Know India: The country’s states, union territories; their capitals and languages

Geologically enclosed by the Himalayas to the north and the Indian Ocean to the south, the Indian subcontinent is home to a diverse array of cultures, demographics and natural heritage. In total, there are 36 subnational entities in India - comprising 28 states and 8 union territories. Furthermore, each of these states and union territories are subdivided into a total of as many as 800 districts, complete with their administrative subdivisions respectively.   

India is a Sovereign, Secular and Democratic Republic that follows a parliamentary system of government, with the president being the constitutional head of the executive. Following a similar style, the governor serves as the head of the executive in the states. Meanwhile, the union territories are administered by the president through an appointed administrator. 

Irrespective of their area, geographical features and climate patterns, each state and union territory of India is known for its unique set of demography, history, traditions and languages, among others. Here’s a quick look at all the states and union territories of India, with their respective capitals and the languages spoken…

STATES

1. Andhra Pradesh

Capital: Amaravati

Languages spoken: Telugu and Urdu

2. Arunachal Pradesh

Capital: Itanagar

Languages spoken: English, Nyishi and a host of other tribal languages.

3. Assam

Capital: Dispur (a suburb of Guwahati)

Languages spoken: Assamese, Bodo, Mising, Karbi, Bengali, Hindi and a host of other languages.

4. Bihar

Capital: Patna

Languages spoken: Hindi, Urdu, Bhojpuri, Maithili, Magahi, Angika and Santali, among others.

5. Chhattisgarh

Capital: Raipur

Languages spoken: Hindi, Chhattisgarhi, Gondi, Halbi and Kurukh, etc. 

6. Goa

Capital: Panaji

Languages spoken: Konkani and Marathi.

7. Gujarat

Capital: Gandhinagar

Languages spoken: Gujarati and Hindi. 

8. Haryana

Capital: Chandigarh

Languages spoken: Punjabi and Hindi 

9. Himachal Pradesh

Capital: Shimla (summer) and Dharamshala (winter)

Languages spoken: Hindi, Pahari, Punjabi, Dogri and Nepali.

10. Jharkhand

Capital: Ranchi

Languages spoken: Hindi, Santhali, Maithili, Mundari, Ho, Kharia, Kurukh, Khortha, Nagpuri, Angika, Bhojpuri, Magahi and Bengali.

11. Karnataka

Capital: Bengaluru

Languages spoken: Kannada, Urdu, Telugu, Tamil, Marathi, Tulu, Konkani and Malayalam.

12. Kerala

Capital: Thiruvananthapuram

Languages spoken: Malayalam, English, Tamil, Kannada and Tulu.

13. Madhya Pradesh

Capital: Bhopal

Languages spoken: Hindi, Malvi, Bundeli, Bagheli, Gondi, Korku, Marathi, Sindhi and Urdu. 

14. Maharashtra

Capital: Mumbai

Languages spoken: Marathi, Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati, Telugu, Kannada, Ahirani, Banjari, Bhili and English.

15. Manipur

Capital: Imphal

Languages spoken: Meiteilon, Tangkhul, Mao, Maram, Maring, Thadou, Hmar, Paite, Simte, Zou and Hindi, among others.

16. Meghalaya

Capital: Shillong

Languages spoken: English, Khasi, Garo, Pnar, Biate, Bengali, Hindi, Nepali, Assamese and Hajong. 

17. Mizoram

Capital: Aizawl

Languages spoken: Mizo, English, Hmar, Paite, Lai, Halam, Mara and Thado-Kuki 

18. Nagaland

Capital: Kohima

Languages spoken: English, Nagamese, Angami, Ao, Chakhesang, Chang, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Lotha, Phom, Pochury, Rengma, Sümi, Sangtam, Yimkhiung, Zeliang and Hindi. 

19. Odisha

Capital: Bhubaneswar

Languages spoken: Odia, Sambalpuri, Ganjami Odia, Baleswari Odia, Desia, Bhatri, Santali, Kui & Kuvi, Ho, Mundari, Juang, Gadaba, Koya, Kisan, Hindi, Bengali, Telugu and English.

20. Punjab

Capital: Chandigarh

Languages spoken: Punjabi, Majhi, Malwai, Doabi, Pwadhi, Saraiki, Hindko and Urdu.

21. Rajasthan

Capital: Jaipur

Languages spoken: Hindi, Marwari, Mewari, Dhundhari, Mewati, Malvi, Bagri and Haryanvi. 

22. Sikkim

Capital: Gangtok

Languages spoken: English, Sikkimese, Lepcha, Gurung, Limbu, Magar, Mukhia, Newari, Rai, Sherpa, Tamang, Tibetan and Hindi.

23. Tamil Nadu

Capital: Chennai

Languages spoken: Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Kannada, Malayalam, Badaga, Irula, Saurashtra and English. 

24. Telangana

Capital: Hyderabad

Languages spoken: Telugu, Urdu, Gondi, Kolami, Koya, Hindi and English. 

25. Tripura

Capital: Agartala

Languages spoken: Bengali, Kokborok

26. Uttar Pradesh

Capital: Lucknow

Languages spoken: Hindi, Urdu, Awadhi, Bhojpuri, Braj Bhasha, Bundeli, Kauravi and Kannauji. 

27. Uttarakhand

Capital: Dehradun (winter) and Bhararisain (summer)

Languages spoken: Hindi, Garhwali, Kumaoni, Sanskrit, Jaunsari, Urdu, Punjabi and Rang. 

28. West Bengal

Capital: Kolkata

Languages spoken: Bangla, Hindi, Urdu, Nepali, Santhali, Sadri, Odia, Bhojpuri, Kurmali, Rajbanshi and Bhutiya.

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UNION TERRITORIES

1. Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Capital: Port Blair

Languages spoken: Hindi, English, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Nicobarese, Shompen, Jarawa and Sentinelese. 

2. Chandigarh

Capital: Chandigarh

Languages spoken: Punjabi, Hindi and English.

3. Dadra and Nagar Haveli; Daman and Diu

Capital: Daman

Languages spoken: Hindi, English, Gujarati, Konkani, Marathi, Bhili, Warli, Dhodia and Portuguese.

4. The National Capital Territory of Delhi 

Capital: Delhi

Languages spoken: Hindi, English, Punjabi, and Urdu. 

5. Jammu and Kashmir

Capital: Srinagar (summer capital) and Jammu (winter capital)

Languages spoken: Kashmiri, Dogri, Urdu, Hindi, English, Gojri, Pahari, Punjabi, Shina, Balti and Ladakhi. 

6. Ladakh

Capital: Leh

Languages spoken: Ladakhi, Balti, Purgi, Zanskari, Shina, English, Hindi and Urdu.

7. Lakshadweep

Capital: Kavaratti

Languages spoken: Malayalam, Mahl, Hindi, English, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Konkani, Urdu and Gujarati. 

8. Puducherry

Capital: Puducherry

Languages spoken: Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, English, French, Urdu, Hindi, Kannada and Marathi.