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Telangana at a glance

A free, evergreen quick-reference for competitive exams and general knowledge — the key facts, the statehood movement, and the people who shaped Telangana.

Key facts

The static facts most often asked about the state — useful for Group I–IV and other competitive exams, and for everyday general knowledge.

Formed
2 June 201429th state of India
Formation Day
2 JuneTelangana Formation Day
Capital
Hyderabad
First Chief Minister
K. Chandrashekar RaoSworn in 2 June 2014
First Governor
E. S. L. Narasimhan
Official languages
Telugu · Urdu
Districts
33
Area
≈112,077 km²43,273 sq mi · landlocked
Major rivers
Godavari · Krishna
State legislature
119 MLAs · 40 MLCsAssembly + Council (bicameral)
In Parliament
17 Lok Sabha · 7 Rajya Sabha
High Court
HyderabadTelangana High Court, from 2019

State symbols

The official state symbols of Telangana — a common exam and quiz topic.

State bird
Palapitta
Indian Roller
State animal
Jinka
Spotted Deer
State tree
Jammi Chettu
Prosopis cineraria
State flower
Tangedu
Tanner's Cassia
State game
Kabaddi
Traditional sport
State emblem
Kakatiya Thoranam
with the Charminar

Geography

The land — where Telangana sits, its rivers, and what lies beneath.

Telangana lies on the Deccan Plateau in southern India — a landlocked state bordered by Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The land slopes towards its two great rivers, the Godavari and the Krishna, which together drain almost the whole state.

Location
Deccan Plateau, southern India — landlocked (no coastline).
Bordering states
Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
Highest point
Doli Gutta (about 965 m), on the Telangana–Chhattisgarh border.
Main rivers
Godavari and Krishna, with tributaries such as the Pranahita, Manjira, Manair, Musi and Kinnerasani.
Climate
Semi-arid — hot summers and a June–September south-west monsoon.
Minerals
Coal, mined by the Singareni Collieries in the Godavari valley, plus limestone and granite.

History & dynasties

The powers that shaped the region, in order — a favourite exam topic.

Satavahanas
One of the earliest Deccan dynasties (around the 2nd century BCE onwards); an early capital lay at Kotilingala in present-day Telangana.
Kakatiyas
Ruled from Warangal (Orugallu) in the 12th–14th centuries; left the Ramappa and Thousand Pillar temples and the Warangal Fort.
Qutb Shahis
Ruled from Golconda; founded the city of Hyderabad and built the Charminar in 1591.
Asaf Jahis
The Nizams of Hyderabad (1724–1948) ruled a vast princely state until it joined the Indian Union in 1948.

The statehood movement

How Telangana became a separate state — one of the most-asked topics in state exams.

Telangana's demand for a separate state ran for decades. After the Telugu-speaking regions were merged into Andhra Pradesh in 1956, many in Telangana felt safeguards agreed for the region were not honoured — over jobs, water and development. That grievance drove a long movement that finally achieved statehood in 2014.

1948
Hyderabad State joins the Indian Union.
1956
The Telugu-speaking regions are merged to form Andhra Pradesh — the roots of the later grievance.
1969
A student-led agitation demands a separate Telangana over unmet safeguards; Osmania University becomes a centre of the protests.
2001
K. Chandrashekar Rao founds the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), reviving the statehood demand as an electoral movement.
2009
An indefinite hunger strike reignites the agitation; the central government announces that the process for statehood will begin.
2014
Parliament passes the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act; on 2 June 2014 Telangana is formed as India's 29th state.

The educationist Prof. K. Jayashankar is widely remembered as the intellectual voice of the movement.

People of Telangana

Historical figures from Telangana who often appear in general knowledge and exams.

Komaram Bheem

Tribal freedom fighter

A Gond leader who rallied the adivasis of Adilabad against the Nizam's rule under the cry Jal, Jangal, Jameen — water, forest and land.

Chakali Ailamma

Peasant-struggle icon

A woman leader of the Telangana peasant armed struggle, remembered for defying a powerful landlord to keep her land.

Suravaram Pratapa Reddy

Reformer & historian

Writer, social reformer and freedom fighter — honoured as the Telangana Vaithalikudu, the torch-bearer of the region's awakening.

Kaloji Narayana Rao

People's Poet

Freedom fighter and poet known as the Praja Kavi; his birthday is marked across the state as Telangana Language Day.

Dasarathi Krishnamacharya

Poet of the struggle

A celebrated Telugu poet whose verse challenged the Nizam's rule, known simply as Dasarathi.

Prof. K. Jayashankar

Ideologue of statehood

An educationist regarded as the intellectual architect of the separate-Telangana movement.

C. Narayana Reddy

Jnanpith poet

Telugu poet and lyricist known as Cinare, awarded the Jnanpith — India's highest literary honour.

P. V. Narasimha Rao

Former Prime Minister

Born in present-day Telangana, he served as Prime Minister of India from 1991 to 1996.

Arts & folk culture

Living folk traditions that often appear in exams and quizzes.

Perini Shivatandavam

Warrior dance

A vigorous Kakatiya-era "dance of warriors", once performed before Lord Shiva ahead of battle — revived on the modern stage.

Oggu Katha

Ballad storytelling

A folk narrative form that sings the tales of deities like Mallanna and Beerappa with rhythm and drama.

Burrakatha

Storytelling

A lead narrator with a tambura and two companions weaves history and legend into a lively performance.

Gussadi

Gond tribal dance

An Adilabad Gond dance of the Dandari festival — dancers wear headgear of peacock feathers and deer antlers.

Important days

State days worth remembering.

2 June
Telangana Formation Day — the state came into being in 2014.
9 September
Telangana Language Day — the birth anniversary of the poet Kaloji Narayana Rao.
17 September
Anniversary of Hyderabad State joining the Indian Union (1948).

The great folk festivals — Bathukamma (autumn) and Bonalu (monsoon) — follow the lunar calendar, so their dates shift each year.

Firsts & superlatives

The "bits" that turn up again and again.

First Chief Minister
K. Chandrashekar Rao
First Governor
E. S. L. Narasimhan
Highest peak
Doli Guttaabout 965 m
Longest river
Godavari
Largest district (area)
Bhadradri Kothagudem
Smallest district (area)
Hyderabad
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Ramappa Templeinscribed 2021
World's largest lift irrigation
Kaleshwaram
"Bulk Drug Capital of India"
Hyderabad

Test yourself

Tap a question to reveal the answer — a quick way to revise.

When was Telangana formed?

On 2 June 2014, as India's 29th state.

Who was Telangana's first Chief Minister?

K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR).

Who was the first Governor of Telangana?

E. S. L. Narasimhan.

How many districts does Telangana have?

33.

What is the state bird?

The Palapitta (Indian Roller).

Which dynasty ruled from Warangal and built the Ramappa temple?

The Kakatiyas.

Who built the Charminar, and in which year?

The Qutb Shahis, in 1591.

What is the world's largest multi-stage lift-irrigation project?

Kaleshwaram, on the Godavari.

Which two rivers drain most of Telangana?

The Godavari and the Krishna.

Telangana Language Day (9 September) marks whose birthday?

The poet Kaloji Narayana Rao.

Which tribal leader raised the slogan "Jal, Jangal, Jameen"?

Komaram Bheem.

How many Lok Sabha seats does Telangana have?

17.

What is the highest peak in Telangana?

Doli Gutta (about 965 m).

Who founded the Telangana Rashtra Samithi in 2001?

K. Chandrashekar Rao.

Which city is called the "Bulk Drug Capital of India"?

Hyderabad.

An independent study reference. These are stable, evergreen facts. For anything that changes year to year — exam dates, notifications, cut-offs, admissions or scholarships — always check the official commission or university website. Telangana.com is an independent guide and is not affiliated with the Government of Telangana or any official body.