Indian States & UTs GK Notes
हिंदी में पढ़ेंState-wise GK for every state and union territory: capitals, geography, culture, festivals, parks and firsts.
40 topics484 MCQs33 previous-year questions79 quizzesUpdated
Indian States and UTs is state-wise GK: one topic per state, with the smaller north-eastern states and the union territories grouped together. The list opens with the Formation and Reorganisation of States, then runs from Uttar Pradesh GK, Bihar GK, Rajasthan GK, Madhya Pradesh GK and Haryana GK through Maharashtra, Gujarat, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala to Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Two summary topics close it: State Capitals, High Courts and Assemblies, and State-wise Dances, Festivals and Symbols at a Glance.
State PSC and state subordinate exams such as UPPSC, BPSC, RPSC, MPPSC and HSSC ask the most: districts, rivers, dams, wildlife sanctuaries, folk arts, fairs and freedom fighters of the state. SSC CGL, CHSL and GD and RRB NTPC ask a state fact from anywhere in India: which state a dance belongs to, where a national park lies, which high court serves a union territory. Capitals and state symbols are the most repeated questions.
The notes run in syllabus order, but if you are preparing for a state exam, open your own state's topic first and then the two summary topics for the all-India questions. Every topic ends with practice MCQs, previous-year questions carry the exam and year tag, and mixed quiz sets test all states together. GK24 keeps the notes in English and Hindi.
Topic-wise notes
- 1
Formation and Reorganisation of States
Articles 1 to 4, the Dhar Commission and JVP Committee, Andhra State in 1953, the Fazl Ali Commission and the States Reorganisation Act 1956, and every state formed afterwards with its date.
12 MCQs5 previous-year questions
- 2
Uttar Pradesh GK
Formation, capital, rivers, symbols, national park, historic cities, World Heritage sites, crafts, crops and the first office holders of Uttar Pradesh, as exams ask them.
13 MCQs3 previous-year questions
- 3
Bihar GK
Formation, capital, rivers, state symbols, Valmiki National Park, ancient Magadha, World Heritage sites, fairs, crafts and the first office holders of Bihar, as exams ask them.
14 MCQs2 previous-year questions
- 4
Rajasthan GK
Rajasthan at a glance for exams: area and borders, the Aravallis and the Thar, rivers and lakes, forts and battles, folk dances, minerals and state firsts.
13 MCQs1 previous-year questions
- 5
Madhya Pradesh GK
Formation, capital, rivers, national parks, World Heritage Sites, forts, minerals and symbols of Madhya Pradesh, with the pairs SSC, Railway and state exams ask.
13 MCQs
- 6
Haryana GK
Formation of Haryana, its districts, rivers, parks and symbols, the battles of Panipat and Tarain, Rakhigarhi, industries, culture and the facts Haryana and SSC exams ask.
12 MCQs
- 7
Delhi GK
General knowledge of the National Capital Territory of Delhi: its special constitutional status, districts, geography, the seven historic cities, monuments, institutions and census facts exams ask.
12 MCQs1 previous-year questions
- 8
Maharashtra GK
Maharashtra at a glance: formation in 1960, capitals, districts and divisions, the Sahyadri and the rivers, the cave heritage, Shivaji's forts, festivals, crafts and the facts exams ask.
13 MCQs1 previous-year questions
- 9
Gujarat GK
Formation of Gujarat, its geography and rivers, Harappan sites and dynasties, World Heritage Sites, wildlife, economy, festivals, crafts and assembly facts for exams.
10 MCQs
- 10
Punjab GK
Reorganisation of Punjab in 1966, its rivers and dams, regions, the Green Revolution, Sikh heritage, folk culture, state symbols and assembly facts for exams.
12 MCQs
- 11
Uttarakhand GK
Formation of Uttarakhand in 2000, Garhwal and Kumaon, the Panch Prayag, Nanda Devi, Corbett and the Valley of Flowers, the Chipko movement, culture and state symbols for exams.
12 MCQs
- 12
Himachal Pradesh GK
Formation of Himachal Pradesh in 1948, 1956 and 1971, its five rivers and dams, passes, the Great Himalayan National Park, fairs, temples, apples and state symbols for exams.
12 MCQs
- 13
Jharkhand GK
Formation, capital, rivers and hills, minerals, tribal movements, festivals, dances, parks and state symbols of Jharkhand, with the facts state and SSC exams ask.
12 MCQs
- 14
Chhattisgarh GK
Formation of Chhattisgarh, its capital, borders and rivers, the Bailadila and Korba mineral belts, Bhilai steel, tribal risings, national parks, temples and folk arts, as exams ask them.
10 MCQs
- 15
West Bengal GK
Formation of West Bengal, its three international borders, rivers and the Sundarbans, the Bengal Renaissance and its Nobel laureates, jute and tea, UNESCO sites and folk arts, as exams ask them.
10 MCQs
- 16
Odisha GK
Formation of Odisha and its renaming, rivers and Chilika, the Kalinga War and Konark, chromite and Rourkela, Odissi and the state festivals, with the facts SSC, Railway and State exams ask.
12 MCQs
- 17
Andhra Pradesh GK
Formation of Andhra State and Andhra Pradesh, the 2014 bifurcation, rivers and coast, Tirupati and Lepakshi, Sriharikota, Kuchipudi and the crafts, with the facts SSC, Railway and State exams ask.
12 MCQs
- 18
Telangana GK
Formation of Telangana in 2014, the Nizams and the Kakatiyas, Godavari and Krishna, Ramappa temple, Bathukamma and Bonalu, state symbols and economy, with the facts SSC, Railway and State exams ask.
12 MCQs6 previous-year questions
- 19
Karnataka GK
Formation and renaming of Karnataka, its rivers, peaks and falls, the Chalukya, Hoysala and Vijayanagara monuments, its state symbols, famous people and economy, as exams ask them.
11 MCQs
- 20
Tamil Nadu GK
Formation and renaming of Tamil Nadu, its rivers, hills and World Heritage Sites, the Pallava and Chola monuments, state symbols, festivals, wildlife and economy, as exams ask them.
12 MCQs
- 21
Kerala GK
Kerala at a glance for exams: its formation, districts, rivers and backwaters, hills and parks, crops, festivals, symbols and the historic firsts papers ask about.
13 MCQs1 previous-year questions
- 22
Goa GK
Goa for exams: Portuguese rule and Operation Vijay, statehood in 1987, districts and rivers, the only national park, Mormugao port, festivals, symbols and records.
12 MCQs
- 23
Assam GK
Assam's capital, rivers, national parks, Ahom history, Bihu and Sattriya, tea, silk and oil, with the state facts asked in SSC, Railway and State exams.
12 MCQs2 previous-year questions
- 24
Arunachal Pradesh GK
Arunachal Pradesh's capital, statehood, the McMahon Line, the Siang, Tawang monastery, Namdapha, tribes and festivals, with the state facts asked in SSC, Railway and State exams.
12 MCQs
- 25
Manipur, Meghalaya and Mizoram GK
Capitals, statehood dates, Loktak and Keibul Lamjao, Mawsynram and the living root bridges, the Mizo Accord, tribes, festivals and the special articles, as exams ask them.
12 MCQs
- 26
Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim GK
Capitals and statehood dates, Article 371A and 371F, the Hornbill Festival, Neermahal and Unakoti, Kanchenjunga and the organic state, with the facts exams ask.
13 MCQs1 previous-year questions
- 27
Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh GK
General knowledge of the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh: the 2019 reorganisation, Articles 370 and 35A, rivers, lakes, passes, parks, monasteries and GI crafts.
14 MCQs1 previous-year questions
- 28
Union Territories GK: Andaman, Lakshadweep, Puducherry and Others
Union Territories for exams: Articles 239 to 241, capitals and High Courts, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Puducherry, Chandigarh, Delhi and the merged Daman territory.
14 MCQs1 previous-year questions
- 29
State Capitals, High Courts and Assemblies
Capitals of the states and union territories, the seat and jurisdiction of each High Court, common High Courts and benches, and the rules on Legislative Assemblies and Councils, for competitive exams.
12 MCQs
- 30
State-wise Dances, Festivals and Symbols at a Glance
One revision table of India's eight classical dances, state folk dances, the main festival of every state and Union Territory, state animals and birds, and the Indian entries on the UNESCO intangible heritage list.
13 MCQs2 previous-year questions
- 31
Andaman and Nicobar Islands GK
Geography, channels, Barren Island volcano, tribes, Cellular Jail, renamed islands, national parks, census figures and administration of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands for exams.
12 MCQs
- 32
Puducherry GK
The four regions of Puducherry, its French past and the 1954 transfer, Article 239A and the Assembly, census figures, Auroville, Arikamedu and the static GK facts SSC, Railway and State exams ask.
12 MCQs
- 33
Chandigarh GK
Why Chandigarh was built, Le Corbusier's sector plan, the Capitol Complex and its UNESCO listing, its status as a Union Territory and joint capital, and its famous places and census figures.
12 MCQs
- 34
Firsts Among Indian States
The firsts exams ask about Indian states: the first linguistic state, the first Panchayati Raj and Lokayukta states, the first RTI, service-guarantee and Uniform Civil Code laws, and the first literate and organic states.
13 MCQs1 previous-year questions
- 35
Lakshadweep GK
Lakshadweep at a glance: 36 islands and 10 inhabited ones, Kavaratti, Andrott, Minicoy, the Eight and Nine Degree Channels, administration, people and economy.
10 MCQs
- 36
Official Languages of States and Union Territories
Official languages of every state and union territory, with Part XVII of the Constitution, the Eighth Schedule and the amendments that took it to twenty-two languages.
11 MCQs1 previous-year questions
- 37
North-East India: Seven Sisters, Siliguri Corridor and the NEC
The eight states of North-East India with their capitals and statehood years, the Siliguri Corridor, the North Eastern Council, DoNER and the special constitutional provisions.
12 MCQs1 previous-year questions
- 38
Traditional Dresses of Indian States
The traditional dress of every major Indian state for men and women, with the famous weaves and the dress to state pairings that SSC, Railway and State exams ask.
10 MCQs
- 39
Inter-State Border Disputes of India
Inter-state border disputes for exams: Article 3 and the making of boundaries, Article 131 and Article 263, the Mahajan Commission and Belagavi, the north-eastern disputes, Kotia, Chandigarh and how such disputes are settled.
12 MCQs
- 40
Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu GK
General knowledge of the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu: its 2020 merger, capital, districts, Portuguese past, rivers, forts, tribes, Warli art and the facts exams ask.
12 MCQs1 previous-year questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How to prepare state-wise GK for a state PSC exam?
Start with your own state's topic and learn it in layers: formation and districts first, then rivers, dams and wildlife sanctuaries, then folk dances, fairs, festivals and tribes, then freedom fighters, firsts and recent awards. Attempt the topic's MCQs after each layer. Then read the Formation and Reorganisation of States topic and the two summary topics, because state PSC papers also ask general India-level questions. Keep the state's current affairs alongside.
Which state GK questions are common in SSC CGL and RRB NTPC?
The usual ones link a fact to its state: a folk dance, a festival, a national park or tiger reserve, a dam or river, a classical art, a state animal or bird, a high court, a border or the year a state was formed. Newly formed states and union territories and the north-eastern states come up often. The summary topics on capitals, high courts and state-wise dances and festivals are the quickest way to cover these.
Do I need to study all states or only my own state?
It depends on the exam. For a state PSC or a state police, patwari or clerk exam, your own state's topic matters most and deserves the most time. For SSC, railway and bank exams the questions can come from any state, so use the summary topics and the mixed quiz sets rather than reading every state note in depth. If you write both kinds of exams, do your own state in depth and the rest at summary level.
How is this subject different from Static GK?
Static GK holds India-wide and world lists: national symbols, capitals and currencies, superlatives, headquarters and firsts, including one topic on state symbols and nicknames. Indian States and UTs goes state by state and puts every fact about one state in one place: geography, culture, institutions and firsts. Use Static GK for the all-India lists and this subject when an exam names a state or when you need one state in depth.
Are festivals and folk dances of states asked in exams?
Yes, regularly. SSC, railway and state exams ask which state a dance or festival belongs to, and state PSCs ask for the district or community linked to a fair, a craft or a folk form. These questions repeat because the pairings do not change. The State-wise Dances, Festivals and Symbols at a Glance topic lists them together and each state note gives the detail; the previous-year questions show the pairings exams like most.
What do exams ask about Union Territories?
Which body administers a union territory, which of them have a legislature, the capital, the high court whose jurisdiction covers it, and facts about its islands, ports or borders. The changes of 2019 and 2020, when Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh became union territories and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu were merged, are asked often. The Union Territories GK topic and the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh topic cover these.