west India
Gujarat
Gujarat is a western Indian state on the Arabian Sea, with Gandhinagar as capital and Ahmedabad as its largest city. It is central to the study of Harappan archaeology, maritime trade, Gandhi, Sardar Patel, cooperative development, ports, industry, coastal ecology, water governance, and disaster management.
Capital
Gandhinagar
Population
6.04 Cr
Census of India 2011
Area
1,96,244 sq km
Census of India 2011
Literacy
78%
Census of India 2011
Districts
33
State Profile
Gujarat overview
Gujarat is a western coastal state with Gandhinagar as capital and Ahmedabad as its largest city. Its identity is shaped by the Arabian Sea, India longest state coastline, Harappan sites, ports, trade, stepwells, Sultanate and mercantile urbanism, Gandhi and Sardar Patel, cooperatives, industry, renewable energy, coastal ecology and disaster resilience.
Capital
Gandhinagar
Region
west
Population
6.04 Cr
Census of India 2011
Area
1,96,244 sq km
Census of India 2011
Snapshot
Quick facts
Core facts useful for prelims, maps, and state comparison.
- Capital
- Gandhinagar
- Largest city
- Ahmedabad
- Region
- west
- Population
- 6.04 CrCensus of India 2011
- Area
- 1,96,244 sq kmCensus of India 2011
- Languages
- Gujarati, Hindi, Kutchi, Bhili, Dangi, Sindhi, Urdu
Snapshot
Economy snapshot
A quick view of source-backed output, income, growth, and major sectors.
- Industries
- Ports, Petrochemicals, Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals
UPSC Focus
Why it matters
Important UPSC-relevant themes connected with this state.
- Gujarat is one of India’s most important UPSC states for Harappan archaeology through Dholavira, Lothal, Surkotada, Rangpur and Rojdi.
- It connects ancient and early modern maritime trade, Bharuch/Barygaza, Surat, ports, merchants, textiles, beads, inland routes and western Indian Ocean networks.
- It is central to modern Indian history through Gandhi, Sabarmati Ashram, Kheda, Ahmedabad Mill Strike, Bardoli, Dandi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
- Its economy offers case studies in cooperatives, ports, petrochemicals, diamonds, textiles, ceramics, automobiles, pharmaceuticals, renewables, fisheries and salt production.
- Its geography links Kutch, Saurashtra, the Rann, two gulfs, west-flowing rivers, drought, salinity ingress, earthquakes, cyclones, coastal regulation and water governance.
UPSC Focus
Identity markers
Cultural, historical, geographical, or economic identifiers.
- Capital: Gandhinagar.
- Largest city: Ahmedabad, a major commercial-industrial centre and UNESCO World Heritage City.
- Gujarat was formed on 1 May 1960 after the bilingual Bombay State was divided into Gujarat and Maharashtra.
- Gujarat Day is observed on 1 May.
- Gujarat High Court was established on 1 May 1960 and is located at Ahmedabad.
- Gujarat has India longest coastline among states, along the Arabian Sea.
- Major physical regions include Kutch, Saurashtra/Kathiawar peninsula, North Gujarat, Central Gujarat, South Gujarat, the eastern tribal belt and coastal Gujarat.
- Important centres include Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Porbandar, Dwarka, Somnath/Prabhas Patan, Patan, Champaner-Pavagadh, Bhuj, Kutch, Dholavira, Lothal, Anand, Bharuch, Vapi, Mundra, Kandla/Deendayal Port and Statue of Unity/Kevadia.
- Major UNESCO World Heritage sites in Gujarat include Historic City of Ahmedabad, Rani-ki-Vav at Patan, Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park and Dholavira: a Harappan City.