The Indian States and Union territories

India is seventh-largest country in the world and also the second populous. It lies in southern Asia. It is officially known as the Republic of India. India, a union of states, is a Sovereign, Secular, Democratic Republic with a Parliamentary system of Government. It gets very difficult to manage a large country from one place. So Indian Constitution gives a right to the central government to make states as it feels suitable.

The President is the constitutional head of Executive of the Union. In the states, the Governor, as the representative of the President, is the head of Executive. The system of government in states closely resembles that of the Union. There are 28 states and 8 Union territories in the country. Union Territories are administered by the President through an Administrator appointed by him/her. From the largest to the smallest, each State/UT of India has a unique demography, history, and culture, dress, festivals, language, etc.

Lying entirely in the northern hemisphere, the mainland extends between latitudes 8° 4′ and 37° 6′ north, longitudes 68° 7′ and 97° 25′ east and measures about 3,214 km from north to south between the extreme latitudes and about 2,933 km from east to west between the extreme longitudes. It has a land frontier of about 15,200 km. The total length of the coastline of the mainland, Lakshadweep Islands, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands is 7,516.6 km.

Border Countries

• Afghanistan and Pakistan to the north-west;
• China, Bhutan, and Nepal to the north;
• Myanmar to the east; and
• Bangladesh to the east of West Bengal.
• Sri Lanka is separated from India by a narrow channel of sea, formed by Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar.

Indian States and Union territories

States

Union Territories