Arunachal Pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh
Etymology: Arunachal ('dawn-lit mountains') and Pradesh ('province or territory')
Nickname: 
"Land of Rising Sun"
Motto
Satyameva Jayate (Truth Alone Triumphs)
Location of Arunachal Pradesh in India
Coordinates: 27°04′N 93°22′E / 27.06°N 93.37°E / 27.06; 93.37
CountryIndia
RegionNortheast India
Previously wasNorth-East Frontier Agency
As union territory21 January 1972
Formation20 February 1987
Capital
and largest city
Itanagar
Districts28
Government
 • BodyGovernment of Arunachal Pradesh
 • GovernorKaiwalya Trivikram Parnaik
 • Chief MinisterPema Khandu (BJP)
 • Deputy Chief MinisterChowna Mein (BJP)
State LegislatureUnicameral
 • AssemblyArunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly (60 seats)
National ParliamentParliament of India
 • Rajya Sabha1 seat
 • Lok Sabha2 seats
High CourtGauhati High Court-Itanagar Bench
Area
 • Total
83,743 km2 (32,333 sq mi)
 • Rank14th
Highest elevation7,090 m (23,260 ft)
Lowest elevation44 m (144 ft)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total
1,383,727
 • Rank27th
 • Density17/km2 (44/sq mi)
 • Urban
22.94%
 • Rural
77.06%
DemonymArunachalis
Language
 • OfficialEnglish
 • Official scriptLatin script
GDP
 • Total (2025–26)0.47823 lakh crore (US$5.7 billion)
 • Rank31st
 • Per capita280,380 (US$3,300) (16th)
Time zoneUTC+05:30 (IST)
ISO 3166 codeIN-AR
Vehicle registrationAR
HDI (2023) 0.722 High (17th)
Literacy (2024)84.2% (21st)
Sex ratio (2021)997/1,000 (5th)
Websitearunachalpradesh.gov.in
Symbols of Arunachal Pradesh
Foundation dayArunachal Pradesh Day
BirdHornbill
FishGolden Mahseerref
FlowerFoxtail orchid
MammalMithun
TreeHollong
State highway mark
State highway of Arunachal Pradesh
List of Indian state symbols

Arunachal Pradesh (/ərʊˌnɑːəl prəˈdʃ/; lit.'Dawn-Lit Mountain Province') is a state in northeast India. It was known as the North-East Frontier Agency until 1972, after which it became a union territory under the name Arunachal Pradesh. It became a state on 20 February 1987. Itanagar is its capital and largest town.

It shares international borders with Bhutan in the west, Myanmar in the east, and a disputed 1,129 km border with China's Tibet Autonomous Region in the north at the McMahon Line. Nearly four-fifths of Arunachal Pradesh is claimed by China as Southern Tibet as part of the Tibet Autonomous Region; China occupied some regions of Arunachal Pradesh in 1962 but later withdrew its forces.

As per the 2011 census, Arunachal Pradesh has a population of 1,383,727. With only 17 inhabitants per square kilometre, it is the least densely populated state in India. It is an ethnically diverse state, with predominantly Monpa people in the west, Tani people in the centre, Mishmi and Tai people in the east, and Naga people in the southeast of the state. About 23 major tribes and 100 sub-tribes live in the state, including Nocte, Adi, Nyishi, Singpho, Galo, Tagin, and Apatani. The Nyishi are the largest ethnic group in the region. The Mishmi tribe has three sub-tribes, namely Idu-Mishmi, Digaru-Mishmi, and Miju-Mishmi.