north India
Delhi
Delhi is the National Capital Territory of India and New Delhi is the capital of India. It combines ancient settlement traditions, Sultanate and Mughal urban layers, colonial capital planning, national institutions, NCT governance, migration, services-led growth, air pollution, Yamuna ecology, and NCR urbanisation.
Capital
New Delhi
Population
1.68 Cr
Census of India 2011
Area
1,484 sq km
Census of India 2011
Literacy
86.2%
Census of India 2011
Districts
11
State Profile
Delhi overview
Delhi is the National Capital Territory of India, and New Delhi is the capital of India. It is a compact but nationally significant urban territory shaped by the Yamuna, the Delhi Ridge, ancient settlement traditions, Sultanate cities, Mughal Shahjahanabad, colonial New Delhi, Partition migration, national institutions, NCT governance, NCR expansion, and environmental stress.
Capital
New Delhi
Region
north
Population
1.68 Cr
Census of India 2011
Area
1,484 sq km
Census of India 2011
Snapshot
Quick facts
Core facts useful for prelims, maps, and state comparison.
- Capital
- New Delhi
- Largest city
- Delhi
- Region
- north
- Population
- 1.68 CrCensus of India 2011
- Area
- 1,484 sq kmCensus of India 2011
- Languages
- Hindi, English, Punjabi, Urdu, Haryanvi, Bhojpuri, Bengali, Tamil, Malayalam, Nepali
Snapshot
Economy snapshot
A quick view of source-backed output, income, growth, and major sectors.
- Industries
- Government administration, Services, Trade and retail, Wholesale markets
UPSC Focus
Why it matters
Important UPSC-relevant themes connected with this state.
- Delhi contains Parliament, the Supreme Court of India, Rashtrapati Bhavan, major Union ministries, the Election Commission of India, and many national commissions and institutions.
- It is a key UPSC case study for federalism, Centre-NCT relations, urban local governance, land and police administration, municipal services, and public service delivery.
- Its geography links the Yamuna floodplain, Delhi Ridge, alluvial plains, Najafgarh drain system, NCR corridors, urban villages, heat, air pollution, flooding, and water stress.
- Its history connects the Indraprastha tradition, Tomara-Chauhan fortifications, Delhi Sultanate capitals, Mughal Shahjahanabad, 1857, colonial capital planning, Partition, and contemporary megacity growth.
UPSC Focus
Identity markers
Cultural, historical, geographical, or economic identifiers.
- Delhi is the National Capital Territory of India.
- New Delhi is the capital of India.
- Delhi functions as a Union Territory with a Legislative Assembly under the National Capital Territory framework.
- The NCT framework was created through the 69th Constitutional Amendment and the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991.
- The Delhi High Court was established on 31 October 1966 and is located in New Delhi.
- Delhi lies on the Yamuna river and near the northern extension of the Aravalli range known as the Delhi Ridge.
- Major physical-urban regions include the Yamuna floodplain, Delhi Ridge, Old Delhi/Shahjahanabad, New Delhi/Lutyens Delhi, South Delhi/Mehrauli, trans-Yamuna or East Delhi, urban villages, and NCR-linked expansion.
- Delhi has three major UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Humayun Tomb, and the Red Fort Complex.