Table of Contents
Indian States and Union Territories at a Glance
Introduction
India, the vibrant subcontinent known for its rich cultural tapestry, diverse landscapes, and dynamic economic growth, is a land of myriad colors and contrasts. Within its expansive boundaries lie 28 states and 8 Union Territories, each with its own distinct identity and contribution to the nation’s tapestry.
In this article, we embark on a journey to explore Indian States and Union Territories at a glance, delving into the geographical, cultural, and economic facets of each state and union territory.
States
- Andhra Pradesh
- Formation Date: November 1, 1956
- Area: 160,205 sq km
- Capital: Amaravati (Proposed); Hyderabad (until 2024)
- Population: Approximately 49 million
- Sex Ratio: 993 females per 1000 males
- National Parks: Sri Venkateswara National Park, Papikonda National Park
- Major Rivers: Krishna, Godavari
- Highest Point: Arma Konda (1680 meters)
- Arunachal Pradesh
- Formation Date: February 20, 1987
- Area: 83,743 sq km
- Capital: Itanagar
- Population: Approximately 1.5 million
- Sex Ratio: 938 females per 1000 males
- National Parks: Namdapha National Park, Mouling National Park
- Major Rivers: Brahmaputra, Siang
- Highest Point: Kangto (7090 meters)
- UNESCO World Heritage Site: N/A
- Assam
- Formation Date: April 1, 1912
- Area: 78,438 sq km
- Capital: Dispur
- Population: Approximately 36 million
- Sex Ratio: 954 females per 1000 males
- National Parks: Kaziranga National Park, Manas National Park
- Major Rivers: Brahmaputra, Barak
- Highest Point: Saramati (3,826 meters)
- UNESCO World Heritage Site: Kaziranga National Park, Manas Wildlife Sanctuary
- Bihar
- Formation Date: March 22, 1912
- Area: 94,163 sq km
- Capital: Patna
- Population: Approximately 125 million
- Sex Ratio: 918 females per 1000 males
- National Parks: Valmiki National Park
- Major Rivers: Ganges, Sone
- Highest Point: Someshwar Peak (1,677 meters)
- UNESCO World Heritage Site: Nalanda Mahavihara (Nalanda University)
- Chhattisgarh
- Formation Date: November 1, 2000
- Area: 135,194 sq km
- Capital: Raipur
- Population: Approximately 30 million
- Sex Ratio: 991 females per 1000 males
- National Parks: Indravati National Park, Kanger Valley National Park
- Major Rivers: Mahanadi, Godavari
- Highest Point: Bailadila Range (1,276 meters)
- UNESCO World Heritage Site: N/A
- Goa
- Formation Date: May 30, 1987
- Area: 3,702 sq km
- Capital: Panaji
- Population: Approximately 1.5 million
- Sex Ratio: 973 females per 1000 males
- National Parks: Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary and Mollem National Park
- Major Rivers: Mandovi, Zuari
- Highest Point: Sonsogor (1,167 meters)
- UNESCO World Heritage Site: Churches and Convents of Goa
- Gujarat
- Formation Date: May 1, 1960
- Area: 196,024 sq km
- Capital: Gandhinagar
- Population: Approximately 70 million
- Sex Ratio: 919 females per 1000 males
- National Parks: Gir Forest National Park, Blackbuck National Park
- Major Rivers: Sabarmati, Tapi
- Highest Point: Girnar (1,031 meters)
- UNESCO World Heritage Site: Rani ki Vav (The Queen’s Stepwell), Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park
- Haryana
- Formation Date: November 1, 1966
- Area: 44,212 sq km
- Capital: Chandigarh (shared with Punjab)
- Population: Approximately 29 million
- Sex Ratio: 924 females per 1000 males
- National Parks: Sultanpur National Park
- Major Rivers: Yamuna, Ghaggar
- Highest Point: Karoh Peak (1,467 meters)
- UNESCO World Heritage Site: N/A
- Himachal Pradesh
- Formation Date: January 25, 1971
- Area: 55,673 sq km
- Capital: Shimla
- Population: Approximately 7 million
- Sex Ratio: 972 females per 1000 males
- National Parks: Great Himalayan National Park, Pin Valley National Park
- Major Rivers: Satluj, Beas
- Highest Point: Reo Purgyil (6,816 meters)
- UNESCO World Heritage Site: N/A
- Jharkhand
- Formation Date: November 15, 2000
- Area: 79,716 sq km
- Capital: Ranchi
- Population: Approximately 33 million
- Sex Ratio: 948 females per 1000 males
- National Parks: Betla National Park, Hazaribagh National Park
- Major Rivers: Damodar, Subarnarekha
- Highest Point: Parasnath Hill (1,365 meters)
- UNESCO World Heritage Site: N/A
- Karnataka
- Formation Date: November 1, 1956
- Area: 191,791 sq km
- Capital: Bangalore (Bengaluru)
- Population: Approximately 67 million
- Sex Ratio: 973 females per 1000 males
- National Parks: Bandipur National Park, Nagarhole National Park
- Major Rivers: Kaveri, Krishna
- Highest Point: Mullayanagiri (1,930 meters)
- UNESCO World Heritage Site: Group of Monuments at Hampi, Western Ghats
- Kerala
- Formation Date: November 1, 1956
- Area: 38,863 sq km
- Capital: Thiruvananthapuram
- Population: Approximately 35 million
- Sex Ratio: 1084 females per 1000 males
- National Parks: Periyar National Park, Silent Valley National Park
- Major Rivers: Periyar, Pamba
- Highest Point: Anamudi (2,695 meters)
- UNESCO World Heritage Site: Western Ghats, Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (shared with Tamil Nadu, Karnataka)
- Madhya Pradesh
- Formation Date: November 1, 1956
- Area: 308,252 sq km
- Capital: Bhopal
- Population: Approximately 85 million
- Sex Ratio: 931 females per 1000 males
- National Parks: Kanha National Park, Bandhavgarh National Park
- Major Rivers: Narmada, Tapti
- Highest Point: Dhupgarh (1,350 meters)
- UNESCO World Heritage Site: Khajuraho Group of Monuments, Sanchi Stupa
- Maharashtra
- Formation Date: May 1, 1960
- Area: 307,713 sq km
- Capital: Mumbai
- Population: Approximately 125 million
- Sex Ratio: 929 females per 1000 males
- National Parks: Tadoba National Park, Sanjay Gandhi National Park
- Major Rivers: Godavari, Krishna
- Highest Point: Kalsubai (1,646 meters)
- UNESCO World Heritage Site: Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus)
- Manipur
- Formation Date: January 21, 1972
- Area: 22,327 sq km
- Capital: Imphal
- Population: Approximately 3 million
- Sex Ratio: 992 females per 1000 males
- National Parks: Keibul Lamjao National Park
- Major Rivers: Manipur River, Barak River
- Highest Point: Mt. Iso (2,994 meters)
- UNESCO World Heritage Site: N/A
- Meghalaya
- Formation Date: January 21, 1972
- Area: 22,429 sq km
- Capital: Shillong
- Population: Approximately 3 million
- Sex Ratio: 989 females per 1000 males
- National Parks: Balpakram National Park
- Major Rivers: Umngot River, Simsang River
- Highest Point: Shillong Peak (1,965 meters)
- UNESCO World Heritage Site: N/A
- Mizoram
- Formation Date: February 20, 1987
- Area: 21,081 sq km
- Capital: Aizawl
- Population: Approximately 1 million
- Sex Ratio: 975 females per 1000 males
- National Parks: Murlen National Park
- Major Rivers: Tlawng River, Chhimtuipui River
- Highest Point: Phawngpui (2,157 meters)
- UNESCO World Heritage Site: N/A
- Nagaland
- Formation Date: December 1, 1963
- Area: 16,579 sq km
- Capital: Kohima
- Population: Approximately 2 million
- Sex Ratio: 931 females per 1000 males
- National Parks: Intanki National Park
- Major Rivers: Doyang River, Dikhu River
- Highest Point: Mount Saramati (3,841 meters)
- UNESCO World Heritage Site: N/A
- Odisha
- Formation Date: April 1, 1936
- Area: 155,707 sq km
- Capital: Bhubaneswar
- Population: Approximately 45 million
- Sex Ratio: 979 females per 1000 males
- National Parks: Simlipal National Park, Bhitarkanika National Park
- Major Rivers: Mahanadi, Brahmani
- Highest Point: Deomali (1,672 meters)
- UNESCO World Heritage Site: Konark Sun Temple, Chilika Lake
- Punjab
- Formation Date: November 1, 1966
- Area: 50,362 sq km
- Capital: Chandigarh (shared with Haryana)
- Population: Approximately 30 million
- Sex Ratio: 895 females per 1000 males
- National Parks: Harike Wetland, Abohar Wildlife Sanctuary
- Major Rivers: Sutlej, Beas
- Highest Point: Dhar Gaj Dam
- UNESCO World Heritage Site: N/A
- Rajasthan
- Formation Date: November 1, 1956
- Area: 342,239 sq km
- Capital: Jaipur
- Population: Approximately 78 million
- Sex Ratio: 928 females per 1000 males
- National Parks: Ranthambore National Park, Sariska Tiger Reserve
- Major Rivers: Chambal, Luni
- Highest Point: Guru Shikhar (1,722 meters)
- UNESCO World Heritage Site: Hill Forts of Rajasthan, Keoladeo National Park
- Sikkim
- Formation Date: May 16, 1975
- Area: 7,096 sq km
- Capital: Gangtok
- Population: Approximately 700,000
- Sex Ratio: 890 females per 1000 males
- National Parks: Khangchendzonga National Park
- Major Rivers: Teesta, Rangeet
- Highest Point: Kangchenjunga (8,586 meters)
- UNESCO World Heritage Site: N/A
- Tamil Nadu
- Formation Date: November 1, 1956
- Area: 130,058 sq km
- Capital: Chennai
- Population: Approximately 78 million
- Sex Ratio: 996 females per 1000 males
- National Parks: Mudumalai National Park, Guindy National Park
- Major Rivers: Cauvery, Vaigai
- Highest Point: Doddabetta (2,637 meters)
- UNESCO World Heritage Site: Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (shared with Kerala, Karnataka)
- Telangana
- Formation Date: June 2, 2014
- Area: 112,077 sq km
- Capital: Hyderabad
- Population: Approximately 39 million
- Sex Ratio: 988 females per 1000 males
- National Parks: Kasu Brahmananda Reddy National Park, Mahavir Harina Vanasthali National Park
- Major Rivers: Godavari, Krishna
- Highest Point: Mahabubabad Hills (700 meters)
- UNESCO World Heritage Site: N/A
- Tripura
- Formation Date: January 21, 1972
- Area: 10,491 sq km
- Capital: Agartala
- Population: Approximately 4 million
- Sex Ratio: 960 females per 1000 males
- National Parks: Clouded Leopard National Park, Bison (Rajbari) National Park
- Major Rivers: Gomati, Howrah
- Highest Point: Betlingchhip (930 meters)
- UNESCO World Heritage Site: N/A
- Uttar Pradesh
- Formation Date: January 26, 1950
- Area: 243,286 sq km
- Capital: Lucknow
- Population: Approximately 240 million
- Sex Ratio: 912 females per 1000 males
- National Parks: Dudhwa National Park, Pilibhit Tiger Reserve
- Major Rivers: Ganges, Yamuna
- Highest Point: Ghora Parvat (2,228 meters)
- UNESCO World Heritage Site: Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri
- Uttarakhand
- Formation Date: November 9, 2000
- Area: 53,483 sq km
- Capital: Dehradun
- Population: Approximately 11 million
- Sex Ratio: 963 females per 1000 males
- National Parks: Jim Corbett National Park, Valley of Flowers National Park
- Major Rivers: Ganges, Yamuna
- Highest Point: Nanda Devi (7,816 meters)
- UNESCO World Heritage Site: Valley of Flowers National Park, Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks
- West Bengal
- Formation Date: January 26, 1950
- Area: 88,752 sq km
- Capital: Kolkata
- Population: Approximately 100 million
- Sex Ratio: 953 females per 1000 males
- National Parks: Sundarbans National Park, Gorumara National Park
- Major Rivers: Ganges, Hooghly
- Highest Point: Sandakphu (3,636 meters)
- UNESCO World Heritage Site: Sundarbans National Park, Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
Union Territories
- Andaman and Nicobar Islands
- Capital: Port Blair
- Area: 8,249 sq km
- Population: Approximately 380,000
- Sex Ratio: 876 females per 1000 males
- Major Islands: North Andaman, Middle Andaman, South Andaman, Little Andaman, Car Nicobar, Great Nicobar
- Chandigarh
- Capital: Chandigarh
- Area: 114 sq km
- Population: Approximately 1.1 million
- Sex Ratio: 818 females per 1000 males
- Significance: Serves as the capital of two states, Punjab and Haryana, but is a union territory by itself.
- Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu
- Capital: Daman
- Area: 603 sq km
- Population: Approximately 700,000
- Sex Ratio: 711 females per 1000 males
- Significance: Merged union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
- Lakshadweep
- Capital: Kavaratti
- Area: 32 sq km
- Population: Approximately 70,000
- Sex Ratio: 946 females per 1000 males
- Islands: 36 islands (10 inhabited, 26 uninhabited)
- Delhi (National Capital Territory of Delhi)
- Capital: New Delhi
- Area: 1,484 sq km
- Population: Approximately 30 million
- Sex Ratio: 868 females per 1000 males
- Significance: Houses the capital city of India, New Delhi, and serves as the seat of the Government of India.
- Puducherry
- Capital: Puducherry
- Area: 479 sq km
- Population: Approximately 1.4 million
- Sex Ratio: 1,038 females per 1000 males
- Significance: Comprises four unconnected regions: Puducherry, Karaikal, Yanam, and Mahe