north India
Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand is a Himalayan state with Dehradun as capital, formed from Uttar Pradesh on 9 November 2000. It is central to Himalayan ecology, sacred river geography, Char Dham pilgrimage, borderland governance, hydropower, migration, disaster management, and community-based environmental movements.
Capital
Dehradun
Population
1.01 Cr
Census of India 2011
Area
53,483 sq km
Census of India 2011
Literacy
78.8%
Census of India 2011
Districts
13
State Profile
Uttarakhand overview
Uttarakhand is a Himalayan state in northern India, with Dehradun as capital and Nainital as the seat of the High Court of Uttarakhand. It combines the Garhwal and Kumaon regions, high Himalayan peaks, glacier-fed rivers, pilgrimage routes, borderland settlements, forests, hill agriculture, tourism, and major disaster-management challenges.
Capital
Dehradun
Region
north
Population
1.01 Cr
Census of India 2011
Area
53,483 sq km
Census of India 2011
Snapshot
Quick facts
Core facts useful for prelims, maps, and state comparison.
- Capital
- Dehradun
- Largest city
- Dehradun
- Region
- north
- Population
- 1.01 CrCensus of India 2011
- Area
- 53,483 sq kmCensus of India 2011
- Languages
- Hindi, Sanskrit, Garhwali, Kumaoni, Jaunsari
Snapshot
Economy snapshot
A quick view of source-backed output, income, growth, and major sectors.
- Industries
- Tourism, Pilgrimage, Hydropower, Horticulture
UPSC Focus
Why it matters
Important UPSC-relevant themes connected with this state.
- It is one of India’s most important states for studying Himalayan ecology, glacial systems, river origins, landslides, cloudbursts, flash floods, earthquakes, forest fires, and climate-change vulnerability.
- It is central to sacred geography and culture because the Char Dham of Uttarakhand, Haridwar, Rishikesh, the Ganga and Yamuna origins, and many local deity traditions shape pilgrimage, tourism, and regional identity.
- Its modern history connects colonial forest laws, local livelihood conflicts, Chipko, environmental politics, separate statehood, border governance, hydropower debates, migration from hill villages, and sustainable mountain development.
UPSC Focus
Identity markers
Cultural, historical, geographical, or economic identifiers.
- Capital: Dehradun.
- Uttarakhand was carved out from Uttar Pradesh on 9 November 2000 under the Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000.
- The state was originally named Uttaranchal and was renamed Uttarakhand in 2007.
- The High Court of Uttarakhand is located at Nainital and was established on 9 November 2000.
- Uttarakhand is commonly divided into Garhwal and Kumaon regions.
- It borders Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Nepal, and Tibet/China.
- Important places include Dehradun, Nainital, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, Yamunotri, Almora, Pithoragarh, Chamoli, Tehri, Mussoorie, Joshimath/Jyotirmath, Rudraprayag, Uttarkashi, Champawat, and the Corbett landscape.