If you’re a student, you’ve probably come across questions about Indian states and capitals more times than you can count. They’re part of school exams, quiz competitions, and almost every major competitive exam in India. Whether you’re studying in Class 8, preparing for UPSC, SSC, Group exams, Banking exams, or simply improving your general knowledge, learning the state and capital of India is one of those basics you can’t skip.
A lot of students still get confused and ask, “How many states and capitals are there in India?” That’s understandable because India’s administrative map has changed over the years. As of 2026, India has 28 states and 8 Union Territories, each with its own capital and administrative importance.
This updated guide on Indian States and Capitals 2026 is designed to make learning easier. You’ll find the complete list of Indian States and Capitals, the latest details about Indian Union Territories and their capitals 2026, easy memory tips, quiz questions, and exam-focused facts all in one place.
Whether you’re revising before an exam or helping your child learn geography, this guide keeps everything simple, clear, and easy to remember.
Why Every Student Must Learn Indian States and Capitals
If you ask most students which General Knowledge topic comes up again and again in school exams, quizzes, and competitive tests, there’s a good chance they’ll say Indian States and Capitals. It may look like a simple topic at first, but knowing the state and capital name 1 to 28 can help you in more ways than you might think.
I still feel that learning states and capitals is one of the easiest ways to build a strong GK foundation. Once you know them well, understanding Indian geography, history, politics, and current affairs becomes much easier. It’s one of those topics that keeps showing up throughout your academic journey.
For example, Bandapally Ruthvika Goud, a student studying in 8th class, can use this knowledge not only for school exams but also for quizzes and scholarship tests. The same applies to thousands of students preparing for UPSC, SSC, Group exams, Railways, Banking, and other government examinations. Questions related to Indian States and Capitals and Union Territories are asked quite often.
Many students search for answers to questions like How many states are there in India? or Why are capitals important in exams? The reason is simple. These are basic facts that examiners expect candidates to know. If you’re building your India GK for students, this is one topic you shouldn’t skip.
The good news? Once you learn them properly and revise a few times, they become surprisingly easy to remember.
How Many States and Capitals Are There in India in 2026?
One of the most common questions students ask is, “How many states and capitals are there in India in 2026?” If you’ve searched online, you’ve probably seen different answers. That can be confusing, especially when you’re preparing for school exams, quizzes, or competitive exams like UPSC, SSC, Group Exams, and Banking exams.
As of 2026, India has 28 states and 8 Union Territories. Each state has its own capital city, which serves as the administrative center of that state. The capital is where important government offices, legislative assemblies, and administrative departments are located.
Many students still search for the list of 29 states of India with capital because older textbooks and websites haven’t been updated. A few years ago, India had 29 states. After the reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019, the total number changed. Today, the correct answer is 28 states and 8 Union Territories.
The national capital of India is New Delhi, which is also the capital of the Union Territory of Delhi. Almost every major government decision at the national level is made from here.
📌 Quick Fact Box
States in India: 28
Union Territories in India: 8
National Capital of India: New Delhi
Total Administrative Divisions: 36 (28 States + 8 Union Territories)
Common Exam Question: Is India having 28 or 29 states?
Correct Answer: India currently has 28 states.
If you’re learning the state and capital of India, try to understand them as part of India’s federal structure rather than memorizing them blindly. From my experience, students remember capitals much faster when they connect them with maps, quizzes, and regular revision instead of cramming everything in one day.
Complete List of 28 States and Capitals of India (2026)
If you’re looking for the complete list of Indian states and capitals 2026, you’re in the right place. This is one of those topics that almost every student comes across at some point. Whether you’re studying in school, preparing for a quiz competition, or getting ready for UPSC, SSC, Group Exams, Railways, or Banking exams, knowing the 28 states and capitals can save you a lot of marks.
I still remember how many students tried to memorize these names the night before an exam. The problem wasn’t learning the states—it was remembering the capitals. A simple table makes the job much easier.
Below is the updated state capital list of India for 2026.
| 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 |
This table covers the state and capital name 1 to 28 in a simple format that students can quickly revise before tests and competitive exams.
One small tip that works surprisingly well: don’t try to memorize all 28 states and capitals in a single sitting. Learn five or six at a time. Then test yourself without looking at the table. After a few days, you’ll notice that names like Gangtok, Kohima, Aizawl, and Itanagar don’t feel difficult anymore.
Many people also search for a state and capital of India PDF so they can print it and keep it near their study desk. That’s actually a smart idea. A quick glance every day is often more effective than spending hours trying to memorize everything at once.
Once you’re comfortable with this list, move on to Union Territories and their capitals. Together, they form one of the most commonly asked General Knowledge topics in school exams and government recruitment exams across India.
Read More: FIFA World Cup 2026.
Indian States and Capitals in Alphabetical Order
Trying to remember all the states and their capitals can feel a bit overwhelming at first. I remember many students getting confused because they tried to memorize everything at once. A much easier way is to learn the Indian States and Capitals in alphabetical order. When the names are arranged from A to Z, your brain can organize the information better, and revision becomes much faster.
This method is especially helpful for school students, quiz competitions, and competitive exams like UPSC, SSC, Railways, Banking, and Group exams. Instead of jumping randomly between states, you can simply move through the list in order and test yourself.
Below is the alphabetical list of Indian states along with their capitals:
| 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 |
If you’re searching for States of India A to Z or Indian states alphabetical order, bookmark this table and revise it for a few minutes every day. Small daily practice works much better than trying to memorize all 28 states in a single sitting.
Indian Union Territories and Their Capitals 2026
Many students know that India has states and capitals, but when it comes to Union Territories, things can get a little confusing. I’ve noticed that questions about Union Territories show up quite often in school quizzes, GK competitions, and competitive exams like UPSC, SSC, Railways, and Group exams. That’s why learning them separately is a good idea.
If you’re wondering how many Union Territories are there in India in 2026, the answer is simple: India has 8 Union Territories.
Unlike states, Union Territories are administered directly by the Central Government, although some of them have their own legislative assemblies. For students, the easiest way to remember them is through a simple table.
| Union Territory | Capital |
|---|---|
| Delhi | New Delhi |
| Jammu & Kashmir | Srinagar (Summer), Jammu (Winter) |
| Ladakh | Leh |
| Lakshadweep | Kavaratti |
| Chandigarh | Chandigarh |
| Puducherry | Puducherry |
| Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu | Daman |
| Andaman & Nicobar Islands | Port Blair |
One interesting fact that many students forget is that Jammu and Kashmir has two capitals. Srinagar serves as the summer capital, while Jammu serves as the winter capital. This is a favorite question in many GK exams.
When you’re preparing from a UT capitals India list, try reading the table aloud a few times instead of just memorizing it silently. It sounds simple, but it actually helps. Another useful trick is to connect the capital with the place on the map. Once you can visualize where Ladakh, Lakshadweep, or Andaman and Nicobar Islands are located, remembering their capitals becomes much easier.
If you’re preparing for exams or simply building your general knowledge, make sure you revise this Indian Union Territories and their capitals 2026 list regularly. A quick five-minute revision every few days is usually enough to keep these names fresh in your memory.
List of 29 States of India With Capital – Why Do People Still Search for It?
If you’ve searched for the List of 29 states of India with capital, you’re definitely not alone. A lot of students, parents, and even competitive exam aspirants still look for this term because many older books, websites, PDFs, and GK notes continue to mention 29 states.
So, where did the number 29 come from?
The answer is Telangana. When Telangana was formed in 2014, it became India’s 29th state. For several years after that, India had 29 states and 7 Union Territories. That’s why many study materials published during that period showed a List of 29 states of India With Capital.
Things changed in 2019. The former state of Jammu and Kashmir was reorganized into two separate Union Territories — Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. Because of this change, the total number of states in India came down from 29 to 28.
Today, India has:
- 28 States
- 8 Union Territories
I still come across old GK books that mention 29 states, and it can be confusing, especially for students preparing for quizzes or government exams. If you’re studying for UPSC, SSC, Group exams, Railways, Banking exams, or even a school test, make sure you’re learning the updated list.
So whenever someone asks, “Was Telangana the 29th state?” the answer is yes. But as of 2026, India officially has 28 states and 8 Union Territories.
Easy Tricks to Remember Indian States and Capitals
Many students know the names of Indian states but get confused when it comes to remembering their capitals. I’ve seen this happen again and again, especially before school exams or competitive tests. The good news is that you don’t need to memorize everything in one sitting. A few simple memory tricks can make the process much easier.
North India Trick
Start by learning states region by region instead of trying to remember all 28 states at once. For example, in North India, connect the state with something familiar. Punjab and Chandigarh are often remembered together because Chandigarh is also the capital of Haryana. Himachal Pradesh has Shimla, a famous hill station that many students already know. When you create these small connections, the capitals stay in your memory longer.
South India Trick
South Indian states are usually easier because many capitals are well-known cities. Karnataka – Bengaluru, Tamil Nadu – Chennai, Telangana – Hyderabad, and Kerala – Thiruvananthapuram. One thing that helped me was looking at the Indian map while repeating the names aloud. Seeing the location and saying the capital together makes a surprising difference.
Northeast States Trick
Students often find the Northeast states the most difficult. Instead of learning all of them together, try learning just two or three each day. For example:
- Assam – Dispur
- Meghalaya – Shillong
- Manipur – Imphal
- Mizoram – Aizawl
A slow and steady approach works much better than cramming everything the night before an exam.
Flashcard Method
The flashcard method is still one of the best memory tricks for states and capitals. Write the state name on one side of a card and the capital on the other. Test yourself during short breaks, while travelling, or before going to bed. Five minutes a day can be more effective than one hour of last-minute revision.
Mind-Map Method
If you’re a visual learner, try creating a simple mind map. Draw India in the center of a page and branch out into North, South, East, West, and Northeast regions. Then add states and capitals under each branch. This gives your brain a clear picture of how everything connects.
The biggest mistake students make is trying to memorize all states and capitals in a single day. Don’t do that. Spend a few minutes every day, revise regularly, and quiz yourself often. Within a couple of weeks, you’ll be surprised by how quickly you can recall Indian states and capitals during exams.
Indian States and Capitals Quiz (MCQs for Students)
Reading a list of states and capitals again and again can get boring. I’ve noticed that most students remember things much faster when they test themselves. That’s exactly why this Indian States and Capitals Quiz is useful. Whether you’re studying in school, preparing for a quiz competition, or getting ready for UPSC, SSC, Group Exams, Railways, or Banking exams, these questions will help you check how much you really know.
Try answering the questions before looking at the answers. You might surprise yourself!
Easy Level – States and Capitals MCQ
- What is the capital of Andhra Pradesh?
- A) Hyderabad
- B) Amaravati ✅
- C) Vijayawada
- D) Visakhapatnam
- What is the capital of Telangana?
- A) Hyderabad ✅
- B) Warangal
- C) Karimnagar
- D) Nizamabad
- What is the capital of Karnataka?
- A) Mysuru
- B) Hubli
- C) Bengaluru ✅
- D) Mangaluru
- What is the capital of Tamil Nadu?
- A) Coimbatore
- B) Madurai
- C) Chennai ✅
- D) Salem
- Capital of Kerala?
- A) Kochi
- B) Kozhikode
- C) Thrissur
- D) Thiruvananthapuram ✅
- Capital of Maharashtra?
- A) Pune
- B) Nagpur
- C) Mumbai ✅
- D) Nashik
- Capital of Gujarat?
- A) Ahmedabad
- B) Gandhinagar ✅
- C) Surat
- D) Vadodara
- Capital of Rajasthan?
- A) Jaipur ✅
- B) Jodhpur
- C) Udaipur
- D) Kota
- Capital of Odisha?
- A) Cuttack
- B) Bhubaneswar ✅
- C) Puri
- D) Sambalpur
- Capital of Punjab?
- A) Ludhiana
- B) Amritsar
- C) Chandigarh ✅
- D) Patiala
Medium Level – States and Capitals Quiz India
- What is the capital of Arunachal Pradesh?
- A) Itanagar ✅
- B) Kohima
- C) Agartala
- D) Aizawl
- Capital of Assam?
- A) Dibrugarh
- B) Silchar
- C) Guwahati
- D) Dispur ✅
- Capital of Meghalaya?
- A) Shillong ✅
- B) Tura
- C) Imphal
- D) Gangtok
- Capital of Nagaland?
- A) Kohima ✅
- B) Dimapur
- C) Aizawl
- D) Shillong
- Capital of Tripura?
- A) Agartala ✅
- B) Aizawl
- C) Imphal
- D) Dispur
- Capital of Manipur?
- A) Imphal ✅
- B) Kohima
- C) Gangtok
- D) Agartala
- Capital of Sikkim?
- A) Gangtok ✅
- B) Shillong
- C) Dispur
- D) Itanagar
- Capital of Mizoram?
- A) Aizawl ✅
- B) Kohima
- C) Agartala
- D) Imphal
- Capital of Uttarakhand?
- A) Haridwar
- B) Dehradun ✅
- C) Nainital
- D) Haldwani
- Capital of Himachal Pradesh?
- A) Shimla ✅
- B) Manali
- C) Dharamshala
- D) Solan
Exam Level – UPSC States Capitals Questions
- Which Union Territory has two seasonal capitals?
- A) Delhi
- B) Puducherry
- C) Jammu and Kashmir ✅
- D) Chandigarh
- What is the capital of Chhattisgarh?
- A) Bilaspur
- B) Raipur ✅
- C) Durg
- D) Korba
- What is the capital of Jharkhand?
- A) Ranchi ✅
- B) Jamshedpur
- C) Bokaro
- D) Dhanbad
- Capital of Haryana?
- A) Gurugram
- B) Faridabad
- C) Chandigarh ✅
- D) Ambala
- What is the capital of Goa?
- A) Vasco da Gama
- B) Panaji ✅
- C) Margao
- D) Mapusa
- Capital of Bihar?
- A) Gaya
- B) Muzaffarpur
- C) Patna ✅
- D) Bhagalpur
- Capital of West Bengal?
- A) Kolkata ✅
- B) Siliguri
- C) Howrah
- D) Durgapur
- Capital of Madhya Pradesh?
- A) Indore
- B) Gwalior
- C) Bhopal ✅
- D) Jabalpur
- Capital of Uttar Pradesh?
- A) Kanpur
- B) Lucknow ✅
- C) Agra
- D) Prayagraj
- Capital of Ladakh?
- A) Kargil
- B) Leh ✅
- C) Srinagar
- D) Jammu
Quick Tip for Students
If you’re finding it hard to remember all the capitals, don’t try to learn all 28 states in one day. Start with your own region, then move to North India, South India, East India, West India, and finally the North-Eastern states. Just 10 minutes of daily practice with a states and capitals MCQ quiz can make a huge difference. That’s how many successful UPSC and SSC aspirants build strong General Knowledge over time.
Important States and Capitals Questions Asked in UPSC, SSC, Group Exams
If you’ve ever looked at previous UPSC, SSC, Railway, Banking, or State Group exam papers, you’ll notice one thing. Questions about Indian states and capitals keep showing up again and again. They may look simple, but they can help you score easy marks when you’re well prepared.
I still remember how many students used to spend hours on difficult topics but lose marks on basic GK questions because they mixed up capitals. The good news is that this part is easy to learn if you revise it regularly.
Here are 25 important UPSC Indian states capitals and SSC GK states capitals questions that students should practice before any competitive exam.
25 Most Expected Questions
- What is the capital of Sikkim? — Gangtok
- What is the capital of Uttarakhand? — Dehradun
- What is the capital of Telangana? — Hyderabad
- What is the capital of Ladakh? — Leh
- What is the capital of Arunachal Pradesh? — Itanagar
- What is the capital of Assam? — Dispur
- What is the capital of Bihar? — Patna
- What is the capital of Chhattisgarh? — Raipur
- What is the capital of Goa? — Panaji
- What is the capital of Gujarat? — Gandhinagar
- What is the capital of Haryana? — Chandigarh
- What is the capital of Himachal Pradesh? — Shimla
- What is the capital of Jharkhand? — Ranchi
- What is the capital of Karnataka? — Bengaluru
- What is the capital of Kerala? — Thiruvananthapuram
- What is the capital of Madhya Pradesh? — Bhopal
- What is the capital of Maharashtra? — Mumbai
- What is the capital of Manipur? — Imphal
- What is the capital of Meghalaya? — Shillong
- What is the capital of Mizoram? — Aizawl
- What is the capital of Nagaland? — Kohima
- What is the capital of Odisha? — Bhubaneswar
- What is the capital of Punjab? — Chandigarh
- What is the capital of Rajasthan? — Jaipur
- What is the capital of Tamil Nadu? — Chennai
A small tip from many successful exam candidates: don’t try to memorize all 28 states and capitals in one sitting. Learn five every day, revise them before sleeping, and test yourself on weekends. It sounds simple, but it works surprisingly well. After a few weeks, you’ll be able to answer most state and capital questions in seconds during the exam.
Download 28 States and 8 Union Territories PDF
If you’re trying to remember all the Indian states and capitals, having a simple PDF can make things much easier. Reading a long list again and again isn’t always fun—I remember doing the same thing before school quizzes and forgetting half the capitals the next day!
That’s why we’ve prepared a States and Capitals PDF Download that you can save, print, and use anytime. It includes the latest list of 28 States and 8 Union Territories of India and Their Capitals PDF in an easy-to-read format.
You can use it as a printable chart for quick revision, a student worksheet for practice, or even a classroom revision sheet before exams. Many students preparing for UPSC, SSC, Group exams, and school GK tests keep a printed copy near their study table. It saves time and makes last-minute revision much less stressful.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. How many states are there in India in 2026?
As of 2026, India has 28 states. Each state has its own government and capital city. Questions about the number of states often appear in school exams, UPSC, SSC, Railways, and other government recruitment tests, so it’s a basic fact every student should know.
2. How many Union Territories are there in India?
India currently has 8 Union Territories. Unlike states, Union Territories are administered directly by the Central Government, although some have their own legislative assemblies. Learning both states and Union Territories together makes revision much easier.
3. What is the capital of Andhra Pradesh?
The capital of Andhra Pradesh is Amaravati. This is one of the most commonly asked questions in General Knowledge exams. Many students confuse it because of changes that were discussed over the years, so it’s worth remembering carefully.
4. Which is the newest state in India?
Telangana is the newest state in India. It was formed on 2 June 2014 after being separated from Andhra Pradesh. Since it is a relatively recent state, examiners often include questions about its formation date and capital city, Hyderabad.
5. Is India having 28 or 29 states?
This is probably one of the most searched questions online. The correct answer is 28 states. Older books and websites may still mention 29 states, which is why many students get confused. Always refer to updated information while preparing for exams.
6. Which capital is asked most in competitive exams?
Capitals such as Dispur (Assam), Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh), Gangtok (Sikkim), Shillong (Meghalaya), and Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh) are frequently asked because students tend to forget them. A quick weekly revision can help you remember them for a long time.
7. What are the 8 Union Territories of India and their capitals?
The 8 Union Territories of India and their capitals are:
- Andaman and Nicobar Islands – Port Blair
- Chandigarh – Chandigarh
- Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu – Daman
- Delhi (NCT) – New Delhi
- Jammu and Kashmir – Srinagar (Summer), Jammu (Winter)
- Ladakh – Leh
- Lakshadweep – Kavaratti
- Puducherry – Puducherry
8. How can students memorize states and capitals quickly?
The easiest way is to learn 5 states and capitals each day instead of trying to memorize everything at once. Make small flashcards, practice quizzes, and revise before going to bed. Personally, I’ve found that writing the state name on one side and the capital on the other works surprisingly well. After a few days, the names start sticking in your memory naturally.
Conclusion
Learning Indian states and capitals and Indian Union Territories and capitals is one of those basic GK topics that stays useful for years. Whether you’re a school student, a teacher helping a class, a parent guiding your child, or someone preparing for UPSC, SSC, Group, Banking, or other government exams, this knowledge comes up again and again.
The good news is that you don’t need to memorize everything in one day. Start with a few states, revise them daily, and test yourself regularly. A short quiz can often help more than reading the same list ten times. That’s something many students discover after a few days of practice.
If you’re serious about improving your India GK for students, save this page, download the PDF, and keep revising whenever you have a few free minutes. You can also share it with classmates, friends, or anyone preparing for competitive exams. A little daily effort really does make a big difference over time.