1.Largest States in India by Area (2025-26)
Rajasthan occupies the top spot, covering 10.4% of India’s total land area. The vastness of these states is often a key factor in regional planning and resource distribution.
| Rank | State | Area (sq. km) | Key Features |
| 1 | Rajasthan | 342,239 | Thar Desert, Aravalli Range, International border with Pakistan. |
| 2 | Madhya Pradesh | 308,252 | Central location, highest forest cover, rich mineral resources. |
| 3 | Maharashtra | 307,713 | Western Ghats, extensive coastline, major industrial hub. |
| 4 | Uttar Pradesh | 240,928 | Fertile Gangetic plains, Himalayan foothills in the north. |
| 5 | Gujarat | 196,024 | Longest coastline (1,600 km), Rann of Kutch, White Desert. |
2. Most Populous States in India
Population density and total inhabitants are critical for understanding market size and political representation. Uttar Pradesh alone accounts for about 17% of India’s population.
| Rank | State | Population (2011 Census) | Estimated 2026 Population |
| 1 | Uttar Pradesh | 19.98 Crore | ~24.3 Crore |
| 2 | Maharashtra | 11.23 Crore | ~12.9 Crore |
| 3 | Bihar | 10.40 Crore | ~13.3 Crore |
| 4 | West Bengal | 9.12 Crore | ~10.1 Crore |
| 5 | Madhya Pradesh | 7.26 Crore | ~9.0 Crore |
Note: While Maharashtra was 2nd in 2011, current growth projections suggest Bihar has seen faster growth, often competing for the 2nd spot in recent estimates.
3. Union Territories: Area and Population
Union Territories (UTs) are special administrative units. Following the 2019 Reorganisation, the ranking for the largest UT has changed.
Largest by Area: Ladakh
Covering 59,146 sq. km, Ladakh is the largest UT by area. It is characterized by high-altitude cold deserts and strategic borders with China and Pakistan.
- While Jammu and Kashmir is larger by including PoK (120,355 sq. km), Ladakh is the largest administered landmass among UTs.
Largest by Population: Delhi (NCT)
Despite its small size (1,484 sq. km), the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi has a projected 2026 population of over 2.2 Crore. It has one of the highest population densities in the world.
4. The “Smallest”:
- Smallest State (Area): Goa (3,702 sq. km). It is famous for its beaches and high per capita income.
- Smallest State (Population): Sikkim (~6.1 Lakh). It is India’s first fully organic state.
- Smallest UT (Area & Population): Lakshadweep (32 sq. km). An archipelago in the Arabian Sea known for coral reefs.
5. Comprehensive List of 28 States & 8 UTs (2026)
| Zone | States | Union Territories |
| North | HP, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, UP, Rajasthan | Delhi, Chandigarh, J&K, Ladakh |
| South | AP, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana | Puducherry, Lakshadweep |
| East | Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal | – |
| West | Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra | D&N Haveli and Daman & Diu |
| Central | MP, Chhattisgarh | – |
| Northeast | Arunachal, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, Sikkim | – |
