28 States of India and Their Languages and Capitals: India is a land of unity in diversity. Each state has developed its own distinct identity over the years while being an integral part of united India. The different languages, food, attire, traditions, and festivals celebrated across the states showcase India’s vibrant culture.
While Hindi is the most widely spoken language in India, there are over 19,500 dialects and languages spoken across the different states and union territories of India. This linguistic diversity is a hallmark of India’s composite culture.
28 States of India and Their Languages and Capitals
India is a diverse country with 28 states and 8 union territories. Each state has its own distinct culture, language, food, and traditions. Here is an overview of the 28 states of India along with their capitals and major languages:
State | Capital | Major Language(s) |
---|---|---|
Andhra Pradesh | Amaravati | Telugu |
Arunachal Pradesh | Itanagar | English, Nissi |
Assam | Dispur | Assamese |
Bihar | Patna | Hindi |
Chhattisgarh | Raipur | Chhattisgarhi, Hindi |
Goa | Panaji | Konkani |
Gujarat | Gandhinagar | Gujarati |
Haryana | Chandigarh | Hindi |
Himachal Pradesh | Shimla | Hindi |
Jharkhand | Ranchi | Hindi |
Karnataka | Bengaluru | Kannada |
Kerala | Thiruvananthapuram | Malayalam |
Madhya Pradesh | Bhopal | Hindi |
Maharashtra | Mumbai | Marathi |
Manipur | Imphal | Manipuri |
Meghalaya | Shillong | Khasi, Garo, English |
Mizoram | Aizawl | Mizo, English |
Nagaland | Kohima | English |
Odisha | Bhubaneswar | Odia |
Punjab | Chandigarh | Punjabi |
Rajasthan | Jaipur | Hindi, Rajasthani |
Sikkim | Gangtok | Nepali, English |
Tamil Nadu | Chennai | Tamil |
Telangana | Hyderabad | Telugu |
Tripura | Agartala | Bengali, Kokborak |
Uttar Pradesh | Lucknow | Hindi |
Uttarakhand | Dehradun | Hindi |
West Bengal | Kolkata | Bengali |
India’s 28 states and 8 union territories make up a diverse country with different languages, cultures, traditions, food, and identities. Yet, there is an underlying unity that brings together this colorful mosaic of states.
The states have developed their unique identity over decades and centuries, with distinct languages, attire, festivals and more. At the same time, Hindi acts as a common thread that connects people across states. Constitutional principles and institutions also unite the country.
While each state has its own government and local laws, the Indian constitution binds them together as one nation. National symbols like the national anthem, national flag, and national emblem evoke a spirit of oneness, as do national holidays like Independence Day and Republic Day.
Therefore, India’s states showcase plurality and diversity while the idea of India represents unity. The states complement each other – their different strengths contribute to national development. Together, they make India a country full of contrasts, yet one unified nation.