Indian States & Union Territories — Capitals, Reorganization History, Administration & Geography

The administrative geography of India reflects a dynamic federal structure balancing regional linguistic identities, administrative efficiency, and national integration. The modern reorganization of Indian states commenced with the States Reorganisation Act of 1956, which redrew boundaries primarily along linguistic lines, establishing a cooperative union of twenty-eight states and eight Union Territories. Each state possesses unique institutional machinery, capital cities, and cultural identities, from the biodiverse Himalayan foothills and the northeastern "Seven Sisters" to the extensive peninsular coastlines and island territories of Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep. Union Territories operate under direct central administrative oversight through Lieutenant Governors or Administrators, with special legislative setups in Delhi, Puducherry, and Jammu & Kashmir. Understanding state formations, geographical boundaries, and governance frameworks reveals how Indian constitutional federalism accommodates immense regional diversity within a unified sovereign republic.