India has 28 states and 8 union territories, for a total of 36 administrative divisions. This two-tier structure underpins one of the world's most complex federal democracies, governing more than 1.4 billion people across a landmass of roughly 3.29 million square kilometres. States run their own elected governments, while union territories fall under closer control of the central government in New Delhi.
States Versus Union Territories
The key difference comes down to autonomy. Each of the 28 states has an elected legislative assembly and a Chief Minister who heads the state government, exercising authority over subjects such as education, policing, agriculture, public health, and local administration. The central government retains control over defence, foreign affairs, currency, and inter-state matters.
Union territories, by contrast, are administered by the President of India through appointed lieutenant governors or administrators. Most have no legislature of their own. The exceptions are Delhi, Puducherry, and Jammu and Kashmir, which have elected assemblies but still operate with reduced powers compared with full states. This hybrid arrangement lets the central government keep direct oversight of strategically sensitive or geographically scattered regions.
The 28 States
India's states span an enormous range in size and population. The 28 states are: Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal.
- Largest by area: Rajasthan, at 342,239 km², larger than Germany.
- Most populous: Uttar Pradesh, with over 200 million people — more than most countries on Earth.
- Smallest by area: Goa, covering just 3,702 km².
- Newest state: Telangana, carved out of Andhra Pradesh in 2014.
If Uttar Pradesh were an independent nation, it would rank as roughly the fifth most populous country in the world, ahead of Indonesia and Pakistan. This single statistic captures the scale at which Indian states operate.
The 8 Union Territories
The 8 union territories are smaller and often geographically distinctive, ranging from island chains to the national capital. They divide into two groups:
- With an elected legislature: Delhi (the National Capital Territory), Puducherry, and Jammu and Kashmir.
- Without a legislature: Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Lakshadweep, and Ladakh.
Delhi alone is home to more than 20 million people, making it one of the largest urban agglomerations on the planet despite its small geographic footprint. The most significant recent reorganization came in 2019, when the former state of Jammu and Kashmir was split into two union territories: Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. This reduced the number of states from 29 to 28 and increased the union territory count.
How the Map Was Drawn
India's internal boundaries are not accidents of history but the product of deliberate reform. At independence in 1947, the country inherited a patchwork of British provinces and over 500 princely states, which had to be integrated into a single union. The defining moment came with the States Reorganisation Act of 1956, which redrew state borders largely along linguistic lines so that speakers of major languages such as Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, and Kannada would share a state.
The process has continued ever since. Goa, a Portuguese colony until 1961, became a state in 1987. In 2000, three new states — Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Uttarakhand — were created from larger neighbours to improve regional governance. India today recognizes 22 official languages under the Eighth Schedule of its Constitution, and that linguistic diversity remains a central force shaping the political map. To explore the country's geography, history, and culture in more depth, see our india country guide.
Why the Numbers Sometimes Confuse
You may encounter older sources citing 29 states or 7 union territories. These figures are out of date. Before 2019, India had 29 states (including Jammu and Kashmir) and 7 union territories. The 2019 reorganization and the subsequent 2020 merger of Dadra and Nagar Haveli with Daman and Diu settled the count at the current 28 states and 8 union territories. Always check the date of a source when verifying these totals, since India's administrative map has been revised several times in living memory.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many states and union territories does India have in total?
India has 28 states and 8 union territories, giving 36 administrative divisions in total. This has been the official count since the 2019 and 2020 reorganizations.
What is the largest and smallest state in India?
Rajasthan is the largest state by area at 342,239 km², while Goa is the smallest at just 3,702 km². By population, Uttar Pradesh is by far the largest with over 200 million residents.
What is the newest state in India?
Telangana is the newest state, formed in 2014 when it was separated from Andhra Pradesh. The most recent overall change to the map was the creation of the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh union territories in 2019.
Is Delhi a state or a union territory?
Delhi is a union territory, officially the National Capital Territory of Delhi. It is unusual in having its own elected legislative assembly and Chief Minister, though it does not hold the full powers of a state.