Q. Is there 28 or 29 states in India

India currently has 28 states and 8 union territories as of 2025. The confusion about 29 states stems from a significant administrative reorganization that took place in 2019, when the former state of Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated and reorganized into two separate union territories: Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. This constitutional change, implemented through the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, reduced the total count of states from 29 to 28, where it stands today.

The reorganization was a landmark decision that altered India's political map and represents the most recent major administrative change in the country's federal structure. Understanding this distinction is important for anyone studying India's current governance framework, as official records, census data, and administrative procedures now reflect this 28-state structure. The change also highlights how India's federal arrangement remains dynamic, with the Constitution providing mechanisms for creating, merging, or reorganizing states and union territories based on administrative, political, or developmental considerations.