding the 29 states and capitals is essential for students, competitive exam aspirants, and anyone interested in Indian geography and governance.
Complete List of 29 States of India with Capital
Northern States and Their Capitals
Himachal Pradesh – Shimla serves as the capital of this mountainous state, known for its scenic beauty and hill stations.
Punjab – Chandigarh, a planned city, functions as the capital of Punjab and is also a union territory.
Haryana – Chandigarh also serves as Haryana’s capital, making it unique among Indian states and capitals.
Uttarakhand – Dehradun became the capital after the state’s formation in 2000, previously known as Uttaranchal.
Uttar Pradesh – Lucknow, the city of Nawabs, serves as the capital of India’s most populous state.
Eastern States and Capitals
West Bengal – Kolkata, formerly Calcutta, remains the cultural capital of eastern India.
Jharkhand – Ranchi serves as the capital of this mineral-rich state, formed in 2000.
Odisha – Bhubaneswar, the temple city, is the capital of this eastern coastal state.
Bihar – Patna, with its rich historical heritage, serves as the capital.
Western States in the India States and Capitals List
Maharashtra – Mumbai, the financial capital of India, serves as the state capital.
Gujarat – Gandhinagar, named after Mahatma Gandhi, is the capital city.
Rajasthan – Jaipur, the Pink City, serves as the capital of India’s largest state by area.
Madhya Pradesh – Bhopal, known as the City of Lakes, is the capital.
Southern States and Their Administrative Centres
Karnataka – Bengaluru (Bangalore), India’s Silicon Valley, serves as the capital.
Tamil Nadu – Chennai, formerly Madras, is the capital and major industrial centre.
Andhra Pradesh – Amaravati is the designated capital, though Hyderabad serves as the interim capital.
Telangana – Hyderabad serves as the capital of India’s youngest state, formed in 2014.
Kerala – Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) is the capital of God’s Own Country.
Northeastern States: Important Part of Indian States and Capitals
Assam – Dispur, a part of Guwahati, serves as the capital.
Manipur – Imphal is the capital of this culturally rich state.
Meghalaya – Shillong, known as the Scotland of the East, serves as the capital.
Tripura – Agartala is the capital city.
Nagaland – Kohima serves as the capital of this mountainous state.
Mizoram – Aizawl is the capital city.
Arunachal Pradesh – Itanagar serves as the capital of India’s easternmost state.
Sikkim – Gangtok is the capital of this Himalayan state.
Why Learning India States and Capitals Matters for UPSC Aspirants
Understanding the 29 states and capitals is crucial for:
UPSC Civil Services Examination—Essential for prelims and mains IAS coaching in Chandigarh for students preparing for competitive exams SSC, banking, and other government job examinations General knowledge and current affairs preparation Understanding India’s federal structure and governance Educational purposes and academic research The knowledge of Indian states and capitals forms the foundation of the Indian polity and geography sections in competitive examinations. Students enrolled in IAS coaching in Chandigarh particularly benefit from mastering this fundamental topic as it appears frequently in UPSC prelims and state PCS examinations.
Recent Changes in Indian States and Capitals
The list of 29 states of India with their capital has evolved over time. Telangana, formed in 2014, is the newest addition to Indian states. The reorganisation of states continues to be an important aspect of Indian federalism.
Key Facts About Indian Administrative Divisions
India has 29 states and 8 union territories Each state has its own legislature and government Capitals serve as administrative and political centres Some states share capitals (Punjab and Haryana share Chandigarh)