States and Capitals of India 2026: 28 States, 8 Union Territories, Map Facts & Quiz

States and Capitals of India 2026: 28 States, 8 Union Territories, Map Facts & Quiz

Complete Updated List of Indian States and Capitals – Union Territories, State vs UT, Special Capitals, Regions, Formation History, Geography Facts, Memory Tricks, Exercises, Quiz and Answers

Victoria Academy – A Canadian International School
Ontario, Canada | Grades 9–12 | BSID #884963

India is one of the world's most geographically, linguistically and culturally diverse countries.

From the Himalayan states in the north to the tropical coastline of the south, from the deserts of Rajasthan to the forests and hills of Northeast India, each region has its own history, languages, traditions, landscapes and administrative centres.

One of the most important topics in Indian geography and general knowledge is:

STATES AND CAPITALS OF INDIA

As of 2026, India has:

28 STATES

and:

8 UNION TERRITORIES

Students should know not only the names of the states and capitals but also understand:

• where the states are located;

• how states differ from Union Territories;

• which capital is shared by two states;

• which states or territories have special capital arrangements;

• how India's political map developed;

• and how to remember the complete list more easily.

This comprehensive guide includes the current 2026 list of states and capitals of India, all Union Territories, important exceptions, geography facts, memory techniques, practice questions and answers.

Quick Answer: How Many States Are There in India?

India currently has:

28 STATES

and:

8 UNION TERRITORIES

That gives:

36 STATE AND UNION-TERRITORY ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS

The count of 28 states and 8 Union Territories has remained in place since the reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019.

What Is the Capital of India?

The capital of India is:

NEW DELHI

New Delhi is located within the:

NATIONAL CAPITAL TERRITORY OF DELHI

It serves as the seat of India's central government.

Important national institutions located in New Delhi include major government offices and institutions of national administration.

28 States and Capitals of India 2026

Here is the complete alphabetical list.

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

Important Notes

Himachal Pradesh: Shimla is the principal capital; Dharamshala has officially been notified as the state's second capital.

Maharashtra: Mumbai is the principal capital; Nagpur is widely recognized as the state's second capital and hosts the winter session of the Maharashtra legislature.

Uttarakhand: Dehradun functions as the winter capital, while Bhararisain in the Gairsain area is recognized as the summer capital.

These special cases are explained in detail below.

8 Union Territories and Their Capitals

No.

Union Territory

Capital / Administrative Centre

1

Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Sri Vijaya Puram

2

Chandigarh

Chandigarh

3

Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu

Daman

4

Delhi (NCT)

New Delhi

5

Jammu and Kashmir

Srinagar – Summer / Jammu – Winter

6

Ladakh

Leh

7

Lakshadweep

Kavaratti

8

Puducherry

Puducherry

Important 2026 Update: Sri Vijaya Puram

Students may still see:

PORT BLAIR

in older books and websites.

However, Port Blair was officially renamed:

SRI VIJAYA PURAM

It is the administrative capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Therefore, when using updated 2026 information:

ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS → SRI VIJAYA PURAM

Older material may still show Port Blair.

Important Update: Capital of Andhra Pradesh

The capital associated with Andhra Pradesh is:

AMARAVATI

Students may encounter older discussions involving:

Amaravati;

Visakhapatnam;

and Kurnool

because Andhra Pradesh's capital arrangements were politically debated for several years.

For current general-knowledge and geography purposes:

ANDHRA PRADESH → AMARAVATI

The Andhra Pradesh government continues the development of Amaravati as its capital city.

States and Capitals of India – Easy Revision Table

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

West Bengal

Kolkata

What Is a State?

A state is a major administrative division of India.

States generally have:

an elected legislative assembly;

a state government;

a Chief Minister;

a Governor;

state-level departments;

and authority over subjects assigned under India's constitutional system.

Examples include:

MAHARASHTRA

PUNJAB

KERALA

KARNATAKA

RAJASTHAN

WEST BENGAL

India currently has:

28 STATES.

What Is a Union Territory?

A Union Territory, commonly abbreviated as:

UT

is an administrative territory that has a closer constitutional relationship with India's central government.

Union Territories are generally administered through an:

ADMINISTRATOR

or:

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

appointed under the constitutional framework.

However, not all Union Territories have exactly the same governance structure.

Some have elected legislatures.

Which Union Territories Have Legislatures?

Among India's Union Territories, some have elected legislative assemblies.

These include:

DELHI

PUDUCHERRY

JAMMU AND KASHMIR

Their exact constitutional powers differ from those of full states.

State vs Union Territory

Feature

State

Union Territory

Number in India

28

8

Government structure

State government

Varies by UT

Elected Legislative Assembly

Generally yes

Some have one

Constitutional position

State

Union Territory

Example

Rajasthan

Ladakh

Example

Kerala

Chandigarh

Example

Punjab

Lakshadweep

The difference is more complex than saying:

“States govern themselves and Union Territories are directly controlled.”

India's constitutional system contains important variations, especially for Union Territories with legislatures.

Which Capital Is Shared by Two Indian States?

One of the most frequently asked general-knowledge questions is:

WHICH CITY IS THE CAPITAL OF TWO STATES?

The answer is:

CHANDIGARH

Chandigarh serves as the capital of:

PUNJAB

and:

HARYANA

At the same time:

CHANDIGARH IS ITSELF A UNION TERRITORY.

Therefore:

Punjab → Chandigarh

Haryana → Chandigarh

Chandigarh UT → Chandigarh

This makes Chandigarh an important geography and examination fact.

Is Chandigarh Part of Punjab or Haryana?

Chandigarh serves both Punjab and Haryana as their capital.

However:

CHANDIGARH IS A SEPARATE UNION TERRITORY.

It is therefore not simply treated as a normal city belonging administratively to either state.

Which Indian States or Territories Have More Than One Capital?

This question requires careful wording because different arrangements have different legal meanings.

Important examples include:

UTTARAKHAND

Dehradun – Winter Capital

Bhararisain / Gairsain – Summer Capital

JAMMU AND KASHMIR

Srinagar – Summer Capital

Jammu – Winter Capital

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Shimla – Principal Capital

Dharamshala – Second Capital

MAHARASHTRA

Mumbai – Principal Capital

Nagpur – Second Capital

These should not all be described as identical “dual-capital systems,” because their administrative arrangements differ.

Uttarakhand: Dehradun and Bhararisain

Uttarakhand is a particularly important exception for students.

Its capitals are:

DEHRADUN – WINTER CAPITAL

and:

BHARARISAIN – SUMMER CAPITAL

Bhararisain is located in the Gairsain area of Chamoli district.

Because many school lists simply say:

UTTARAKHAND → DEHRADUN

students should remember that this is useful for a basic quiz answer, but the complete current picture includes the recognized summer capital.

Himachal Pradesh: Shimla and Dharamshala

Himachal Pradesh's principal capital is:

SHIMLA

However, Dharamshala was officially notified as:

SECOND CAPITAL OF HIMACHAL PRADESH

in 2017.

Therefore, a detailed answer may state:

Principal capital: Shimla

Second capital: Dharamshala

Maharashtra: Mumbai and Nagpur

The principal capital of Maharashtra is:

MUMBAI

Nagpur is recognized as:

SECOND CAPITAL OF MAHARASHTRA

Nagpur also hosts the winter session of the Maharashtra legislature.

For a basic state-capital question:

MAHARASHTRA → MUMBAI

remains the expected answer.

Jammu and Kashmir: Two Seasonal Capitals

The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has:

SRINAGAR – SUMMER CAPITAL

and:

JAMMU – WINTER CAPITAL

This seasonal arrangement has important historical and administrative roots.

For examination purposes, students should remember both.

States and Capitals of North India

Regional classifications can vary somewhat depending on context, but a common geographical grouping includes:

State / Territory

Capital

Punjab

Chandigarh

Haryana

Chandigarh

Himachal Pradesh

Shimla

Uttarakhand

Dehradun

Uttar Pradesh

Lucknow

Rajasthan

Jaipur

Delhi (UT)

New Delhi

Jammu and Kashmir (UT)

Srinagar / Jammu

Ladakh (UT)

Leh

Chandigarh (UT)

Chandigarh

States and Capitals of South India

State

Capital

Andhra Pradesh

Amaravati

Karnataka

Bengaluru

Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram

Tamil Nadu

Chennai

Telangana

Hyderabad

Important metropolitan cities in South India include:

Bengaluru;

Chennai;

Hyderabad;

and others.

States and Capitals of Northeast India

Northeast India contains eight states, sometimes collectively referred to in geographical and cultural contexts as the Seven Sisters plus Sikkim.

State

Capital

Arunachal Pradesh

Itanagar

Assam

Dispur

Manipur

Imphal

Meghalaya

Shillong

Mizoram

Aizawl

Nagaland

Kohima

Tripura

Agartala

Sikkim

Gangtok

The Seven Sister States

The traditional Seven Sister States are:

ARUNACHAL PRADESH

ASSAM

MANIPUR

MEGHALAYA

MIZORAM

NAGALAND

TRIPURA

Sikkim is also part of Northeast India but is not one of the original Seven Sisters.

Capitals of the Seven Sister States

State

Capital

Arunachal Pradesh

Itanagar

Assam

Dispur

Manipur

Imphal

Meghalaya

Shillong

Mizoram

Aizawl

Nagaland

Kohima

Tripura

Agartala

Eastern India – States and Capitals

A commonly used grouping includes:

State

Capital

Bihar

Patna

Jharkhand

Ranchi

Odisha

Bhubaneswar

West Bengal

Kolkata

Western India – States and Capitals

A commonly used grouping includes:

State

Capital

Goa

Panaji

Gujarat

Gandhinagar

Maharashtra

Mumbai

Depending on the geographic classification being used, Rajasthan may also be discussed in relation to western or northwestern India.

Central India – States and Capitals

Two states strongly associated with Central India are:

State

Capital

Madhya Pradesh

Bhopal

Chhattisgarh

Raipur

How Were India's Present States Formed?

India's modern political map did not appear all at once.

The boundaries of states developed through:

historical integration;

linguistic reorganization;

administrative changes;

division of larger states;

and legislation.

Several major milestones are especially important.

1956 – States Reorganisation

The:

STATES REORGANISATION ACT, 1956

was one of the most important developments in India's internal political geography.

It reorganized many state boundaries, with language playing a major role in the process.

The modern map continued to change afterward.

1960 – Maharashtra and Gujarat

The former Bombay State was reorganized.

Two major states emerged:

MAHARASHTRA

and:

GUJARAT

Their capitals are:

Maharashtra → Mumbai

Gujarat → Gandhinagar

1966 – Haryana

Haryana was created as a separate state in:

1966

following the reorganization of Punjab.

Chandigarh became a Union Territory while serving as the shared capital of:

Punjab;

and Haryana.

1971 – Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh became a full state in:

1971.

Its principal capital is:

SHIMLA.

1972 – Northeast India

Important changes in 1972 included statehood for:

MEGHALAYA

MANIPUR

TRIPURA

The Northeast continued developing its present administrative structure in later decades.

1975 – Sikkim

Sikkim became a state of India in:

1975.

Its capital is:

GANGTOK.

1987 – Goa, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh

The year 1987 was important for statehood.

Goa became a state.

Mizoram became a state.

Arunachal Pradesh became a state.

Their capitals are:

Goa → Panaji

Mizoram → Aizawl

Arunachal Pradesh → Itanagar

2000 – Three New States

The year:

2000

was particularly important.

Three new states were created:

CHHATTISGARH

from Madhya Pradesh;

JHARKHAND

from Bihar;

and:

UTTARAKHAND

from Uttar Pradesh.

Their capitals are:

Chhattisgarh → Raipur

Jharkhand → Ranchi

Uttarakhand → Dehradun / Bhararisain under its current seasonal arrangement.

2014 – Telangana

Telangana became a separate state on:

2 JUNE 2014.

It was created from Andhra Pradesh.

Its capital is:

HYDERABAD.

Telangana is therefore India's:

NEWEST STATE

as of 2026.

2019 – Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization

In 2019, the former state of Jammu and Kashmir was reorganized into two Union Territories:

JAMMU AND KASHMIR

and:

LADAKH.

The change took effect on:

31 OCTOBER 2019.

This resulted in India's present count of:

28 STATES

and:

8 UNION TERRITORIES.

Which Is India's Newest State?

India's newest state is:

TELANGANA.

It was formed in:

2014.

Capital:

HYDERABAD.

Which Is the Largest State in India by Area?

The largest Indian state by geographical area is:

RAJASTHAN.

Capital:

JAIPUR.

Rajasthan is famous for:

the Thar Desert;

historic forts;

palaces;

and extensive desert landscapes.

Which Is the Smallest State in India by Area?

The smallest state by area is:

GOA.

Capital:

PANAJI.

Goa is known internationally for:

its coastline;

beaches;

historic architecture;

and distinctive cultural heritage.

Which Is India's Most Populous State?

India's most populous state is:

UTTAR PRADESH.

Capital:

LUCKNOW.

Students should distinguish:

LARGEST BY AREA

from:

LARGEST BY POPULATION.

They are not the same.

Rajasthan → largest state by area

Uttar Pradesh → largest state by population

Which Is the Smallest Union Territory by Area?

India's smallest Union Territory by area is:

LAKSHADWEEP.

Capital:

KAVARATTI.

Lakshadweep consists of islands in the Arabian Sea.

Which Is the Largest Union Territory by Area?

Among India's current Union Territories, Ladakh has the largest geographical area.

Capital / administrative centre:

LEH.

Is the Capital Always the Largest City?

NO.

A capital city does not necessarily have to be the state's largest city.

Examples:

Gujarat

Capital:

GANDHINAGAR

Largest major urban centre:

AHMEDABAD

Madhya Pradesh

Capital:

BHOPAL

Largest city:

INDORE

Andhra Pradesh

Capital:

AMARAVATI

Major city:

VISAKHAPATNAM

Haryana

Capital:

CHANDIGARH

Large cities include:

Faridabad;

Gurugram;

and others.

Therefore:

CAPITAL ≠ AUTOMATICALLY LARGEST CITY.

Important State-Capital Pairs to Remember

Some pairs are particularly common in quizzes.

Rajasthan → Jaipur

Gujarat → Gandhinagar

Maharashtra → Mumbai

Karnataka → Bengaluru

Kerala → Thiruvananthapuram

Tamil Nadu → Chennai

Telangana → Hyderabad

West Bengal → Kolkata

Uttar Pradesh → Lucknow

Bihar → Patna

Assam → Dispur

Odisha → Bhubaneswar

Punjab → Chandigarh

Haryana → Chandigarh

Goa → Panaji

Frequently Confused State Capitals

Students often confuse these pairs.

Gujarat

Not Ahmedabad.

Correct:

GANDHINAGAR

Assam

Not Guwahati.

Correct:

DISPUR

Dispur forms part of the greater Guwahati urban area.

Kerala

Correct:

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

not Kochi.

Uttar Pradesh

Correct:

LUCKNOW

not Kanpur.

Madhya Pradesh

Correct:

BHOPAL

not Indore.

Goa

Correct:

PANAJI

Andhra Pradesh

Current answer:

AMARAVATI

Easy Memory Method: Learn States by Region

Trying to memorize all 28 state-capital pairs in one long list can be difficult.

Instead, group them.

Group 1 – South

Andhra Pradesh → Amaravati

Karnataka → Bengaluru

Kerala → Thiruvananthapuram

Tamil Nadu → Chennai

Telangana → Hyderabad

Learn five together.

Group 2 – Northeast

Arunachal Pradesh → Itanagar

Assam → Dispur

Manipur → Imphal

Meghalaya → Shillong

Mizoram → Aizawl

Nagaland → Kohima

Tripura → Agartala

Sikkim → Gangtok

Group 3 – East

Bihar → Patna

Jharkhand → Ranchi

Odisha → Bhubaneswar

West Bengal → Kolkata

Group 4 – Central

Madhya Pradesh → Bhopal

Chhattisgarh → Raipur

Group 5 – West

Gujarat → Gandhinagar

Maharashtra → Mumbai

Goa → Panaji

Group 6 – North / Northwest

Punjab → Chandigarh

Haryana → Chandigarh

Rajasthan → Jaipur

Himachal Pradesh → Shimla

Uttarakhand → Dehradun

Uttar Pradesh → Lucknow

Grouping reduces the amount of information students need to memorize at one time.

Another Memory Strategy: State → Capital Cards

Make two types of cards.

One card says:

GUJARAT

Another says:

GANDHINAGAR

Students match them.

Other pairs:

Assam ↔ Dispur

Kerala ↔ Thiruvananthapuram

Mizoram ↔ Aizawl

Tripura ↔ Agartala

Odisha ↔ Bhubaneswar

This turns memorization into active recall.

Why Active Recall Works Better Than Re-reading

Students often repeatedly read:

Punjab – Chandigarh

Punjab – Chandigarh

Punjab – Chandigarh

A stronger method is:

Cover the capital.

Ask:

WHAT IS THE CAPITAL OF PUNJAB?

Try to recall:

CHANDIGARH.

Then check the answer.

This process forces the brain to retrieve information.

That usually creates stronger learning than passive rereading.

States and Capitals Quiz – Part 1

Try to answer without looking at the table.

1. What is the capital of Rajasthan?

2. What is the capital of Maharashtra?

3. What is the capital of Karnataka?

4. What is the capital of Kerala?

5. What is the capital of Tamil Nadu?

6. What is the capital of Gujarat?

7. What is the capital of Bihar?

8. What is the capital of Uttar Pradesh?

9. What is the capital of Madhya Pradesh?

10. What is the capital of Odisha?

Answers – Part 1

1. Jaipur

2. Mumbai

3. Bengaluru

4. Thiruvananthapuram

5. Chennai

6. Gandhinagar

7. Patna

8. Lucknow

9. Bhopal

10. Bhubaneswar

States and Capitals Quiz – Part 2

11. What is the capital of West Bengal?

12. What is the capital of Punjab?

13. What is the capital of Haryana?

14. What is the capital of Goa?

15. What is the capital of Assam?

16. What is the capital of Jharkhand?

17. What is the capital of Chhattisgarh?

18. What is the capital of Telangana?

19. What is the capital of Sikkim?

20. What is the capital of Tripura?

Answers – Part 2

11. Kolkata

12. Chandigarh

13. Chandigarh

14. Panaji

15. Dispur

16. Ranchi

17. Raipur

18. Hyderabad

19. Gangtok

20. Agartala

Northeast India Quiz

21. Arunachal Pradesh → ?

22. Meghalaya → ?

23. Mizoram → ?

24. Nagaland → ?

25. Manipur → ?

Answers

21. Itanagar

22. Shillong

23. Aizawl

24. Kohima

25. Imphal

Union Territories Quiz

26. What is the capital of Ladakh?

27. What is the capital of Lakshadweep?

28. What is the capital of Puducherry?

29. What is the capital of Delhi?

30. What is the capital of Chandigarh UT?

31. What is the capital of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu?

32. What is the updated capital name of Andaman and Nicobar Islands?

33. What is the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir?

34. What is the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir?

Answers

26. Leh

27. Kavaratti

28. Puducherry

29. New Delhi

30. Chandigarh

31. Daman

32. Sri Vijaya Puram

33. Srinagar

34. Jammu

Challenge Quiz

35. Which city serves as capital of both Punjab and Haryana?

36. Which is India's largest state by area?

37. Which is India's smallest state by area?

38. Which is India's newest state?

39. In which year was Telangana formed?

40. Which state has Gandhinagar as its capital?

41. Which state has Dispur as its capital?

42. Which state has Gangtok as its capital?

43. Which state has Kohima as its capital?

44. Which state has Aizawl as its capital?

45. Which state has Panaji as its capital?

46. Which state has Bhubaneswar as its capital?

47. Which state has Raipur as its capital?

48. Which state has Ranchi as its capital?

49. Which state has Amaravati as its capital?

50. Which state has Thiruvananthapuram as its capital?

Challenge Quiz Answers

35. Chandigarh

36. Rajasthan

37. Goa

38. Telangana

39. 2014

40. Gujarat

41. Assam

42. Sikkim

43. Nagaland

44. Mizoram

45. Goa

46. Odisha

47. Chhattisgarh

48. Jharkhand

49. Andhra Pradesh

50. Kerala

Match the State With the Capital

Match:

States

A. Rajasthan
B. Assam
C. Karnataka
D. Kerala
E. Odisha
F. Gujarat
G. Maharashtra
H. Bihar

Capitals

1. Patna

2. Gandhinagar

3. Mumbai

4. Bengaluru

5. Jaipur

6. Dispur

7. Thiruvananthapuram

8. Bhubaneswar

Answers

A → 5

B → 6

C → 4

D → 7

E → 8

F → 2

G → 3

H → 1

Fill in the Blanks

1. The capital of Rajasthan is ______.

2. The capital of Gujarat is ______.

3. The capital of Maharashtra is ______.

4. The capital of Kerala is ______.

5. The capital of Assam is ______.

6. The capital of West Bengal is ______.

7. The capital of Punjab is ______.

8. The capital of Telangana is ______.

9. The capital of Sikkim is ______.

10. The capital of Goa is ______.

Answers

1. Jaipur

2. Gandhinagar

3. Mumbai

4. Thiruvananthapuram

5. Dispur

6. Kolkata

7. Chandigarh

8. Hyderabad

9. Gangtok

10. Panaji

True or False

1. Mumbai is the capital of Maharashtra.

TRUE

2. Ahmedabad is the capital of Gujarat.

FALSE

Correct:

Gandhinagar.

3. Chandigarh is the capital of Punjab and Haryana.

TRUE

4. Guwahati is the official capital of Assam.

FALSE

Correct:

Dispur.

5. Chennai is the capital of Tamil Nadu.

TRUE

6. Bengaluru is the capital of Karnataka.

TRUE

7. Hyderabad is the capital of Andhra Pradesh in 2026.

FALSE

Andhra Pradesh → Amaravati

Telangana → Hyderabad

8. Kolkata is the capital of West Bengal.

TRUE

9. Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan.

TRUE

10. India has 29 states in 2026.

FALSE

India has:

28 STATES.

7-Day States and Capitals Learning Plan

Day 1 – South India

Learn:

Andhra Pradesh – Amaravati

Karnataka – Bengaluru

Kerala – Thiruvananthapuram

Tamil Nadu – Chennai

Telangana – Hyderabad

Day 2 – Northeast Part 1

Learn:

Arunachal Pradesh – Itanagar

Assam – Dispur

Manipur – Imphal

Meghalaya – Shillong

Day 3 – Northeast Part 2

Learn:

Mizoram – Aizawl

Nagaland – Kohima

Tripura – Agartala

Sikkim – Gangtok

Day 4 – East and Central

Learn:

Bihar – Patna

Jharkhand – Ranchi

Odisha – Bhubaneswar

West Bengal – Kolkata

Madhya Pradesh – Bhopal

Chhattisgarh – Raipur

Day 5 – West and Northwest

Learn:

Goa – Panaji

Gujarat – Gandhinagar

Maharashtra – Mumbai

Rajasthan – Jaipur

Day 6 – North

Learn:

Punjab – Chandigarh

Haryana – Chandigarh

Himachal Pradesh – Shimla

Uttarakhand – Dehradun

Uttar Pradesh – Lucknow

Day 7 – Union Territories

Learn all eight Union Territories and then test yourself on all 36 administrative units.

Use:

LOOK → COVER → RECALL → CHECK → REPEAT

Interesting Geography Facts About Indian States and Capitals

1. Chandigarh Has a Unique Role

Chandigarh is:

a Union Territory;

capital of Punjab;

and capital of Haryana.

2. Dispur Is the Capital of Assam

Many students answer:

Guwahati.

The correct capital is:

DISPUR.

Dispur lies within the Guwahati metropolitan area.

3. Gandhinagar Is Gujarat's Capital

Ahmedabad is the state's largest and best-known city, but:

GANDHINAGAR

is the capital.

4. Bhopal Is Madhya Pradesh's Capital

Indore may be larger by population, but:

BHOPAL

is the capital.

5. Telangana Is India's Newest State

It was created in:

2014.

6. Rajasthan Is the Largest State by Area

Capital:

JAIPUR.

7. Goa Is the Smallest State by Area

Capital:

PANAJI.

8. Uttar Pradesh Is the Most Populous State

Capital:

LUCKNOW.

9. Kerala Has One of the Longest Capital Names

Capital:

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.

It is one of the most distinctive capital-city spellings students need to learn.

How to Spell Thiruvananthapuram

Break it into parts:

THIRU – VANAN – THA – PURAM

Full spelling:

T-H-I-R-U-V-A-N-A-N-T-H-A-P-U-R-A-M

Instead of trying to memorize all the letters at once, practise it in sections.

Important Capital Spelling Practice

Students should practise these particularly carefully:

Thiruvananthapuram

Bhubaneswar

Gandhinagar

Chandigarh

Amaravati

Itanagar

Agartala

Aizawl

Shillong

Bengaluru

Correct spelling is especially useful in written quizzes and geography assignments.

Why Should Students Learn States and Capitals?

Learning states and capitals supports understanding of:

GEOGRAPHY

Students can identify major political divisions.

HISTORY

State boundaries reflect important historical developments.

GOVERNMENT

Students understand India's administrative structure.

CULTURE

States contain different languages, traditions and regional identities.

NEWS

Knowing geography makes national news easier to understand.

TRAVEL

Students can locate destinations more easily.

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

State-capital questions are common in quizzes and academic activities.

States and Capitals and Map Learning

Memorizing names becomes more meaningful when students also locate them on a map.

For every state, try to learn:

STATE NAME

↓

CAPITAL

↓

LOCATION

↓

NEIGHBOURING STATES

↓

IMPORTANT PHYSICAL FEATURES

↓

MAJOR LANGUAGE OR CULTURAL FEATURES

For example:

RAJASTHAN

Capital:

Jaipur

Region:

Northwestern India

Important physical feature:

Thar Desert

This creates deeper geographical understanding.

Frequently Asked Questions About States and Capitals of India

1. How many states are there in India in 2026?

India has:

28 STATES.

2. How many Union Territories are there in India?

India has:

8 UNION TERRITORIES.

3. How many states and Union Territories does India have altogether?

36 ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS

consisting of 28 states and 8 Union Territories.

4. What is the capital of India?

NEW DELHI.

5. What is the capital of Andhra Pradesh?

AMARAVATI.

6. What is the capital of Arunachal Pradesh?

ITANAGAR.

7. What is the capital of Assam?

DISPUR.

8. What is the capital of Bihar?

PATNA.

9. What is the capital of Chhattisgarh?

RAIPUR.

10. What is the capital of Goa?

PANAJI.

11. What is the capital of Gujarat?

GANDHINAGAR.

12. What is the capital of Haryana?

CHANDIGARH.

13. What is the capital of Himachal Pradesh?

The principal capital is:

SHIMLA.

Dharamshala has officially been designated as the state's second capital.

14. What is the capital of Jharkhand?

RANCHI.

15. What is the capital of Karnataka?

BENGALURU.

16. What is the capital of Kerala?

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.

17. What is the capital of Madhya Pradesh?

BHOPAL.

18. What is the capital of Maharashtra?

The principal capital is:

MUMBAI.

Nagpur is recognized as the state's second capital.

19. What is the capital of Manipur?

IMPHAL.

20. What is the capital of Meghalaya?

SHILLONG.

21. What is the capital of Mizoram?

AIZAWL.

22. What is the capital of Nagaland?

KOHIMA.

23. What is the capital of Odisha?

BHUBANESWAR.

24. What is the capital of Punjab?

CHANDIGARH.

25. What is the capital of Rajasthan?

JAIPUR.

26. What is the capital of Sikkim?

GANGTOK.

27. What is the capital of Tamil Nadu?

CHENNAI.

28. What is the capital of Telangana?

HYDERABAD.

29. What is the capital of Tripura?

AGARTALA.

30. What is the capital of Uttar Pradesh?

LUCKNOW.

31. What is the capital of Uttarakhand?

The current complete arrangement is:

DEHRADUN – WINTER CAPITAL

BHARARISAIN / GAIRSAIN – SUMMER CAPITAL.

For many basic state-capital lists, Dehradun is used as the main answer.

32. What is the capital of West Bengal?

KOLKATA.

33. Which capital belongs to two states?

CHANDIGARH

serves as capital of:

Punjab;

and Haryana.

34. Is Chandigarh a state?

No.

CHANDIGARH IS A UNION TERRITORY.

35. What is the capital of Ladakh?

LEH.

36. What is the capital of Lakshadweep?

KAVARATTI.

37. What is the capital of Puducherry?

PUDUCHERRY.

38. What is the capital of Andaman and Nicobar Islands?

The updated name is:

SRI VIJAYA PURAM.

It was formerly known as Port Blair.

39. What are the capitals of Jammu and Kashmir?

SRINAGAR – SUMMER

and:

JAMMU – WINTER.

40. What is India's newest state?

TELANGANA.

It was created in 2014.

41. Which is India's largest state by area?

RAJASTHAN.

42. Which is India's smallest state by area?

GOA.

43. Which is India's most populous state?

UTTAR PRADESH.

44. Which state has the longest-looking capital name students commonly encounter?

Kerala's capital:

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

is one of the longest and most frequently noted capital names in India.

45. Is Mumbai the capital of India?

No.

Mumbai is the principal capital of:

MAHARASHTRA.

India's national capital is:

NEW DELHI.

46. Is Hyderabad the capital of Andhra Pradesh?

No, not under the current arrangement.

Hyderabad is the capital of:

TELANGANA.

Andhra Pradesh's capital is:

AMARAVATI.

47. Is Ahmedabad the capital of Gujarat?

No.

The capital is:

GANDHINAGAR.

48. Is Guwahati the capital of Assam?

No.

The capital is:

DISPUR.

49. Is Kochi the capital of Kerala?

No.

Kerala's capital is:

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.

50. Why should students check the year when studying states and capitals?

Because administrative arrangements, names and official designations can change.

For example:

Jammu and Kashmir was reorganized in 2019;

Port Blair was later renamed Sri Vijaya Puram;

and capital arrangements can evolve.

For current-affairs and general-knowledge study:

ALWAYS CHECK THAT YOUR LIST IS CURRENT.

Quick Revision: 28 States in One List

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

Quick Revision: 8 Union Territories

1. Andaman and Nicobar Islands – Sri Vijaya Puram

2. Chandigarh – Chandigarh

3. Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu – Daman

4. Delhi – New Delhi

5. Jammu and Kashmir – Srinagar / Jammu

6. Ladakh – Leh

7. Lakshadweep – Kavaratti

8. Puducherry – Puducherry

Final Student Tip

Do not memorize the states and capitals only as 36 disconnected facts.

Use this method:

STATE

↓

CAPITAL

↓

MAP LOCATION

↓

REGION

↓

ONE IMPORTANT FACT

Example:

ASSAM

Capital:

DISPUR

Region:

NORTHEAST INDIA

Important memory point:

Dispur lies within the wider Guwahati urban area.

Another:

GUJARAT

Capital:

GANDHINAGAR

Memory point:

Ahmedabad is a major city, but Gandhinagar is the capital.

When facts are connected to geography, students are more likely to remember and understand them.

LEARN THE NAME.

FIND IT ON THE MAP.

RECALL THE CAPITAL.

TEST YOURSELF.

REPEAT.

Geography and Global Learning at Victoria Academy

Victoria Academy

A Canadian International School

Ontario, Canada | Grades 9–12 | BSID #884963

Geography is more than memorizing capitals.

Students can use geography to understand:

Countries and Regions

Population

Climate

Culture

Government

Economics

Environment

International Relations

Migration

Global Development

Human and Physical Geography

Knowing states and capitals is a useful starting point.

The deeper goal is to understand:

WHY PLACES DEVELOP DIFFERENTLY

HOW PEOPLE AND ENVIRONMENTS INTERACT

HOW POLITICAL BOUNDARIES CHANGE

HOW REGIONS CONNECT WITH THE WORLD

From Indian Geography to Global Geography

Students can build geographical understanding progressively.

Start with:

YOUR CITY

↓

YOUR STATE

↓

INDIA

↓

SOUTH ASIA

↓

ASIA

↓

THE WORLD

Then compare:

countries;

capitals;

political systems;

landforms;

population;

languages;

economies;

and cultures.

This turns memorization into genuine global learning.

Why Geography Matters for International Students

Today's students live in an increasingly connected world.

Understanding geography can help students interpret:

international news;

global trade;

climate issues;

university destinations;

travel;

politics;

population movements;

and global challenges.

A student who knows where something is can more easily begin asking:

Why is it important?

How is it connected to other places?

What historical factors shaped it?

How does geography influence the people who live there?

These are stronger academic questions than memorizing a capital alone.

About Victoria Academy

Victoria Academy

A Canadian International School

Ontario, Canada

Grades 9–12

BSID #884963

Victoria Academy provides Ontario high-school learning opportunities for eligible Grades 9–12 students, including international students who may be able to study online from their home country.

Students pursuing the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) must successfully complete all applicable Ontario graduation requirements based on their individual academic status and approved academic plan.

Victoria Academy encourages students to develop academic English, communication, research, critical thinking, problem-solving and independent-learning skills that support secondary-school learning and future university study.

STAY LOCAL. STUDY CANADIAN. THINK GLOBAL.

Related Victoria Academy Blogs

For strong internal SEO linking, connect this page with:

1. Countries and Capitals of the World: Complete A–Z List

2. States and Capitals of India: Complete List

3. 28 States of India and Their Capitals

4. 8 Union Territories of India and Their Capitals

5. Indian States Map: Complete Geography Guide

6. Seven Sisters of India: States, Capitals & Facts

7. North Indian States and Capitals

8. South Indian States and Capitals

9. Northeast Indian States and Capitals

10. Largest and Smallest States of India

11. National Symbols of India: Complete Guide

12. Rivers of India: Major Rivers, Origins & States

13. Mountain Ranges of India

14. Neighbouring Countries of India and Their Capitals

15. Continents and Oceans of the World

16. Countries of Asia and Their Capitals

17. World Geography Questions and Answers

18. General Knowledge Questions for Students

19. Critical Thinking Skills for Students

20. What Is OSSD? Complete Guide for International Students

SEO Package

SEO Title:
States and Capitals of India 2026: 28 States & 8 Union Territories

Alternative SEO Title:
28 States and Capitals of India 2026 + 8 Union Territories Complete List

Alternative Search-Friendly Title:
States and Capitals of India: Complete Updated List of 28 States & 8 UTs

Meta Description:
Learn all 28 states and capitals of India in 2026 plus 8 Union Territories, special capitals, regions, formation history, geography facts, memory tricks, quiz questions and answers.

Suggested URL Slug:
/blog/states-and-capitals-of-india

Primary Focus Keyword:

states and capitals of india

Strong Secondary Keywords:
States and Capitals of India 2026
India States and Capitals
28 States and Capitals of India
States of India and Their Capitals
Indian States and Capitals
All States and Capitals of India
State Capital List
28 States of India
India State Capital
Union Territories of India
Union Territories and Capitals
8 Union Territories of India
India States List
States and Union Territories of India

High-Value Long-Tail Keywords:
28 states and capitals of India
states and capitals of India 2026
all states and capitals of India
list of states and capitals of India
28 states of India and their capitals
states and union territories of India with capitals
8 union territories of India and their capitals
India states and capitals list
states and capitals of India in alphabetical order
states and capitals of India for students
north Indian states and capitals
south Indian states and capitals
northeast states and capitals of India
seven sisters states and capitals
which city is capital of Punjab and Haryana
capital of Andhra Pradesh 2026
capital of Uttarakhand
summer and winter capital of Jammu Kashmir
capital of Andaman and Nicobar Islands 2026
Sri Vijaya Puram capital
largest state of India
smallest state of India
newest state of India
Indian geography questions and answers

Suggested H1

States and Capitals of India 2026: 28 States, 8 Union Territories, Facts & Quiz

Suggested Featured Snippet

How many states and Union Territories are there in India in 2026?

India has 28 states and 8 Union Territories in 2026. The states include Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and others. India's eight Union Territories are Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Lakshadweep and Puducherry.

Suggested FAQ Schema Title

States and Capitals of India – 50 Frequently Asked Questions With Answers

The full FAQ content should remain visible on the page if FAQ-style structured data is implemented.

Suggested Blog Category

Geography & General Knowledge

Alternative:

Student Resources

Suggested Tags

States and Capitals of India, Indian Geography, India, States of India, Union Territories, Capitals, General Knowledge, Geography, Students, Victoria Academy

Recommended SEO Content Cluster for “States and Capitals of India”

Use this as the main pillar:

/blog/states-and-capitals-of-india

Then create focused supporting pages:

28 States of India and Their Capitals
/blog/28-states-of-india-and-capitals

8 Union Territories of India and Their Capitals
/blog/union-territories-of-india

Seven Sisters of India and Their Capitals
/blog/seven-sisters-of-india

North Indian States and Capitals
/blog/north-indian-states-and-capitals

South Indian States and Capitals
/blog/south-indian-states-and-capitals

Northeast States and Capitals
/blog/northeast-states-and-capitals

Largest and Smallest States of India
/blog/largest-and-smallest-states-of-india

Countries and Capitals of the World
/blog/countries-and-capitals

Neighbouring Countries of India
/blog/neighbouring-countries-of-india

General Knowledge Questions for Students
/blog/general-knowledge-questions

Each supporting article should naturally link back to this main pillar page. This gives Victoria Academy a strong geography and general-knowledge topic cluster while keeping each page focused on a distinct search intent.

Suggested CTA

Build Stronger Geography, Research and Global Learning Skills

Learning capitals is only the beginning.

Strong students learn to connect geography with:

history;

culture;

government;

economics;

environment;

and global affairs.

Victoria Academy

A Canadian International School
Ontario, Canada | Grades 9–12 | BSID #884963

Explore Ontario High School Courses

Learn About the OSSD Pathway

Build Global Academic Skills

Strengthen Research & Critical Thinking

Check Student Eligibility

Explore Scholarship Opportunities

Plan Your Global University Pathway

STAY LOCAL. STUDY CANADIAN. THINK GLOBAL.