State Formation

The States of India 

The world knows a very famous federation: The United States of America. However, it is lesser known that, India too, is a federation of states, called the “Republic of India”.  

Working with Indians – a cultural tip to start a conversation 

When two Indians meet  for the first time, it is a common practice to enquire after their regional identity. The common question “Where in India do you come from?” is usually asked in the beginning of the conversation.  

So, if you’re meeting an Indian, ask them about their hometown. It can be a good ice-breaker and you could be treated to a dozen stories about their hometown. It’s even better if you know a bit about that part of India. 

Here are five interesting facts about Indian States, which are nice to add to your repertoire.

1. There are 28 Indian States and 8 Union Territories* 

Below is the list of Indian States and their capital cities*  

1	Andhra Pradesh	Hyderabad (Proposed Capital Amaravati)
2	Arunachal Pradesh	Itanagar
3	Assam	Dispur
4	Bihar	Patna
5	Chhattisgarh	Raipur
6	Goa	Panaji
7	Gujarat	Gandhinagar
8	Haryana	Chandigarh
9	Himachal Pradesh	Shimla
10	Jharkhand	Ranchi
11	Karnataka	Bengaluru (formerly Bangalore)
12	Kerala	Thiruvananthapuram
13	Madhya Pradesh	Bhopal
14	Maharashtra	Mumbai
15	Manipur	Imphal
16	Meghalaya	Shillong
17	Mizoram	Aizawl
18	Nagaland	Kohima
19	Odisha	Bhubaneswar
20	Punjab	Chandigarh
21	Rajasthan	Jaipur
22	Sikkim	Gangtok
23	Tamil Nadu	Chennai
24	Telangana	Hyderabad
25	Tripura	Agartala
26	Uttar Pradesh	Lucknow
27	Uttarakhand	Dehradun (Winter) Gairsain (Summer)
28	West Bengal	Kolkata

*as at the time of writing this blog 

Indian states have a wonderful biodiversity which you can discover in this brilliant video by The Indian Government’s public diplomacy, showcasing different States of India visually.

2. India’s various states contribute to India’s diversity

Each State is well known for distinct cuisines, musical styles, textiles and architecture.  On Mastering India learning hub, you can get introduced to Indian Art through a short online course.

Below is an overview of the mouth-watering cuisines, unique to each region, which can be relished to the fullest by visiting that state. Watch this video to relish famous dishes of India visually.  

Below are some famous cuisines from across India: 

Region	Cuisines
Uttar Pradesh	Awadhi Cuisine
Tamil Nadu	Chettinaad Cuisine
Gujarat	Gujarati Cuisine
Kerala	Malabari Cuisine
Orissa	Odia Cuisine

Each of these cuisines have their own distinctive and famous dishes. Our series on the vastness of India shall cover in greater detail this exquisite subject. Stay tuned for our upcoming course on Indian cuisine.

3. Indian States celebration of State Formation Day

The Indian States of Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Punjab, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu were officially formed on November 1st of the years 1956, 1966 and 2000. Delhi, Chandigarh, Puducherry, Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar were given the status of union territories on November 1st too. 

4. British History and Indian State Formation 

It is well known that before being annexed by the British, India was comprised of various princely States. Many books have been written and movies released on Indian Maharajas and Queens. Indian history is full of wars fought between Indian kings.  

Before colonisation, the British offered their services to fight many of these wars for the Indians kings against one another. However, an interesting piece of history that is often forgotten, is that there were many wars Indian Kings (and Indian Queens) fought against the British East India Company. Eventually, the British colonized India. Here are three videos by Swiss Learning Exchange on the economic history of India. Watching will help you understand how India transitioned from an era of princely states to the current Republic of India. Head to SLX Learning elearning platform for interesting courses on various topics.

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5. What is common amongst States of India ?  

Why it is important to know these facts about India’s various States? Knowing that India is made of different states helps one understand India’s diversity. It also brings the comprehension of India’s complexities. as despite this diversity, there are some aspects that are common to all States in India. This blog does not focus on the political aspects.  

Culturally, many festivals are celebrated all across India, from North to South and from East to West. For instance, Dussehra is celebrated across several parts India like Tamil Nadu in the South, Uttar Pradesh in the North, Gujarat in the West and in West Bengal in East of India. If you consider that the expanse of India is 2933 kms from East to West and 3214 kms from north to south.

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