States and Capitals of India: Class 3 Study Guide
India has 28 states and 8 union territories. Each state has a capital city where its government sits.
India is a union of 28 states and 8 union territories. The capital of the country is New Delhi. Each state is governed from its own capital city, which is not always the biggest city. For example, Maharashtra's capital is Mumbai but Gujarat's capital is Gandhinagar, not Ahmedabad.
Learning a few pairs at a time is easier than trying to remember all of them. Use a map, say the names aloud and make flash cards.
Some states and capitals
| State | Capital |
|---|---|
| Maharashtra | Mumbai |
| Tamil Nadu | Chennai |
| Karnataka | Bengaluru |
| Kerala | Thiruvananthapuram |
| West Bengal | Kolkata |
| Gujarat | Gandhinagar |
| Rajasthan | Jaipur |
| Uttar Pradesh | Lucknow |
| Bihar | Patna |
| Madhya Pradesh | Bhopal |
| Odisha | Bhubaneswar |
| Assam | Dispur |
| Telangana | Hyderabad |
Tips to remember
Group the states by region: the south, the west, the north and the east. Make a rhyme or story for each pair. Quiz a friend: say a state and ask for its capital. Find each state on a map and trace its outline.
Near each other.
State, then capital.
Point to each.
Cover the answers.
Union territories
Delhi, Chandigarh and Puducherry are union territories, among others. Union territories are governed in a slightly different way from states. Chandigarh is also the capital of the states of Punjab and Haryana.
Worked examples and common mistakes
Example: What is the capital of Rajasthan? Jaipur. Example: Which state has Bengaluru as its capital? Karnataka. Common mistakes: thinking the biggest city is always the capital, and spelling a capital wrongly. Look at the spelling in an atlas.
Check your understanding: model answers
1. Chennai. 2. Uttar Pradesh. 3. For example Delhi, Chandigarh or Puducherry.
✨ Key Takeaways
- India has 28 states and 8 union territories.
- New Delhi is the country's capital.
- A state capital is not always the biggest city.
- Learn a few pairs at a time with the map.
💬 Questions for Discussion & Reflection
- Name the capital of Tamil Nadu.
- Which state has Lucknow as its capital?
- Name a union territory.