India, a country known for its rich history, diverse culture, and rapid economic growth, boasts a landscape dotted with a multitude of cities, each with its own unique character and significance. From bustling metropolises to serene towns nestled amidst picturesque landscapes, India’s cities offer a tapestry of experiences, reflecting the country’s vibrant heritage and dynamic present.

Although India is a country of villages, the landscape is rapidly evolving due to the rapid development of its cities. People from villages are migrating to cities for better education, healthcare and other opportunities. The government’s focus on creating smart cities has fueled it too.

Cities play a crucial role as centers of culture, commerce, and administration, contributing significantly to the socio-economic fabric of a country. Cities are most commonly categorized by Tier. Although the tier system in India is not a formal government classification but most commonly used by businesses, marketers, researchers, and policymakers to understand and categorize cities based on various socio-economic factors.

The tier system offers a convenient way to understand the hierarchy and characteristics of cities across the country. The tier system is based on the development of the city, population density, availability of healthcare facilities, educational institutions etc.

Here is the tier-wise list of cities.

Tier-I Cities

There are 8 Tier 1 cities in India. These cities are the most developed and economically advanced cities with good education and healthcare accessibility.

1. Ahmedabad, Gujarat
2. Bangalore, Karnataka
3. Chennai, Tamil Nadu
4. Delhi, Delhi
5. Hyderabad, Telangana
6. Kolkata, West Bengal
7. Mumbai, Maharashtra
8. Pune, Maharashtra

Tier-II Cities

There are 20 Tier 2 cities in India. They are smaller and less developed cities. Tier 2 cities have been playing a significant role in the overall economic and social landscape of India. They mainly serve manufacturing, information technology, education, healthcare, and tourism.

1. Agra, Uttar Pradesh
2. Ajmer, Rajasthan
3. Amritsar, Punjab
4. Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
5. Bhubaneswar, Odisha
6. Chandigarh, Chandigarh
7. Faridabad, Haryana
8. Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh
9. Jaipur, Rajasthan
10. Jamshedpur, Jharkhand
11. Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh
12. Kochi, Kerala
13. Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
14. Mysore, Karnataka
15. Nagpur, Maharashtra
16. Patna, Bihar
17. Raipur, Chhattisgarh
18. Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir
19. Surat, Gujarat
20. Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh

Tier-III Cities

Tier 3 cities are the cities that are less developed or have a lower population compared to Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities. The are smaller but still plays significant role in country’s economy and development.

1. Bikaner, Rajasthan
2. Cuttack, Odisha
3. Etawah, Uttar Pradesh
4. Gandhinagar, Gujarat
5. Hajipur, Bihar
6. Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh
7. Junagadh, Gujarat
8. Madurai, Tamil Nadu
9. Mathura, Uttar Pradesh
10. Meerut, Uttar Pradesh
11. Nashik, Maharashtra
12. Rohtak, Haryana
13. Salem, Tamil Nadu
14. Udaipur, Rajasthan
15. Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh

Download the Cities List in Excel

Click on the button below to download complete list with their Tier status and population.