States & Union Territories of India
India comprises 28 states and 8 Union Territories. Understanding their capitals, establishment dates, coastline status, border networks, and international boundaries is essential for geography sections in UPSC Civil Services, MPSC, SSC, and other competitive examinations. This interactive map plots each capital with detailed exam revision facts and practice questions.
Key facts for exams
India currently consists of 28 states and 8 Union Territories, totaling 36 administrative units.
Nine states and four Union Territories lie along India's extensive 7,516.6 km coastline.
Five states (Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Telangana) and Delhi are landlocked with no international boundaries.
Uttar Pradesh shares its land boundary with the highest number of states (8 states and 1 UT).
States vs Union Territories
States are administrative units with their own elected governments headed by a Chief Minister. Union Territories are federal territories governed directly by the Central Government of India, represented by a Lieutenant Governor or Administrator. Certain UTs like Delhi and Puducherry have elected legislative assemblies but hold limited legislative powers compared to full states. Geographically, coastal states are critical for ports and maritime security, while border states are vital for national defense and international trade relations.
States & Union Territories at a glance
| State / UT | Capital | Category | Established | Districts | Coastline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi | New Delhi | Union Territory | 01 Nov 1956 | 11 | Landlocked |
| Gujarat | Gandhinagar | State | 01 May 1960 | 33 | Coastal |
| Jammu & Kashmir | Srinagar (Summer) / Jammu (Winter) | Union Territory | 31 Oct 2019 | 20 | Landlocked |
| Karnataka | Bengaluru | State | 01 Nov 1956 | 31 | Coastal |
| Kerala | Thiruvananthapuram | State | 01 Nov 1956 | 14 | Coastal |
| Ladakh | Leh (Summer) / Kargil (Winter) | Union Territory | 31 Oct 2019 | 2 | Landlocked |
| Madhya Pradesh | Bhopal | State | 01 Nov 1956 | 55 | Landlocked |
| Maharashtra | Mumbai | State | 01 May 1960 | 36 | Coastal |
| Rajasthan | Jaipur | State | 01 Nov 1956 | 50 | Landlocked |
| Tamil Nadu | Chennai | State | 26 Jan 1950 | 38 | Coastal |
| Uttar Pradesh | Lucknow | State | 26 Jan 1950 | 75 | Landlocked |
| West Bengal | Kolkata | State | 26 Jan 1950 | 23 | Coastal |
Boundaries and markers represent simplified coordinates for educational visual representation only, based on OpenStreetMap and public geographic collections. They do not represent official boundary positions of the Government of India.