south India
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is a major southern Indian state with Chennai as capital. It is central to UPSC preparation for Sangam literature, ancient Tamilakam, Pallava and Chola architecture, Bhakti traditions, colonial Madras, social reform, language federalism, the Cauvery delta, coastal hazards, ports, textiles, automobiles, IT, and Western Ghats biodiversity.
Capital
Chennai
Population
7.21 Cr
Census of India 2011
Area
1,30,058 sq km
Census of India 2011
Literacy
80.1%
Census of India 2011
Districts
38
State Profile
Tamil Nadu overview
Tamil Nadu is a historically deep and economically significant southern state where ancient Tamil literary traditions, temple architecture, maritime trade, social reform, language politics, industrial corridors, coastal ecology and Western Ghats biodiversity meet.
Capital
Chennai
Region
south
Population
7.21 Cr
Census of India 2011
Area
1,30,058 sq km
Census of India 2011
Snapshot
Quick facts
Core facts useful for prelims, maps, and state comparison.
- Capital
- Chennai
- Largest city
- Chennai
- Region
- south
- Population
- 7.21 CrCensus of India 2011
- Area
- 1,30,058 sq kmCensus of India 2011
- Languages
- Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Urdu, Saurashtra, English, Badaga, Toda, Kota, Irula, Kurumba
Snapshot
Economy snapshot
A quick view of source-backed output, income, growth, and major sectors.
- Industries
- Automobiles, Auto components, Textiles and knitwear, IT and ITES
UPSC Focus
Why it matters
Important UPSC-relevant themes connected with this state.
- It is one of the most important states for GS1 themes: Sangam age, ancient Tamilakam, Pallavas, Cholas, Pandyas, Bhakti movement, temple architecture, colonial Madras, social reform and Dravidian politics.
- It links geography and governance through the Cauvery delta, rain-shadow interiors, northeast monsoon dependence, coastal cyclones, Chennai floods, tank irrigation, groundwater stress and the Cauvery water dispute.
- Its economy provides case studies in automobiles, auto components, textiles, knitwear exports, leather, electronics, ports, IT, healthcare, tourism, renewable energy and industrial corridor development.
- Its society is important for language identity, classical Tamil, social justice debates, education, public health, urbanisation, migration, labour welfare and Indian federalism.
UPSC Focus
Identity markers
Cultural, historical, geographical, or economic identifiers.
- Capital and largest city: Chennai.
- Madras State was reorganised on 1 November 1956 under linguistic reorganisation; Madras State was renamed Tamil Nadu in 1969.
- Tamil Nadu Day is associated with 1 November in the administrative reorganisation context; this profile uses that stable state-reorganisation marker.
- Madras High Court is located at Chennai, has a Madurai Bench, is one of India oldest High Courts established in 1862, and has jurisdiction over Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry.
- Major physical regions include the Coromandel Coast, eastern coastal plains, Cauvery delta, Kongu region, Madurai-Ramanathapuram plains, dry interior plains, Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, Nilgiris, Palani Hills, Shevaroy Hills and the southern coastal belt.
- Important centres include Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Tiruchirappalli, Thanjavur, Kanchipuram, Mamallapuram/Mahabalipuram, Rameswaram, Kanyakumari, Salem, Erode, Tiruppur, Vellore, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi/Tuticorin, Nagapattinam, Chidambaram, Dindigul, Sivaganga, Karaikudi/Chettinad, Ooty/Udhagamandalam, Coonoor and Dharmapuri.
- Major UNESCO World Heritage connections include Great Living Chola Temples, Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram, Nilgiri Mountain Railway as part of Mountain Railways of India, and Western Ghats serial sites.