India Facts and Figures on State Capitals

India Facts and Figures on State Capitals

State and Union Territory Capitals of India

Overview of Capitals

• The state and union territory capitals are sorted according to the administrative, legislative, and judicial capitals.

• The administrative capital is where the executive government offices are located.

• The legislative capital is where the state assembly convenes.

• The judicial capital is the location of the state or territorial High Courts of India.

• The year mentioned in the table refers to when the city became the capital of the state or territory.

• In the following table, S and W refer to the summer and winter sessions, respectively. B refers to the budget session of the legislature.

• The administrative (executive) capital is considered to be the main capital of the state.

• The former capital refers to a city that was the capital from admission into the Indian Union.

• An absence of a legislative capital means that it is administered by the Central Government.

States and Union Territories and Their Capitals

Special Notes on Capitals

Andhra Pradesh Capital Trifurcation

• Hyderabad remained the joint capital of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh states.

• The ancient town of Amaravati, placed between Guntur and Vijayawada in central A.P., is being developed as the new Capital of Andhra Pradesh.

• However, there is a move by the Government of Andhra Pradesh to trifurcate the capital.

• According to the bill passed by the state assembly on June 16, 20,20, and approved by the Governor on July 31, 2020, the formation of the three capital cities for Andhra Pradesh is proposed to be:

  1. Vishakhapatnam (Executive Capital)

  2. Amaravati (Legislative Capital)

  3. Kurnool (Judicial Capital)

• On August 4, 2020, the Andhra Pradesh High Court stayed the notification of the YSR Congress government till August 27, 2020.

Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019

• The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019, was enacted (MHA, SO No. 3979 (E)) dated November 2, 2019, to provide for the reorganization of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories:

  • One to be eponymously called Jammu and Kashmir

  • The other is Ladakh

• Accordingly, the "State Legislature, including the Legislative Council of the State" has been abolished and shall now onwards be construed as the "Legislative Assembly of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir".

[Source: India 2020]

Ladakh Administration and Governance

• The Union Territory of Ladakh has two districts: Kargil and Leh, with each having its autonomous district council.

• These councils work with village panchayats to make decisions on economic development, healthcare, education, land use, taxation, and local governance.

• It has its police force headed by a Director General of Police.

• Ladakh does not have an elected legislative assembly or a chief minister.

[Source: India 2020]

Final Thoughts

India’s administrative framework reflects its vast diversity, and understanding the states and union territories along with their capitals—administrative, legislative, and judicial—is essential for students, aspirants, and curious minds. These distinctions help clarify how governance functions at multiple levels and across regions.

While most states have a single capital, some like Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh follow a bi-capital system, and others like Andhra Pradesh have proposed trifurcation. This data is not only informative but also highlights the complexity of India's federal structure. The inclusion of former capitals and session-based capitals offers deeper insight into the evolution of India's political geography.

With continuous updates and legislative changes, staying current with such India Facts and Figures is crucial for general awareness, competitive exams, and civic understanding. It underscores how India balances tradition, administration, and regional needs through its unique capital systems.