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What is the capital of India?

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The capital of India is New Delhi

New Delhi lies on the floodplains of the Yamuna river, within the National Capital Territory of Delhi in northern India.

New Delhi is the capital and seat of government of India, a role it has held since 1931. India itself has an estimated population of 1,463,865,525 (2025).

New Delhi is not the largest city in India. That is Mumbai, which makes India one of the countries whose capital is not their biggest city.

New Delhi at a glance

City population249,998 (2011, New Delhi municipal area)
Country🇮🇳 India
Founded1931
Capital since1931
Largest city in IndiaMumbai
Time zoneUTC+05:30 (IST)
CurrencyIndian rupee (INR)

About New Delhi

New Delhi was inaugurated as the capital of British India on 13 February 1931, designed by the architects Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker after its foundation was laid at the Delhi Durbar of 1911.

New Delhi has been the capital of India since 1931, when it replaced Calcutta (now Kolkata) as the capital; it remained the capital of independent India after 1947.

Calcutta, now Kolkata, was the capital of British India until the capital moved to the newly built New Delhi.

New Delhi is a purpose-built administrative district within the far larger city of Delhi, housing India's Parliament, the president's residence and the central government.

It is not India's largest city; that is usually counted as Mumbai, while the wider Delhi urban area is among the most populous in the world.

City facts sourced from Wikipedia: New Delhi.

Frequently asked questions

What is the capital of India?
The capital of India is New Delhi.
Is New Delhi the largest city in India?
No. The capital of India is New Delhi, but the largest city is Mumbai. Mumbai is the largest by city-proper population. Measured as a metropolitan area instead, the Delhi agglomeration that surrounds New Delhi is the country's largest. New Delhi itself is a small municipality within it.
What is the population of New Delhi?
New Delhi has a population of about 249,998 (2011, New Delhi municipal area).
Where is New Delhi located?
New Delhi lies on the floodplains of the Yamuna river, within the National Capital Territory of Delhi in northern India.
When did New Delhi become the capital of India?
New Delhi has been the capital of India since 1931, when it replaced Calcutta (now Kolkata) as the capital; it remained the capital of independent India after 1947.
What was the capital of India before New Delhi?
Calcutta, now Kolkata, was the capital of British India until the capital moved to the newly built New Delhi.
What time zone is New Delhi in?
New Delhi uses UTC+05:30 (IST).
What currency is used in New Delhi?
New Delhi, like the rest of India, uses the Indian rupee (INR, symbol ₹).

Capitals of neighbouring countries

Capital of BangladeshCapital of BhutanCapital of ChinaCapital of MyanmarCapital of NepalCapital of Pakistan

See the full profile of India on its country page, or browse every capital city.

Capital and country data from open datasets; city and metropolitan populations are hand-curated per city and cited where they are shown. Populations of countries come from the World Bank (SP.POP.TOTL). Full sources and vintage on the data page. Last updated . Report a correction.