India is a vast country, covering 3,287,263 square kilometers (3.29 million sq. km.), i.e., 2.4% of the earth surface. It’s administrative divisions include 28 states and 8 union territories as of 2025.

Facts and Figures

• The Largest state by area is Rajasthan (342,239 sq. km), and the Smallest state by area is Goa (3702 sq. km.).
• the Most Populous State is Uttar Pradesh (nearly 23 crore), and the Least Populous State is Sikkim (7 lakhs).
• The Largest UT by Area is Ladakh (59,146 sq. km), and the Most Populous UT is Delhi (2.2 crores).

Download SOI Outline Boundary Shapefile

Survey of India (SOI) provides the most accurate and reliable boundary shapefile for Indian states. You can easily download the SOI India state boundary (Administrative Level 2) shapefile from the below:

How to Use These Shapefiles

1. Download the Zip File: Click the above link(s) and download the zip file containing the shapefile.
2. Extract the Contents: Unzip the downloaded file. Inside, you’ll find multiple files with extensions like .shp, .shx, .dbf, etc. All these files make up a shapefile dataset.
3. Import into GIS Software: Open your preferred GIS software (such as QGIS or ArcGIS). Use the “Add Vector Layer” tool, and select the .shp file.
4. Start Mapping: Now you’re ready to visualize and analyze India’s administrative boundaries!

Why Use Official SOI Shapefiles?

• Accuracy: Data is sourced from the official Survey of India, the most authoritative mapping agency in the country.
• Consistency: The boundaries are aligned with government records, ensuring reliability for your work.
• Compatibility: Standard shapefile format works in all major GIS and remote sensing software.

Happy Mapping!

This resource is provided by SimplyGIS to support the GIS and spatial analysis community in India. Please always respect data usage policies and copyright regulations as outlined by the Survey of India.