States and Capitals of India – List of 28 Indian States and 8 Indian Union Territories (2026)
Explore the 28 States and Capitals of India. As of 2026, there are 28 Indian States and 8 Indian Union Territories. Each state and union territory has its own capital, where key government offices and administrative functions are located. Every region is unique in terms of their history, geography, languages, culture, population, and festivals. For students preparing for competitive exams like UPSC, SSC, Banking, Railways, Defence, and various state-level exams, having a clear understanding of the states and their capitals is essential.
India is one of the oldest and most culturally rich civilizations in the world. It is surrounded by the Himalayas in the north, the Arabian Sea to the west, the Bay of Bengal to the east, and the Indian Ocean to the south. India gained independence from British rule on 15th August 1947 and became a sovereign nation.
In this article, you will learn about the 28 Indian States and their capitals, along with the 8 Indian Union Territories. We will also explore what makes each state and union territory special in terms of their culture, geography, and history, which is helpful for your general knowledge and exam preparation.
List of 28 Indian States and their Capitals
| States | Capitals |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 (Winter) Gairsain (Summer) |
| West Bengal | Kolkata |
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List of 8 Indian Union Territories and their Capitals
| Indian Union Territories | Capitals |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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How many states in India?
As of 2026, there are 28 Indian States and 8 Indian Union Territories. Each state has its own capital, official language, state symbols (like bird, animal, flower, tree), classical or folk dance forms, and in most cases, its own legislature. The union territories are directly governed by the Central Government, although some like Delhi and Puducherry have their own legislatures too.
Over the years, the number of states and union territories in India has changed due to reorganization based on language, culture, and administrative convenience. For example, Telangana became the 29th state in 2014, and in 2019, Jammu & Kashmir was reorganized into two union territories – Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
Understanding these changes is important for students as questions related to States and Capitals of India and Indian Union Territories are frequently asked in exams like UPSC, SSC, Banking, Railway, and other government exams.
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Conclusion:
Understanding the complete list of India’s 28 States and 8 Union Territories along with their respective capitals is a foundational step toward mastering Indian general knowledge—especially for students preparing for competitive examinations. As you’ve seen, each region has its own unique identity: a distinct history, geography, culture and administrative setup. This knowledge not only helps you answer direct questions, but also strengthens your grasp of India’s diversity and administrative geography.