Indian States & Union Territories Module
Union Territories Administration & Governance
Union Territories (UTs) in India are centrally administered administrative units governed under Part VIII (Articles 239 to 241) of the Constitution. Administered directly by the President through appointed Lieutenant Governors or Administrators, UTs possess varying degrees of administrative autonomy. While territories like Chandigarh, Ladakh, and Lakshadweep are fully under central executive oversight, the National Capital Territory of Delhi, Puducherry, and Jammu and Kashmir feature legislative assemblies and council of ministers under Articles 239A and 239AA. Landmark structural changes include the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act 2019 and the merger of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu in 2020.
Key Concepts & Examination Highlights
- India currently comprises 8 Union Territories: Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, Delhi (NCT), Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry.
- Article 239AA of the Constitution granted special constitutional status to the National Capital Territory of Delhi, establishing a Legislative Assembly and Council of Ministers in 1991.
- The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, bifurcated the former state into two Union Territories—Jammu & Kashmir (with a legislature) and Ladakh (without a legislature)—effective October 31, 2019.
- Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu were merged into a single Union Territory on January 26, 2020, with Daman designated as the administrative headquarters.
Curriculum & Reference Sources: Constitution of India (Part VIII), Ministry of Home Affairs, and Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act 2019.