List of States & Capitals in India

According to the Preamble, India is a sovereign, socialist, secular, and democratic republic with a parliamentary government. The President is the Union’s constitutional executive head. In the states, the Governor, as the representative of the President, is the head of the Executive. The system of government of the states is quite similar to that of the Union. India has 28 states and 8 union territories at present. 

India has distinct demographics, history and culture, ethnicity, festivals, language, and so on due to its immense geographical diversity. In recent years, there have been several state additions and mergers. As a result, the topic is crucial with respect to the UPSC’s current affairs. Candidates studying for the UPSC exam must be up to date on state, capital, and other vital information related to this topic.

Let’s learn more about Indian states, capitals, and other facts in relation to UPSC 2023 and other government examinations in this article.

States of India – History Behind the Division

At the time of independence in 1947, India consisted of 571 disunited princely states that were merged together to form 27 states. This reorganisation was done on a temporary basis based on political and historical considerations. 

The State Reorganisation Commission, established in 1953, issued its report in 1955, recommending the reorganisation of states into 16 states and three union territories. The State Reorganisation Act, approved in November 1956, split the country into 14 states and six union territories.

List of States, Capitals & Formation Dates

Below is the list of 28 States, their capitals and formation dates. Candidates must go through this section critically as there can be questions related to State & Capitals in the current affairs section.

Classification of States

The States Reorganisation Act of 1956 reorganised the borders of Indian states and territories by language. The newly drafted Indian Constitution, which went into effect on January 26, 1950, classified states into four categories.

Four main types of states in India are:

1. Part A states
2. Part B states
3. Part C States
4. Part D states

Part A States

1. The former governors’ provinces of British India
2. These states were ruled by an elected governor and state legislature.
3. Part A states were Bombay, Madras, Assam, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh (earlier Central Provinces and Berar), Punjab (earlier East Punjab), Uttar Pradesh (earlier the United Provinces), Odisha and West Bengal.

Part B States

1. These were former princely states or groups of princely states
2. These states were governed by a Rajpramukh
3. Rajpramukh was an ad-hoc governor till state reorganisation.
4. He was recognised by the President of India as per Article 366 (Part 21) of Indian Constitution.
5. Part B states were Patiala and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU), Hyderabad, Jammu and Kashmir, and Travancore-Cochin. Madhya Bharat, Mysore, Rajasthan, and Saurashtra.

Part C States

1. It comprised both the former chief commissioners’ provinces and some princely states,
2. These states were governed by a chief commissioner
3. The chief commissioner was appointed by the President of India.
4. Part C states were Ajmer, Bhopal, Bilaspur, Coorg, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Kutch, Manipur, Tripura, and Vindhya Pradesh.

Part D States

1. This state was administered by a lieutenant governor appointed by the central government.
2. Part D state consists of Andaman and Nicobar Islands only

List of Union Territories & their Foundation Dates

Note:

• Administrators of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Delhi and Puducherry are designated as Lieutenant Governors. 
• The Governor of Punjab is concurrently the Administrator of Chandigarh. 
• The Administrator of Dadra and Nagar Haveli is concurrently the Administrator of Daman and Diu.
• Lakshadweep has a separate Administrator.
• The Centre has powers to administer the Union Territories through administrators.
• The union territories, except Puducherry and Delhi, do not have any legislatures of their own. Thus, the power to make laws on any of the subjects under all lists mentioned in the Seventh Schedule resides with the Parliament. This power also covers Puducherry and Delhi.
• The Ministry of Home Affairs at the Centre is the nodal ministry for all matters related to Union Territories relating to legislation, finance and budget, services and appointment of Administrators.

What are States?

• A state is a territory that administers functioning, makes and enforces law population within a territory with the help of a set of units or bodies the Indian Constitution.

Article 12 defines the term ‘State’ as used in different Articles of Part III of the Constitution. It says that unless the context otherwise requires the term ‘State’ includes the following:- 

1. a) The Government and Parliament of India, i.e., Executive and Legislature of the Union. 
2. b) The Government and the Legislature of each State, i.e., Executive and Legislature of States. 
3. c) All local or other authorities within the territory of India. d) All local and other authorities under the control of the Government of India. 

What are Union Territories?

Union Territories (UTs) are federal domains managed by India’s Union Government. They’re sometimes referred to as centrally governed territories. Lieutenant Governors (LGs) are appointed by the President of India in the Union Territories. The LGs act as UT administrators.

Difference between State & Union Territories

To know more about the difference between State & Union Territories, check the linked article.

Important articles related to State & Capitals in Constitution

• Article 1 – Name and territory of the union.
• Article 2 – Admission and establishment of the new state.
• Article 3 – Formation of new states and alteration of areas, boundaries, and name of existing states.
• Articles 239 to 241 in Part VIII of the Constitution deal with the union territories

Important Information on State & Capitals

• With effect from October 31st 2019, the state of Jammu and Kashmir has been officially bifurcated into the Union Territories (UT) of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
• India has had eight union Territories since 26 January 2020, where the Union Territory Daman and Diu, Dadra, and Nagar Haveli have become a single Union Territory.
• After the merger of Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli, the number of UTs has come down to eight.
• The Union Territory of Ladakh will have Kargil and Leh districts.
• The Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir will comprise the remaining territories of the existing state of Jammu and Kashmir.
• The UT of Jammu and Kashmir will have a legislature like Puducherry, while Ladakh will be a UT without a legislature like Chandigarh.

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