📊 India — State & UT Count
🗺️ All 8 Union Territories
Delhi
Jammu & Kashmir
Ladakh
Chandigarh
Puducherry
Lakshadweep
Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Dadra & NH + Daman & Diu
⚡ RECENT CHANGES
- J&K → became UT on 31 October 2019
- Ladakh → became UT on 31 October 2019 (separated from J&K)
- Telangana → became state on 2 June 2014
🚨 EXAM TRAP
- India = 28 states + 8 UTs (28 states after 2019 J&K reorganisation; 8 UTs after merger effective 26 Jan 2020)
- J&K + Ladakh = UTs (Oct 2019) | Telangana = state (Jun 2014)
- Dadra & NH + Daman & Diu = one merged UT from 26 January 2020
- Coastal states = 9 | Coastal UTs = 4
🏆 Largest & Smallest — States
- By Area: Rajasthan (3,42,239 km²)
- By Population: Uttar Pradesh (19.98 crore, 2011)
- By Area: Goa (3,702 km²)
- By Population: Sikkim (6.11 lakh, 2011)
🏆 Largest & Smallest — Union Territories
- By Area: Ladakh (59,146 km²)
- By Population: Delhi (1.68 crore, 2011)
- By Area: Lakshadweep (32 km²)
- By Population: Lakshadweep (64,473)
| Rank |
District (State) |
Area (km²) |
| 1st |
Kutch (Gujarat) |
45,674 |
| 2nd |
Old undivided Leh (pre-2026, Ladakh) |
45,110 |
| 3rd |
Jaisalmer (Rajasthan) |
38,401 |
| 4th |
Bikaner (Rajasthan) |
30,247 |
| 5th |
Barmer (Rajasthan) |
28,387 |
🚨 EXAM TRAP
- Largest state by area = Rajasthan (NOT MP — earlier MP was largest)
- Largest UT by area = Ladakh (59,146 km²) — became UT in 2019
- Smallest state by area = Goa | by population = Sikkim
- Lakshadweep = smallest in BOTH area AND population among UTs
- Largest district = Kutch (Gujarat), ~45,674 km²; larger than old undivided Leh. Ladakh has 7 districts after five new districts were notified on 27 April 2026.
🌊 Coastal States & UTs
Gujarat ★ (Longest — 2,340.62 km)
Maharashtra
Goa
Karnataka
Kerala
Tamil Nadu
Andhra Pradesh (3rd — 1,053.07 km)
Odisha
West Bengal
Andaman & Nicobar ★ (Longest UT — 3,083.50 km)
Lakshadweep
Puducherry
Dadra & NH + Daman & Diu
🏖️ Important Coasts & Islands
| Coast / Island |
Location / State |
Key Fact |
| Marina Beach |
Tamil Nadu |
Longest beach (widely cited) in India (world's 2nd longest) |
| Chandipur Coast |
Odisha |
Famous for disappearing sea (tidal range) |
| Varkala, Chowara, Chavakkad, Nattika |
Kerala |
Tourist beaches |
| Havelock Island |
Andaman & Nicobar |
Tourism (now Swaraj Island) |
| Pamban Island |
Tamil Nadu |
Near Rameswaram |
| Salsette Island |
Maharashtra |
Much of suburban Mumbai lies on Salsette |
| Amini Island |
Lakshadweep |
Between Kavaratti (south) and Kadmat (north) |
🚨 EXAM TRAP
- Longest state coast = Gujarat (2,340.62 km) | 2nd = Tamil Nadu (1,068.69 km) | AP = 3rd (1,053.07 km)
- Longest coastline UT = Andaman & Nicobar (3,083.50 km)
- Marina Beach = Tamil Nadu = India's longest beach (widely cited)
- Much of suburban Mumbai lies on Salsette Island
- Pamban Island = TN (NOT A&N) — near Rameswaram
📌 Important Facts — States & Geography
| Fact |
Details |
| High-altitude tourism / administrative city |
Leh (Ladakh) |
| First sunrise in India |
Arunachal Pradesh |
| Kathiawar Peninsula |
Gujarat |
| Daringbadi Hill |
Odisha |
| Bogibeel Bridge |
Dibrugarh and Dhemaji (both Assam); improves Arunachal connectivity |
| Majha, Doab, and Malwa Region |
Punjab |
| Twin cities of Hyderabad |
Secunderabad |
| Twin cities of Kochi |
Ernakulam |
| Sir Creek |
Disputed tidal estuary in the Kutch (Gujarat)–Sindh India–Pakistan boundary area |
| Longest beach (widely cited) |
Marina Beach (Tamil Nadu) |
| Largest state by area |
Rajasthan |
| Smallest state by area |
Goa |
| Largest UT by area |
Ladakh |
| Smallest UT by area + population |
Lakshadweep |
- Dibrugarh ↔ Dhemaji (both Assam); improves Arunachal connectivity
- Longest rail-cum-road bridge in India
- Over Brahmaputra River
- Inaugurated: 25 December 2018
🚨 EXAM TRAP
- First sunrise = Arunachal Pradesh (easternmost = first light)
- Sir Creek = disputed tidal estuary in the Kutch (Gujarat)–Sindh India–Pakistan boundary area
- Bogibeel Bridge = Assam-Arunachal connection over Brahmaputra
- Secunderabad = twin of Hyderabad | Ernakulam = twin of Kochi
- Punjab regions: Majha (NW), Doab (between rivers), Malwa (SE)
⚡ Master Quick Recall — Ch17
| Category |
Largest |
Smallest |
| State by Area |
Rajasthan (3,42,239 km²) |
Goa (3,702 km²) |
| State by Population |
UP (19.98 cr) |
Sikkim (6.11 lakh) |
| UT by Area |
Ladakh (59,146 km²) |
Lakshadweep (32 km²) |
| UT by Population |
Delhi (1.68 cr) |
Lakshadweep (64,473) |
| District by Area |
Kutch (Gujarat) 45,674 km² |
— |
| Coastline (State) |
Gujarat (2,340.62 km) |
Goa (shortest revised coast: 193.95 km) |
| Coastline (UT) |
A&N Islands (3,083.50 km) |
— |
| Beach |
Marina Beach (TN) |
— |
| State/UT |
Date |
From |
| Chhattisgarh |
1 Nov 2000 |
MP |
| Uttarakhand |
9 Nov 2000 |
UP |
| Jharkhand |
15 Nov 2000 |
Bihar |
| Telangana |
2 Jun 2014 |
AP |
| J&K (UT) |
31 Oct 2019 |
J&K State |
| Ladakh (UT) |
31 Oct 2019 |
J&K State |
- 9 coastal states: GJ, MH, Goa, KA, KL, TN, AP, Odisha, WB
- 4 coastal UTs: A&N, Lakshadweep, Puducherry, Dadra+Daman
- Gujarat = longest state coast (2340.62 km)
- Tamil Nadu = 2nd (1,068.69 km); AP = 3rd (1,053.07 km)
- A&N = longest UT coast (3083.50 km)
- Marina Beach = India's longest beach (widely cited) (TN)
- Much of suburban Mumbai = Salsette Island (MH)
- Pamban Island = TN (Rameswaram)
- Sir Creek = India-Pakistan tidal boundary (GJ-Sindh)
- First sunrise = Arunachal Pradesh
- High-altitude tourism / administrative city = Old undivided Leh (pre-2026, Ladakh)
- Bogibeel Bridge = Dibrugarh ↔ Dhemaji, Assam (Brahmaputra); improves Arunachal connectivity
- Kathiawar Peninsula = Gujarat
- Twin of Hyderabad = Secunderabad
- Twin of Kochi = Ernakulam
- Punjab regions = Majha, Doab, Malwa
- Daringbadi Hill = Odisha
⚡ BPSC KEY FACTS — Bihar Connection
- Jharkhand carved from Bihar on 15 November 2000
- After split, Bihar lost minerals + tribal areas to Jharkhand
- Bihar's NW border = UP | NE = WB | South = Jharkhand | North = Nepal
- Bihar has no coastline (landlocked state)