south India
Karnataka
Karnataka is a major southern Indian state with Bengaluru as capital. It is central to UPSC preparation for Deccan history, Kannada identity, the Western Ghats, coffee and silk, irrigation and river disputes, Bengaluru urbanisation, IT-led growth, and the interaction of coastal, plateau and highland regions.
Capital
Bengaluru
Population
6.11 Cr
Census of India 2011
Area
1,91,791 sq km
Census of India 2011
Literacy
75.4%
Census of India 2011
Districts
31
State Profile
Karnataka overview
Karnataka is a large and diverse southern state where the Arabian Sea coast, Western Ghats, Malnad forests, Deccan plateau, historic capitals, Kannada identity, Bengaluru technology economy and regional development questions meet in one UPSC-rich case study.
Capital
Bengaluru
Region
south
Population
6.11 Cr
Census of India 2011
Area
1,91,791 sq km
Census of India 2011
Snapshot
Quick facts
Core facts useful for prelims, maps, and state comparison.
- Capital
- Bengaluru
- Largest city
- Bengaluru
- Region
- south
- Population
- 6.11 CrCensus of India 2011
- Area
- 1,91,791 sq kmCensus of India 2011
- Languages
- Kannada, Tulu, Kodava, Konkani, Urdu, Marathi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Lambani/Banjara, Beary
Snapshot
Economy snapshot
A quick view of source-backed output, income, growth, and major sectors.
- Industries
- IT services, Startups, Aerospace, Biotechnology
UPSC Focus
Why it matters
Important UPSC-relevant themes connected with this state.
- It is one of the best states for studying Deccan history: Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Hoysalas, Vijayanagara, Bahmani-Deccan Sultanates, Mysore, Wodeyars, Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan.
- It connects physical geography with policy through the Western Ghats, rain-shadow plateau, coffee, forests, river basins, drought, floods, landslides, mining and coastal erosion.
- Its economy provides examples in IT, startups, aerospace, biotechnology, electronics, public-sector industry, coffee, silk, millets, fisheries, tourism and regional industrial corridors.
- It is central to federal and governance themes such as linguistic reorganisation, Karnataka Rajyotsava, Cauvery/Krishna/Mahadayi water disputes, Bengaluru urban governance and regional imbalance.
UPSC Focus
Identity markers
Cultural, historical, geographical, or economic identifiers.
- Capital and largest city: Bengaluru.
- The enlarged Mysore State was formed on 1 November 1956 after linguistic reorganisation; Mysore State was renamed Karnataka in 1973.
- Karnataka Rajyotsava is observed on 1 November.
- High Court of Karnataka is located at Bengaluru, with benches at Dharwad and Kalaburagi/Gulbarga.
- Major physical-cultural regions include Coastal Karnataka/Karavali, Malnad/Western Ghats, Bayaluseeme/Deccan plateau, Old Mysore, Kalyana Karnataka/Hyderabad-Karnataka, Kittur Karnataka/Mumbai-Karnataka and Bengaluru Metropolitan Region.
- Important centres include Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mangaluru, Hubballi-Dharwad, Belagavi, Kalaburagi, Ballari, Vijayapura/Bijapur, Hampi, Badami, Aihole, Pattadakal, Shivamogga, Udupi, Hassan, Chikkamagaluru, Kodagu/Madikeri, Tumakuru, Davanagere, Raichur, Bidar, Chitradurga, Srirangapatna and Kolar.
- Major UNESCO World Heritage sites connected to Karnataka include Group of Monuments at Hampi, Group of Monuments at Pattadakal, Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas and Western Ghats serial sites.