How Many States Are There in India?
India has 28 states and 8 Union Territories, for a total of 36 first-level administrative divisions.
28 States: Constituent units with elected state governments and legislatures, exercising powers defined by the Constitution of India.
8 Union Territories: Territories administered under the authority of the Union Government. Delhi, Puducherry and Jammu and Kashmir have elected legislatures, while the remaining Union Territories do not.
The current count of 28 states and 8 Union Territories has been in place since January 2020, following the reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 and the merger of Dadra and Nagar Haveli with Daman and Diu in 2020.
Full List of India's 28 States
| 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 |
| 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; Gairsain (summer capital) |
| West Bengal | Kolkata |
Note: Punjab and Haryana share Chandigarh as a common capital, which is itself administered separately as a Union Territory.
Full List of India's 8 Union Territories
| Union Territory | Capital |
|---|---|
| Andaman and Nicobar Islands | Sri Vijaya Puram |
| Chandigarh | Chandigarh |
| Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu | Daman |
| Delhi (National Capital Territory) | New Delhi |
| Jammu and Kashmir | Srinagar (summer) / Jammu (winter) |
| Ladakh | Leh |
| Lakshadweep | Kavaratti |
| Puducherry | Puducherry |
Interesting Facts About India's States
- Newest state: Telangana, created in 2014 from Andhra Pradesh.
- Largest state by land area: Rajasthan (342,239 km²).
- Most populous state: Uttar Pradesh.
- Smallest state by area: Goa (3,702 km²).
- Sikkim has the smallest population among the states.
- Kerala is known for its high literacy rate and backwater tourism.
- Karnataka is India's leading technology hub, home to Bengaluru.
- Meghalaya is famous for its living root bridges.
- Gujarat is home to the Statue of Unity, the world's tallest statue.
Key Regional Travel Clusters
For easier travel planning, India can be loosely grouped into several broad geographical regions:
North India: Known for the Golden Triangle (Delhi, Agra in UP, and Jaipur in Rajasthan), plus Himalayan mountain escapes in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
South India: Focuses on historic coastal spice trade routes, Dravidian temple architecture (Tamil Nadu), backwaters (Kerala), and UNESCO ruins (Karnataka).
Northeast India: Home to the Seven Sister States—Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura—as well as Sikkim.
West India: Known for financial hubs, beaches (Goa), and salt flats (Gujarat).
Central India: The forest heartland of India, famous for tiger reserves and ancient cave art in Madhya Pradesh.
Final thoughts
India’s 28 states and 8 Union Territories differ widely in geography, language, culture and travel experiences. Understanding these divisions can make itinerary planning easier, especially for travelers visiting multiple regions.
Understanding India's administrative divisions not only helps you plan your itinerary but also gives you a deeper appreciation of the country's incredible diversity. Before your journey, be sure to check the latest visa requirements, regional travel advisories, and seasonal weather so you can enjoy a smooth and memorable visit.
