States and Capitals of India is one of the most important topics for SSC, Railway, WBCS, UPSC and other competitive exams. India currently has 28 states and 8 Union Territories. Questions from this topic appear every year in government exams.
This guide includes the updated list and 100 important GK questions with explanations for strong exam preparation.
📊 Complete List of Indian States and Their Capitals
Andhra Pradesh — Amaravati
Arunachal Pradesh — Itanagar
Assam — Dispur
Bihar — Patna
Chhattisgarh — Raipur
Goa — Panaji
Gujarat — Gandhinagar
Haryana — Chandigarh
Himachal Pradesh — Shimla
Jharkhand — Ranchi
Karnataka — Bengaluru
Kerala — Thiruvananthapuram
Madhya Pradesh — Bhopal
Maharashtra — Mumbai
Manipur — Imphal
Meghalaya — Shillong
Mizoram — Aizawl
Nagaland — Kohima
Odisha — Bhubaneswar
Punjab — Chandigarh
Rajasthan — Jaipur
Sikkim — Gangtok
Tamil Nadu — Chennai
Telangana — Hyderabad
Tripura — Agartala
Uttar Pradesh — Lucknow
Uttarakhand — Dehradun
West Bengal — Kolkata
🧠 States and Capitals of India – GK Questions (With Detailed Explanation)
Q1. What is the capital of India?
Answer: New Delhi
Explanation: New Delhi is the official capital of India and the seat of the central government. It houses important national institutions such as the Parliament House, Rashtrapati Bhavan, and the Supreme Court. Although Delhi is a Union Territory with the National Capital Territory (NCT) status, New Delhi specifically refers to the area where the central government functions. It was formally declared the capital in 1911 during British rule, replacing Kolkata.
Q2. How many states are there in India (2025)?
Answer: 28
Explanation: India currently has 28 states after the reorganization of Jammu & Kashmir in August 2019. Earlier, India had 29 states, but the state of Jammu & Kashmir was bifurcated into two Union Territories — Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. Since then, the number of states stands at 28, which is an important static GK fact frequently asked in competitive exams.
Q3. What is the capital of West Bengal?
Answer: Kolkata
Explanation: Kolkata is the capital city of West Bengal and one of the oldest metropolitan cities in India. It served as the capital of British India until 1911, after which the capital shifted to Delhi. Kolkata is known for its cultural heritage, educational institutions, and major port. For exam purposes, remember that West Bengal’s capital has remained unchanged since independence.
Q4. What is the capital of Maharashtra?
Answer: Mumbai
Explanation: Mumbai is the capital of Maharashtra and is widely known as the financial capital of India because it houses the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), Reserve Bank of India (RBI), and many corporate headquarters. It is also the center of the Hindi film industry (Bollywood). In exams, Mumbai is often asked both as Maharashtra’s capital and as India’s financial hub.
Q5. What is the capital of Uttar Pradesh?
Answer: Lucknow
Explanation: Lucknow is the administrative capital of Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state. The city is famous for its Nawabi culture, architecture, and historical importance. Although cities like Kanpur and Varanasi are more famous commercially or religiously, Lucknow remains the official political capital — a common trap in MCQs.
Q6. What is the capital of Bihar?
Answer: Patna
Explanation: Patna is the capital of Bihar and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Historically known as Pataliputra during the Mauryan and Gupta periods, it was an important political and educational center in ancient India. In modern times, Patna functions as the administrative and political headquarters of Bihar.
Q7. What is the capital of Rajasthan?
Answer: Jaipur
Explanation: Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan and is popularly known as the Pink City because many of its buildings are painted pink. It was founded by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in 1727. Jaipur is also part of India’s famous Golden Triangle tourist circuit (Delhi–Agra–Jaipur). In exams, Rajasthan is often linked with Jaipur as well as being the largest state by area.
Q8. What is the capital of Gujarat?
Answer: Gandhinagar
Explanation: Gandhinagar is the capital city of Gujarat, named in honor of Mahatma Gandhi. It was developed as a planned city after the formation of Gujarat state in 1960. Many students mistakenly think Ahmedabad is the capital because it is the largest city, but officially the capital is Gandhinagar — a frequent exam trick.
Q9. What is the capital of Punjab?
Answer: Chandigarh
Explanation: Chandigarh serves as the capital of Punjab. It is a Union Territory and was designed by the famous architect Le Corbusier. Importantly, Chandigarh is not exclusively Punjab’s capital — it is shared with Haryana. Questions about this shared capital arrangement are very common in competitive exams.
Q10. What is the capital of Haryana?
Answer: Chandigarh
Explanation: Haryana shares Chandigarh as its capital with Punjab. When Haryana was carved out of Punjab in 1966, Chandigarh was made a Union Territory and designated as the joint capital of both states. This unique administrative arrangement makes Chandigarh an extremely important GK fact.
Q11. What is the capital of Karnataka?
Answer: Bengaluru
Explanation: Bengaluru (formerly Bangalore) is the capital of Karnataka and is known as the Silicon Valley of India due to its massive IT industry presence. Major tech companies and startups are headquartered here. In competitive exams, Bengaluru is frequently associated with IT, startups, and Karnataka’s capital.
Q12. What is the capital of Kerala?
Answer: Thiruvananthapuram
Explanation: Thiruvananthapuram, earlier known as Trivandrum, is the capital of Kerala. The name means “City of Lord Ananta.” It is an important administrative and cultural center in southern India. Because the name is long and tricky to spell, examiners often use it in objective questions.
Q13. What is the capital of Tamil Nadu?
Answer: Chennai
Explanation: Chennai is the capital of Tamil Nadu and was formerly known as Madras until it was officially renamed in 1996. It is a major cultural, economic, and educational hub in South India. Many exams test the old vs new name concept (Madras → Chennai).
Q14. What is the capital of Telangana?
Answer: Hyderabad
Explanation: Hyderabad became the capital of Telangana when the state was formed in 2014 after being separated from Andhra Pradesh. It is a major IT and pharmaceutical hub. For some years, Hyderabad functioned as a joint capital for both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, which is an important historical GK point.
Q15. What is the capital of Andhra Pradesh?
Answer: Amaravati
Explanation: Amaravati is the planned capital of Andhra Pradesh after the bifurcation of Telangana in 2014. Earlier, Hyderabad served as the capital. The Andhra Pradesh government proposed Amaravati as a greenfield capital city on the banks of the Krishna River. This topic is frequently asked because of the state bifurcation.
Q16. What is the capital of Odisha?
Answer: Bhubaneswar
Explanation: Bhubaneswar is the capital of Odisha and is known as the “Temple City of India” due to its numerous ancient temples, including the famous Lingaraj Temple. It is also one of India’s planned cities. In exams, Odisha’s capital is a high-frequency question.
Q17. What is the capital of Assam?
Answer: Dispur
Explanation: Dispur is the official capital of Assam, although many people mistakenly think Guwahati is the capital because it is the largest and most prominent city in the state. Dispur is actually a locality within the Guwahati metropolitan area. This confusion makes it a favorite exam question.
Q18. What is the capital of Arunachal Pradesh?
Answer: Itanagar
Explanation: Itanagar is the capital of Arunachal Pradesh, located in the northeastern region of India. The name comes from the historic Ita Fort located in the city. Because Northeast capitals are often confusing, questions from this region appear frequently in competitive exams.
Q19. What is the capital of Nagaland?
Answer: Kohima
Explanation: Kohima is the capital of Nagaland and is historically significant for the Battle of Kohima during World War II, which was a turning point in the Burma campaign. In GK exams, Kohima is often paired with Nagaland in match-the-following questions.
Q20. What is the capital of Manipur?
Answer: Imphal
Explanation: Imphal is the capital of Manipur and an important cultural and political center in Northeast India. It also has historical importance related to World War II battles. Because many Northeast capitals sound similar, Imphal is commonly tested in MCQs.
Q21. What is the capital of Mizoram?
Answer: Aizawl
Explanation: Aizawl is the capital and largest city of Mizoram. It is situated on a ridge in the northeastern hills. Mizoram’s capital is frequently asked because students often confuse it with capitals of neighboring states.
Q22. What is the capital of Meghalaya?
Answer: Shillong
Explanation: Shillong is the capital of Meghalaya and is popularly known as the “Scotland of the East” due to its scenic beauty and pleasant climate. It was earlier the capital of undivided Assam before Meghalaya became a separate state in 1972.
Q23. What is the capital of Tripura?
Answer: Agartala
Explanation: Agartala is the capital city of Tripura and lies very close to the India–Bangladesh border. It is the second-largest city in Northeast India after Guwahati. Tripura’s capital is a regular GK question in exams.
Q24. What is the capital of Sikkim?
Answer: Gangtok
Explanation: Gangtok is the capital and largest town of Sikkim. It is an important Himalayan tourist destination and administrative center. Since Sikkim is a small state, its capital is often asked in one-liner GK questions.
Q25. What is the capital of Jharkhand?
Answer: Ranchi
Explanation: Ranchi became the capital of Jharkhand when the state was carved out of Bihar in the year 2000. It is known for its mineral resources and waterfalls. State formation questions linked with capitals are common in exams.
Q26. What is the capital of Chhattisgarh?
Answer: Raipur
Explanation: Raipur is the capital of Chhattisgarh, which was formed in 2000 after separation from Madhya Pradesh. Raipur has grown rapidly as an industrial and commercial center in central India.
Q27. What is the capital of Madhya Pradesh?
Answer: Bhopal
Explanation: Bhopal is the capital of Madhya Pradesh and is known as the “City of Lakes.” It replaced Nagpur as the capital when Madhya Pradesh was reorganized in 1956. Bhopal is frequently asked in state-capital matching questions.
Q28. What is the capital of Himachal Pradesh?
Answer: Shimla
Explanation: Shimla is the capital of Himachal Pradesh and served as the summer capital of British India. Due to heavy snowfall, Dharamshala also functions as the winter capital for some administrative purposes — a tricky GK point.
Q29. What is the capital of Uttarakhand?
Answer: Dehradun
Explanation: Dehradun is the provisional capital of Uttarakhand since the state was formed in 2000. There has been discussion about making Gairsain the permanent capital, which sometimes appears in current affairs questions.
Q30. What is the capital of Goa?
Answer: Panaji
Explanation: Panaji (also called Panjim) is the capital of Goa. Many students incorrectly assume Vasco da Gama is the capital because it is a major port city. This makes Panaji an important MCQ trap.
।
🧠 States and Capitals of India – GK Questions (Part 2: Q31–Q100)
Q31. Which state has Dispur as its capital?
Answer: Assam
Explanation: Dispur is the official capital of Assam and is located within the Guwahati metropolitan area. Because Guwahati is more famous and commercially important, many aspirants mistakenly mark Guwahati as the capital. Examiners frequently use this confusion to frame tricky MCQs.
Q32. Which state has Amaravati as its capital?
Answer: Andhra Pradesh
Explanation: Amaravati was proposed as the legislative capital of Andhra Pradesh after the bifurcation of Telangana in 2014. Earlier, Hyderabad served as the capital of undivided Andhra Pradesh. Due to ongoing political and administrative discussions about capital arrangements, this question often appears in current affairs and static GK.
Q33. Hyderabad is the capital of which state?
Answer: Telangana
Explanation: Hyderabad became the capital of Telangana when the state was officially formed on 2 June 2014. For a transitional period, Hyderabad served as the joint capital of both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Today, it is the permanent capital of Telangana.
Q34. Which state has Itanagar as its capital?
Answer: Arunachal Pradesh
Explanation: Itanagar is the administrative headquarters of Arunachal Pradesh. The city derives its name from the historic Ita Fort. Capitals of northeastern states are frequently tested because many students find them difficult to remember.
Q35. Which state has Kohima as its capital?
Answer: Nagaland
Explanation: Kohima is the capital city of Nagaland and is historically significant due to the famous Battle of Kohima during World War II. In exams, Nagaland–Kohima is a very common match-the-following pair.
Q36. Which state has Aizawl as its capital?
Answer: Mizoram
Explanation: Aizawl is the capital and largest city of Mizoram. Because many Northeast capitals start with vowels and sound similar, examiners often include them in confusing MCQs to test conceptual clarity.
Q37. Which state has Shillong as its capital?
Answer: Meghalaya
Explanation: Shillong is the capital of Meghalaya and was earlier the capital of Assam before Meghalaya became a separate state in 1972. Its nickname “Scotland of the East” is also a popular GK fact.
Q38. Which state has Agartala as its capital?
Answer: Tripura
Explanation: Agartala is the capital of Tripura and lies very close to the India-Bangladesh border. It is the second-largest city in Northeast India after Guwahati. This capital frequently appears in SSC and Railway exams.
Q39. Which state has Gangtok as its capital?
Answer: Sikkim
Explanation: Gangtok is the capital of Sikkim, which became the 22nd state of India in 1975. Due to Sikkim’s late entry into the Indian Union, questions related to its capital and statehood year are common in competitive exams.
Q40. Which state has Ranchi as its capital?
Answer: Jharkhand
Explanation: Ranchi became the capital of Jharkhand when the state was formed in November 2000 after being separated from Bihar. Questions about newly formed states and their capitals are very common in GK papers.
Q41. Which state has Raipur as its capital?
Answer: Chhattisgarh
Explanation: Raipur is the capital of Chhattisgarh, another state created in the year 2000 from Madhya Pradesh. Because multiple states were formed in 2000, examiners often test them together.
Q42. Which state has Bhopal as its capital?
Answer: Madhya Pradesh
Explanation: Bhopal is the capital of Madhya Pradesh and is known for its natural and artificial lakes. It replaced Nagpur as the capital after the States Reorganisation Act of 1956.
Q43. Which state has Shimla as its capital?
Answer: Himachal Pradesh
Explanation: Shimla is the capital of Himachal Pradesh and served as the summer capital of British India. It remains one of the most historically significant hill capitals in India.
Q44. Which state has Dehradun as its capital?
Answer: Uttarakhand
Explanation: Dehradun became the capital when Uttarakhand was carved out of Uttar Pradesh in 2000. Although Gairsain has been discussed as a permanent capital, Dehradun continues to function as the main administrative capital.
Q45. Which state has Panaji as its capital?
Answer: Goa
Explanation: Panaji (Panjim) is the capital of Goa. Many candidates confuse it with Vasco da Gama because that city has a major port. This confusion makes it a frequent MCQ trap.
Q46. Which Indian state has the largest area?
Answer: Rajasthan
Explanation: Rajasthan is the largest state in India by geographical area. Its capital is Jaipur. Questions combining “largest state” with its capital are very common in exams.
Q47. Which Indian state is the smallest by area?
Answer: Goa
Explanation: Goa is the smallest state in India by area. Despite its small size, it is economically important due to tourism. Its capital Panaji is frequently asked in GK papers.
Q48. Which state is known as the Silicon Valley of India?
Answer: Karnataka (Bengaluru)
Explanation: Bengaluru, the capital of Karnataka, is called the Silicon Valley of India because of its huge IT industry and presence of global tech companies. Sometimes questions are framed indirectly using this nickname.
Q49. Which capital city is known as the Pink City?
Answer: Jaipur
Explanation: Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, is called the Pink City because many of its buildings were painted pink to welcome the Prince of Wales in 1876. This is a very popular static GK fact.
Q50. Which capital city is known as the City of Lakes?
Answer: Bhopal
Explanation: Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, is famous for its numerous natural and artificial lakes. This nickname is frequently used in match-the-following questions.
🔥 Rapid-Fire Practice (Q51–Q100)
(Short but exam-oriented with clear explanations)
Q51. Capital of Kerala?
Answer: Thiruvananthapuram
Explanation: Administrative capital of Kerala; formerly called Trivandrum.
Q52. Capital of Karnataka?
Answer: Bengaluru
Explanation: Major IT hub and state capital.
Q53. Capital of Tamil Nadu?
Answer: Chennai
Explanation: Earlier known as Madras.
Q54. Capital of Punjab and Haryana (joint)?
Answer: Chandigarh
Explanation: Union Territory serving both states.
Q55. Capital of Odisha?
Answer: Bhubaneswar
Explanation: Known as Temple City.
Q56. Capital of Gujarat?
Answer: Gandhinagar
Explanation: Named after Mahatma Gandhi.
Q57. Capital of Maharashtra?
Answer: Mumbai
Explanation: Financial capital of India.
Q58. Capital of Uttar Pradesh?
Answer: Lucknow
Explanation: Administrative center of India’s most populous state.
Q59. Capital of Bihar?
Answer: Patna
Explanation: Ancient city formerly called Pataliputra.
Q60. Capital of West Bengal?
Answer: Kolkata
Explanation: Former capital of British India.
Q61. Capital of Sikkim?
Answer: Gangtok
Explanation: Himalayan state capital.
Q62. Capital of Tripura?
Answer: Agartala
Explanation: Near Bangladesh border.
Q63. Capital of Meghalaya?
Answer: Shillong
Explanation: Scotland of the East.
Q64. Capital of Manipur?
Answer: Imphal
Explanation: Important Northeast city.
Q65. Capital of Nagaland?
Answer: Kohima
Explanation: WWII historic site.
Q66. Capital of Mizoram?
Answer: Aizawl
Explanation: Largest city of Mizoram.
Q67. Capital of Arunachal Pradesh?
Answer: Itanagar
Explanation: Named after Ita Fort.
Q68. Capital of Jharkhand?
Answer: Ranchi
Explanation: Formed in 2000.
Q69. Capital of Chhattisgarh?
Answer: Raipur
Explanation: Industrial hub.
Q70. Capital of Madhya Pradesh?
Answer: Bhopal
Explanation: City of Lakes.
Q71. Capital of Himachal Pradesh?
Answer: Shimla
Explanation: Former British summer capital.
Q72. Capital of Uttarakhand?
Answer: Dehradun
Explanation: Provisional capital.
Q73. Capital of Goa?
Answer: Panaji
Explanation: Also called Panjim.
Q74. Capital of Rajasthan?
Answer: Jaipur
Explanation: Pink City.
Q75. Capital of Telangana?
Answer: Hyderabad
Explanation: Formed in 2014.
Q76. Capital of Andhra Pradesh?
Answer: Amaravati
Explanation: Planned capital.
Q77. Capital of Assam?
Answer: Dispur
Explanation: Inside Guwahati.
Q78. Capital of Haryana?
Answer: Chandigarh
Explanation: Shared capital.
Q79. Capital of Punjab?
Answer: Chandigarh
Explanation: Union Territory capital.
Q80. Capital of Kerala nickname city?
Answer: Thiruvananthapuram
Explanation: Means City of Lord Ananta.
Q81. Largest state capital by population (among options usually)?
Answer: Mumbai
Explanation: One of India’s most populous metros.
Q82. IT capital of India?
Answer: Bengaluru
Explanation: Major tech hub.
Q83. Temple City capital?
Answer: Bhubaneswar
Explanation: Famous for ancient temples.
Q84. Scotland of the East capital?
Answer: Shillong
Explanation: Due to scenic hills.
Q85. Pink City capital?
Answer: Jaipur
Explanation: Buildings painted pink.
Q86. Financial capital of India?
Answer: Mumbai
Explanation: Houses RBI and BSE.
Q87. Which capital was earlier Madras?
Answer: Chennai
Explanation: Renamed in 1996.
Q88. Which capital was earlier Trivandrum?
Answer: Thiruvananthapuram
Explanation: Official modern name.
Q89. Which capital lies on Hooghly River?
Answer: Kolkata
Explanation: Major eastern port city.
Q90. Which capital is a planned city named after Gandhi?
Answer: Gandhinagar
Explanation: Built after Gujarat formation.
Q91. Which capital served British summer government?
Answer: Shimla
Explanation: Summer capital of British India.
Q92. Which capital is famous for Charminar?
Answer: Hyderabad
Explanation: Iconic monument there.
Q93. Which capital is closest to Bangladesh border (commonly asked)?
Answer: Agartala
Explanation: Very near international border.
Q94. Which capital is known for backwaters nearby (state GK)?
Answer: Thiruvananthapuram
Explanation: Kerala famous for backwaters.
Q95. Which capital is on the banks of Mithi River?
Answer: Mumbai
Explanation: Important coastal city.
Q96. Which capital is in the Doon Valley?
Answer: Dehradun
Explanation: Located between Himalayas and Shivaliks.
Q97. Which capital is called Garden City (historically)?
Answer: Bengaluru
Explanation: Due to parks and greenery.
Q98. Which capital replaced Kolkata as British capital in 1911?
Answer: New Delhi
Explanation: Shifted during Delhi Durbar.
Q99. Joint capital of two Indian states?
Answer: Chandigarh
Explanation: Punjab and Haryana share it.
Q100. Total number of state capitals in India?
Answer: 28
Explanation: Because India currently has 28 states.