India is a federal country where states have their own governments, but some regions are directly governed by the Central Government. These regions are known as Union Territories (UTs).
👉 Part VIII (Articles 239-242) of the Indian Constitution deals with Union Territories.
What is a Union Territory?
✅ Union Territories are regions directly governed by the Central Government of India.
✅ Unlike states, UTs do not have full statehood and are administered by an Administrator or Lieutenant Governor (LG) appointed by the President.
✅ Some UTs have their own legislatures and Chief Ministers, while others are governed entirely by the President of India through an Administrator or LG.
List of Union Territories in India (2024)
Currently, India has 8 Union Territories. Earlier, there were 7 UTs, but after the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh became separate Union Territories. Later, in 2020, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu were merged into one UT, reducing the count to 8.
| Union Territory | Capital | Governor/LG/Administrator | Legislature? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andaman & Nicobar Islands | Port Blair | Lieutenant Governor | ❌ No |
| Chandigarh | Chandigarh | Administrator (Governor of Punjab) | ❌ No |
| Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu | Daman | Administrator | ❌ No |
| Lakshadweep | Kavaratti | Administrator | ❌ No |
| Delhi (NCT) | New Delhi | Lieutenant Governor | ✅ Yes |
| Puducherry | Puducherry | Lieutenant Governor | ✅ Yes |
| Jammu & Kashmir | Srinagar (Summer), Jammu (Winter) | Lieutenant Governor | ✅ Yes |
| Ladakh | Leh | Lieutenant Governor | ❌ No |
Governance of Union Territories
1. UTs Without a Legislature
- Administered directly by the President of India through an Administrator or Lieutenant Governor (LG).
- Examples: Andaman & Nicobar, Chandigarh, Lakshadweep, Ladakh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu.
- These UTs do not have elected governments.
2. UTs With a Legislature
- Delhi, Puducherry, and Jammu & Kashmir have an elected legislature and a Chief Minister.
- Their legislatures can make laws on State List and Concurrent List subjects, except for certain matters controlled by the Central Government.
Special Status of Some Union Territories
1. National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi
- Delhi is the only UT with special status under Article 239AA (added by the 69th Amendment, 1991).
- It has a Legislative Assembly and a Chief Minister, but the Lieutenant Governor (LG) holds more power than the CM.
- Delhi Police, Land, and Public Order are controlled by the Central Government.
2. Puducherry
- Puducherry has a legislature, Chief Minister, and Council of Ministers.
- It follows a unique French-style administration, as it was a former French colony before merging with India in 1954.
- The Central Government has overriding powers over the state legislature.
3. Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh
- Before 2019, Jammu & Kashmir was a state with special status under Article 370.
- After the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019, it became a Union Territory with a legislature, while Ladakh was made a separate UT without a legislature.
- Jammu & Kashmir’s police and law & order are controlled by the Central Government.
Why Do Union Territories Exist?
Union Territories were created for various reasons, such as:
- Strategic importance (e.g., Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep for defense purposes).
- Cultural and linguistic uniqueness (e.g., Puducherry, which has French influence).
- Administrative convenience (e.g., Chandigarh, which serves as the capital of both Punjab and Haryana).
- Newly acquired territories (e.g., Goa was a UT until 1987, when it became a state).
- Political and security concerns (e.g., Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh).
Difference Between States and Union Territories
| Feature | States | Union Territories |
|---|---|---|
| Governance | Has its own elected government | Controlled by the Central Government |
| Governor/LG | Governor | Administrator or Lieutenant Governor |
| Legislature | Present in all states | Present in only 3 UTs |
| Example | Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra | Delhi, Chandigarh |
MCQs on Union Territories
1. Which Part of the Indian Constitution deals with Union Territories?
A) Part III
B) Part V
C) Part VIII
D) Part XI
Answer: C) Part VIII
2. Who is the head of a Union Territory?
A) Chief Minister
B) Prime Minister
C) Lieutenant Governor / Administrator
D) President of India
Answer: C) Lieutenant Governor / Administrator
3. Which UT has its own legislature?
A) Chandigarh
B) Ladakh
C) Puducherry
D) Lakshadweep
Answer: C) Puducherry
4. How many Union Territories does India have as of 2024?
A) 7
B) 8
C) 9
D) 10
Answer: B) 8
5. Which UT was formerly a state before being reorganized in 2019?
A) Chandigarh
B) Puducherry
C) Jammu & Kashmir
D) Dadra & Nagar Haveli
Answer: C) Jammu & Kashmir
6. Which Article grants special status to Delhi?
A) Article 239
B) Article 239AA
C) Article 370
D) Article 356
Answer: B) Article 239AA
7. Which UT was merged with Daman & Diu in 2020?
A) Lakshadweep
B) Dadra & Nagar Haveli
C) Chandigarh
D) Ladakh
Answer: B) Dadra & Nagar Haveli
8. Who appoints the Lieutenant Governor of a UT?
A) Prime Minister
B) President of India
C) Chief Minister of the UT
D) Governor of a nearby state
Answer: B) President of India
9. Which of the following UTs is the largest in terms of area?
A) Delhi
B) Puducherry
C) Ladakh
D) Chandigarh
Answer: C) Ladakh
10. Which of the following is NOT a UT of India?
A) Goa
B) Chandigarh
C) Ladakh
D) Andaman & Nicobar
Answer: A) Goa (It is a state).
Conclusion
✅ Union Territories are directly governed by the Central Government.
✅ Some UTs (Delhi, Puducherry, Jammu & Kashmir) have a legislature, while others are ruled entirely by the President.
✅ Jammu & Kashmir was converted into a UT in 2019, and Ladakh became a separate UT without a legislature.
✅ Each UT has a unique reason for existence, including security, administration, and cultural diversity.
Would you like a mind map or more MCQs on this topic? 😊