Under Article 1 of the Constitution, the territory of India comprises three categories of territories: (a) territories of the states; (b) union territories; and (c) territories that may be acquired by the Government of India at any time. At present, there are twenty-eight states, eight union territories and no acquired territories.
The states are the members of the federal system in India and share a distribution of power with the Centre. The union territories, on the other hand, are those areas which are under the direct control and administration of the Central government. Hence, they are also known as ‘centrally administered territories’.
At present, there are eight Union Territories. They are (along with the year of creation):
(1) Andaman and Nicobar Islands– 1956,
(2) Delhi–1956,
(3) Lakshadweep–1956,
(4) Dadra and Nagar Haveli–1961,
(5) Daman and Diu–1962,
(6) Puducherry– 1962,
(7) Chandigarh–1966,
(8) Jammu and Kashmir–2019 and
(9) Ladakh–2019.
In 2020, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu got merged, so total UT is 8 now.
Till 1973, Lakshadweep was known by the name of Laccadive, Minicoy and Amindivi Islands. In 1992, Delhi was redesignated as the National Capital Territory of Delhi. Till 2006, Puducherry was known as Pondicherry.
The union territories have been created for a variety of reasons. These are mentioned below:
- Political and administrative consideration–Delhi and Chandigarh.
- Cultural distinctiveness–Puducherry, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu.
- Strategic importance–Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep.
- Special treatment and care of the backward and tribal people–Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh which later became states.
In 2019, the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated into two separate union territories, namely, the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, and the Union territory of Ladakh.
Administration of Union Territories
Special Provisions of Delhi
Advisory Committees of Union Territories
Articles : Union Territories
