The chief ministers of Indian states are among the most frequently updated and tested topics in competitive exam current affairs.
India has 28 states, each governed by a Chief Minister who heads the elected state government. Questions on current CMs, their parties, states, capitals, and notable firsts appear regularly in UPSC Prelims, SSC CGL, Banking, Railways, and State PSC exams — especially in current affairs and static GK sections. This page gives you a complete, updated list of all Chief Ministers across India’s 28 states as of 2026, along with party affiliations, state capitals, and exam-ready facts.
⚡ Quick Facts
- 28 states — each with an elected CM; 8 Union Territories, most governed by LG/Administrator (no elected CM).
- Delhi (NCT), Puducherry, and Jammu & Kashmir — the three UTs with elected Chief Ministers and legislative assemblies.
- Pawan Kumar Chamling (Sikkim) — longest CM ever: 24 years 165 days (Dec 1994 – May 2019) under SDF. Jyoti Basu held this record before Chamling surpassed it in 2018.
- Sucheta Kripalani — India’s first woman CM; Uttar Pradesh (1963–67); INC.
- Mamata Banerjee — the only sitting woman CM in India as of 2026; West Bengal; since 2011.
Many students confuse Sucheta Kripalani (first woman CM) with Indira Gandhi (first woman PM) — they are two different people with two different roles. Also: Jammu & Kashmir now HAS a CM — after the 2024 J&K Assembly elections, Omar Abdullah (NC) was sworn in as CM on 16 Oct 2024; J&K still has an LG alongside the CM. The three UTs with elected CMs are Delhi, Puducherry, and Jammu & Kashmir. Chandigarh is a UT, not a state — it is the capital of Punjab AND Haryana, but governed by neither. And Delhi’s CM heads the NCT (National Capital Territory), which has limited legislative powers compared to states. Also note: the longest-ever CM record belongs to Pawan Kumar Chamling of Sikkim (24+ years, 1994–2019), not Jyoti Basu — Basu held the record until Chamling surpassed it in 2018.
✅ My Progress Tracker
🗺️ Chief Ministers of India — Complete List 2026
| # ↕ | State ↕ | Chief Minister | Party | Alliance | Region ↕ | Capital (Leg.) | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andhra Pradesh | N. Chandrababu Naidu | TDP | NDA | South | Amaravati | Jun 2024 |
| 2 | Arunachal Pradesh | Pema Khandu | BJP | NDA | Northeast | Itanagar | Jul 2016 |
| 3 | Assam | Himanta Biswa Sarma | BJP | NDA | Northeast | Dispur | May 2021 |
| 4 | Bihar | Nitish Kumar | JD(U) | NDA | East | Patna | Feb 2024 |
| 5 | Chhattisgarh | Vishnu Deo Sai | BJP | NDA | Central | Raipur | Dec 2023 |
| 6 | Goa | Pramod Sawant | BJP | NDA | West | Panaji | Mar 2019 |
| 7 | Gujarat | Bhupendra Patel | BJP | NDA | West | Gandhinagar | Sep 2021 |
| 8 | Haryana | Nayab Singh Saini | BJP | NDA | North | Chandigarh | Oct 2024 |
| 9 | Himachal Pradesh | Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu | INC | INDIA | North | Shimla | Dec 2022 |
| 10 | Jharkhand | Hemant Soren | JMM | INDIA | East | Ranchi | Nov 2024 |
| 11 | Karnataka | Siddaramaiah | INC | INDIA | South | Bengaluru | May 2023 |
| 12 | Kerala | Pinarayi Vijayan | CPI(M) | LDF | South | Thiruvananthapuram | May 2016 |
| 13 | Madhya Pradesh | Mohan Yadav | BJP | NDA | Central | Bhopal | Dec 2023 |
| 14 | Maharashtra | Devendra Fadnavis | BJP | Mahayuti (NDA) | West | Mumbai | Dec 2024 |
| 15 | Manipur | Yumnam Khemchand Singh | BJP | NDA | Northeast | Imphal | Feb 2026 |
| 16 | Meghalaya | Conrad Sangma | NPP | NDA | Northeast | Shillong | Mar 2018 |
| 17 | Mizoram | Lalduhoma | ZPM | — | Northeast | Aizawl | Dec 2023 |
| 18 | Nagaland | Neiphiu Rio | NDPP | NDA | Northeast | Kohima | Mar 2018 |
| 19 | Odisha | Mohan Majhi | BJP | NDA | East | Bhubaneswar | Jun 2024 |
| 20 | Punjab | Bhagwant Mann | AAP | INDIA | North | Chandigarh | Mar 2022 |
| 21 | Rajasthan | Bhajan Lal Sharma | BJP | NDA | North | Jaipur | Dec 2023 |
| 22 | Sikkim | Prem Singh Tamang (Golay) | SKM | NDA | Northeast | Gangtok | May 2019 |
| 23 | Tamil Nadu | M.K. Stalin | DMK | INDIA | South | Chennai | May 2021 |
| 24 | Telangana | Revanth Reddy | INC | INDIA | South | Hyderabad | Dec 2023 |
| 25 | Tripura | Manik Saha | BJP | NDA | Northeast | Agartala | May 2022 |
| 26 | Uttar Pradesh | Yogi Adityanath | BJP | NDA | North | Lucknow | Mar 2017 |
| 27 | Uttarakhand | Pushkar Singh Dhami | BJP | NDA | North | Dehradun | Mar 2022 |
| 28 | West Bengal | Mamata Banerjee | AITC (TMC) | — | East | Kolkata | May 2011 |
| Union Territory | Chief Minister / Administrator | Party | Capital | Has Elected CM? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi (NCT) | Rekha Gupta | BJP (NDA) | New Delhi | ✅ Yes (since 1993) |
| Puducherry | N. Rangasamy | AINRC (NDA) | Puducherry | ✅ Yes |
| Jammu & Kashmir | Omar Abdullah (CM) + LG Manoj Sinha | NC (INDIA alliance) | Srinagar (Summer) / Jammu (Winter) | ✅ Yes (CM since Oct 2024) |
| Ladakh | LG Kavinder Gupta | LG / Central Govt | Leh | ❌ No (no legislature) |
| Andaman & Nicobar Islands | LG D.K. Joshi | LG / Central Govt | Port Blair | ❌ No |
| Chandigarh | Administrator (Punjab Governor) | Central Govt | Chandigarh | ❌ No (shared capital, unique UT) |
| Dadra & NH and Daman & Diu | Administrator | Central Govt | Daman | ❌ No |
| Lakshadweep | Administrator | Central Govt | Kavaratti | ❌ No |
| Party / Alliance | States Governed (2026) | Count |
|---|---|---|
| BJP / NDA | Andhra Pradesh (TDP), Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar (JDU), Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya (NPP), Nagaland (NDPP), Odisha, Rajasthan, Sikkim (SKM), Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi-UT, Puducherry-UT (AINRC) | ~20 states/UTs |
| INC / INDIA bloc | Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana | 3 states |
| NC (INDIA bloc) | Jammu & Kashmir (UT) | 1 UT |
| JMM (INDIA bloc) | Jharkhand | 1 state |
| CPI(M) / LDF | Kerala | 1 state |
| DMK (INDIA bloc) | Tamil Nadu | 1 state |
| AAP (INDIA bloc) | Punjab | 1 state |
| AITC / TMC (Independent) | West Bengal | 1 state |
| ZPM (Independent) | Mizoram | 1 state |
| Category | Chief Minister | State | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Longest-serving CM (ever) | Pawan Kumar Chamling | Sikkim | CM from Dec 1994 to May 2019 — 24 years 165 days under SDF. Surpassed Jyoti Basu’s record in April 2018. |
| 2nd longest-serving CM (ever) | Jyoti Basu | West Bengal | CM from 1977 to 2000 — 23 years 137 days under CPI(M). Held the record until Chamling surpassed it in 2018. |
| Longest-serving CM (current) | Pinarayi Vijayan | Kerala | Continuous since May 2016; re-elected 2021 for second term |
| Most terms as CM (same state) | Nitish Kumar | Bihar | 10 terms as CM across multiple stints since 2005 (19+ years total) |
| Only woman CM (current) | Mamata Banerjee | West Bengal | CM since May 2011; 3rd consecutive term; AITC (TMC) |
| First woman CM of India (ever) | Sucheta Kripalani | Uttar Pradesh | 1963–1967; INC; first ever woman CM in India |
| CM from a religious order | Yogi Adityanath | Uttar Pradesh | Mahant of Gorakhnath Math; sitting CM since 2017 |
| Youngest recent CM | Pema Khandu | Arunachal Pradesh | Was among youngest CMs when first elected in 2016 |
| State with most Lok Sabha seats | Yogi Adityanath (CM) | Uttar Pradesh | 80 Lok Sabha seats — highest of any state |
| CM declined PM offer | Jyoti Basu (historical) | West Bengal | Declined PM offer in 1996; called it a “historic blunder” |
| New CM after President’s Rule | Yumnam Khemchand Singh | Manipur | Sworn in Feb 2026; ended ~1 year of President’s Rule; former Assembly Speaker |
| First CM of J&K as UT | Omar Abdullah | J&K (UT) | Sworn in Oct 2024; National Conference; first elected CM of J&K as a UT |
⚖️ Compare Two States
📝 Key Notes & Memory Tips
Delhi (NCT), Puducherry, and Jammu & Kashmir are the three Union Territories that have elected legislative assemblies and Chief Ministers. All other five UTs are governed by Lieutenant Governors or Administrators appointed by the President. Jammu & Kashmir became a UT after Art. 370 abrogation in 2019, but elections were held in Oct 2024 and Omar Abdullah (NC) was sworn in as its first CM as a UT. Note that J&K still has an LG (Manoj Sinha) alongside the elected CM — unlike states where the Governor is purely ceremonial, the J&K LG retains stronger powers under the UT framework.
Pawan Kumar Chamling of Sikkim holds the all-time record for the longest tenure as Chief Minister — 24 years 165 days (Dec 1994 – May 2019) under the Sikkim Democratic Front, winning 5 consecutive terms. He surpassed Jyoti Basu’s record in April 2018. Jyoti Basu of West Bengal held the record before that, serving 23 years 137 days (1977–2000) under CPI(M)-led Left Front. Basu was also offered the Prime Ministership of India in 1996 (United Front government) but declined on party advice, later calling this a “historic blunder.”
Sucheta Kripalani was India’s first woman Chief Minister, serving as CM of Uttar Pradesh from 1963 to 1967 under the Indian National Congress. She was a prominent freedom fighter and close associate of Mahatma Gandhi. Currently (2026), Mamata Banerjee of West Bengal is the only sitting woman CM in India.
The CM is appointed by the Governor (Article 164). The CM must be a member of the state legislature (or become one within 6 months). The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly), not the Legislative Council. The CM can be removed if the Vidhan Sabha passes a vote of no-confidence.
Chandigarh is constitutionally unique: it is the capital of both Punjab AND Haryana, yet it is itself a Union Territory governed by the Punjab Governor as Administrator — not by either state. This dual-capital + UT status makes Chandigarh a perennial exam question on both state GK and constitution topics.
“Kerala CPI, Bengal TMC, Punjab AAP, Tamil Nadu DMK, Jharkhand JMM, Mizoram ZPM”
→ Six states not under BJP or INC directly as of 2026
“Delhi, Puducherry, J&K — D, P, J get a CM”
→ All other 5 UTs (Ladakh, Chandigarh, Andaman & Nicobar, Dadra & NH + D&D, Lakshadweep) are governed by LG/Administrator — no elected CM
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As of 2026, three Union Territories have elected legislative assemblies and Chief Ministers: Delhi (NCT), Puducherry, and Jammu & Kashmir. J&K held its first UT-level elections in October 2024, and Omar Abdullah (NC) was sworn in as CM. Chandigarh, Ladakh, Lakshadweep, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and Dadra & NH + Daman & Diu are governed by LG/Administrator with no elected CM.
Pawan Kumar Chamling (SDF) served as Chief Minister of Sikkim from December 1994 to May 2019 \u2014 24 years and 165 days across 5 consecutive terms. He is the all-time record holder. Jyoti Basu (West Bengal, 1977\u20132000, 23 years 137 days under CPI-M) held the record before Chamling surpassed it in April 2018. Among current CMs, Pinarayi Vijayan of Kerala has been in office since 2016.
Sucheta Kripalani was India\u2019s first woman Chief Minister, serving as CM of Uttar Pradesh from 1963 to 1967 under the Indian National Congress. She was a prominent freedom fighter and close associate of Mahatma Gandhi. Indira Gandhi was the first woman Prime Minister, not Chief Minister.
Chandigarh is the shared capital of both Punjab and Haryana. However, it is itself a Union Territory governed by an Administrator (the Punjab Governor) \u2014 not by either state. This dual-capital, UT status makes Chandigarh constitutionally unique and a frequent exam question.
The BJP-led NDA alliance governs the largest number of Indian states as of 2026, with BJP holding power directly or through alliance partners in approximately 20 of 28 states. This includes states like UP, MP, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Assam, Bihar (JDU-NDA), among many others.
\u2705 Key Takeaways
\u2753 Frequently Asked Questions
All 28 states of India have elected Chief Ministers who head the state government. Additionally, three Union Territories \u2014 Delhi (NCT), Puducherry, and Jammu & Kashmir \u2014 have elected assemblies and Chief Ministers. J&K held its first elections as a UT in October 2024, and Omar Abdullah (National Conference) was sworn in as CM. The remaining 5 Union Territories (Ladakh, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, and Lakshadweep) are governed by Lieutenant Governors or Administrators, with no elected CM.
Yogi Adityanath of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, in office since March 2017. He was re-elected in 2022 for a second consecutive term. Yogi Adityanath is also the Mahant (head priest) of the Gorakhnath Math in Gorakhpur \u2014 making him the only sitting Chief Minister in India from a religious order. Uttar Pradesh is India\u2019s most populous state with 80 Lok Sabha seats.
Pawan Kumar Chamling of Sikkim holds the all-time record for the longest tenure as Chief Minister \u2014 24 years and 165 days from December 1994 to May 2019 under his party the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), winning 5 consecutive terms. He surpassed the earlier record of Jyoti Basu in April 2018. Jyoti Basu of West Bengal served 23 years and 137 days (1977\u20132000) under the CPI(M)-led Left Front. Basu was also offered the Prime Ministership of India in 1996 when the United Front was forming a government, but declined on party advice \u2014 he later called this a \u201chistoric blunder.\u201d Among current CMs, Pinarayi Vijayan of Kerala has been in office since May 2016 and is the longest-serving active CM.
The list of Chief Ministers is tested across virtually all competitive exams \u2014 UPSC Prelims (current affairs), SSC CGL, Bank PO, Railway NTPC, and all State PSC exams. Common question patterns include: current CM of a specific state, party in power in a state, which UTs have CMs (Delhi, Puducherry, J&K), first woman CM (Sucheta Kripalani), longest-serving CM ever (Pawan Kumar Chamling, Sikkim), and recent election results. Since CMs change with state elections, the list is one of the most dynamic topics in GK \u2014 always verify the latest before your exam.
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