south India
Telangana
Telangana is a Deccan plateau state with Hyderabad as capital. It is central to UPSC preparation for Kakatiya Warangal, Qutb Shahi Hyderabad, Asaf Jahi/Nizam rule, Hyderabad State, the Telangana peasant struggle, linguistic reorganisation, statehood movement, tank irrigation, IT and pharma growth, tribal governance and water management in the Godavari-Krishna region.
Capital
Hyderabad
Population
3.50 Cr
Census of India 2011
Area
1,12,077 sq km
Census of India 2011
Literacy
72.8%
Census of India 2011
Districts
33
State Profile
Telangana overview
Telangana is a south-central Deccan state where plateau geography, tank irrigation, Kakatiya Warangal, Golconda-Hyderabad, Asaf Jahi/Nizam rule, Hyderabad State, agrarian movements, linguistic reorganisation, statehood politics and a major IT-pharma economy come together.
Capital
Hyderabad
Region
south
Population
3.50 Cr
Census of India 2011
Area
1,12,077 sq km
Census of India 2011
Snapshot
Quick facts
Core facts useful for prelims, maps, and state comparison.
- Capital
- Hyderabad
- Largest city
- Hyderabad
- Region
- south
- Population
- 3.50 CrCensus of India 2011
- Area
- 1,12,077 sq kmCensus of India 2011
- Languages
- Telugu, Urdu, Lambadi/Banjara, Gondi, Kolami, Koya, Chenchu, Marathi, Kannada, Hindi
Snapshot
Economy snapshot
A quick view of source-backed output, income, growth, and major sectors.
- Industries
- IT services, Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology, Startups
UPSC Focus
Why it matters
Important UPSC-relevant themes connected with this state.
- It is a core GS1 case for Deccan history through Satavahana links, Kakatiyas, Bahmani-Qutb Shahi rule, Asaf Jahi/Nizam Hyderabad, Hyderabad State, the Telangana peasant struggle and the statehood movement.
- It is important for GS2 because it illustrates linguistic reorganisation, federalism, bifurcation, common capital arrangements, High Court separation, river-water governance, Scheduled Areas, PESA themes and urban governance.
- It is useful for GS3 through IT, pharma, biotechnology, irrigation, tank restoration, Singareni coalfields, dryland farming, heat, drought, urban flooding, groundwater stress and forest conservation.
- It offers strong map practice through the Deccan plateau, Godavari and Krishna basins, Hyderabad urban region, Warangal, Ramagundam coal belt, northern forests, tribal areas and tank-irrigation landscapes.
UPSC Focus
Identity markers
Cultural, historical, geographical, or economic identifiers.
- Capital and largest city: Hyderabad.
- Telangana was formed on 2 June 2014 under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014.
- Telangana is India 29th state in formation order.
- The Telangana region was part of Hyderabad State after 1948 and was merged with Andhra State on 1 November 1956 to form Andhra Pradesh.
- Telangana was separated from Andhra Pradesh on 2 June 2014; Hyderabad served as common capital for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana for a transition period under the reorganisation framework.
- The High Court for the State of Telangana was separately constituted from 1 January 2019 and is located at Hyderabad.
- The state has 33 districts in the current administrative structure used by this app.
- Major physical regions include the Deccan plateau, Telangana plateau, Godavari basin, Krishna basin, Hyderabad urban region, northern forested belt and southern semi-arid plateau.
- Important centres include Hyderabad, Secunderabad, Warangal, Hanamkonda, Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Khammam, Nalgonda, Mahbubnagar, Adilabad, Medak, Siddipet, Suryapet, Bhadradri-Kothagudem, Ramagundam, Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri, Vemulawada, Basara, Bhadrachalam, Nagarjuna Sagar and Mulugu.
- Major heritage sites include Charminar, Golconda Fort, Qutb Shahi Tombs, Chowmahalla Palace, Warangal Fort, Thousand Pillar Temple, Ramappa Temple, Bhadrakali Temple, Bhadrachalam, Medak Cathedral, Yadadri temple, Basara Saraswati temple and Paigah Tombs.