What is the capital of India? How the territory came to be, plus the country's 28 states.

Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY
·2 min read
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About 1.4 billion people live in India, and the country is predicted to top China as the world’s most populous country by mid-2023, the United Nations reports. The report estimates that India will have 2.9 million more people than China by mid-year.

The U.S. is third in line for the largest population by country but it's way behind China and India at about 335 million people.

Want to learn more about the soon-to-be most populous country? Here’s some interesting information about how India is organized.

What is the capital of India?

The capital of India is New Delhi, located in the north-central part of the country to the west of the Yamuna River.

Calcutta (now Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal) was the country’s capital until 1911 when King George V declared Delhi the new capital and construction of New Delhi began.

When the national government achieved independence in 1947, New Delhi became the capital.

Mumbai, the state capital of Maharashtra, is often considered the financial capital of India because of its role in the national and international economy.

November 12, 2022: People eat street food as shoppers crowd a market in New Delhi, India. The world's population is projected to hit an estimated 8 billion people according to a United Nations projection.
November 12, 2022: People eat street food as shoppers crowd a market in New Delhi, India. The world's population is projected to hit an estimated 8 billion people according to a United Nations projection.

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How many states are in India?

India is home to 28 states, each with its own capital and run by a Governor who represents the President:

  • Andhra Pradesh

  • Arunachal Pradesh

  • Assam

  • Bihar

  • Chhattisgarh

  • Goa

  • Gujarat

  • Haryana

  • Himachal Pradesh

  • Jharkhand

  • Karnataka

  • Kerala

  • Madhya Pradesh

  • Maharashtra

  • Manipur

  • Meghalaya

  • Mizoram

  • Nagaland

  • Odisha

  • Punjab

  • Rajasthan

  • Sikkim

  • Tamil Nadu

  • Telangana

  • Tripura

  • Uttarakhand

  • Uttar Pradesh

  • West Bengal

India also has eight union territories, governed by an Administrator appointed by the President:

  • Andaman and Nicobar islands

  • Chandigarh

  • Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu

  • The Government of the National Capital Territory of Dehli

  • Jammu and Kashmir

  • Ladakh

  • Lakshadweep

  • Puducherry

What state is New Delhi in?

New Delhi is part of one of India’s union territories, the National Capital Territory of Dehli. Old Delhi, now a historic city, is north of New Delhi in the same union territory.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What is the capital of India? States and union territories explained.