What is union territory, How many union territories are there in India
A Union Territory in India is a region that is managed by the Central Government instead of state government. A Union Territory in India is formed for reasons like small size, special culture, security importance, or when smooth control is easier under the Central Government of India. A Union Territory in India can be created by separating from a state or by joining smaller regions together.
A Union Territory in India helps the Central Government of India to look after areas that need special care. India has 8 Union Territories: Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry. What is union territory, How many union territories are there in India.
How many union territories are there in India
There are 8 union territories in India.
- Andaman and Nicobar Islands – Andaman and Nicobar Islands is in the Bay of Bengal and became a union territory in 1956.
- Chandigarh – Chandigarh is in northern India and became a union territory in 1966 when Punjab was divided.
- Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu – Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu is on the western coast of India and was formed in 2020 by joining Dadra and Nagar Haveli with Daman and Diu.
- Lakshadweep – Lakshadweep is in the Arabian Sea and became a union territory in 1956.
- Delhi (National Capital Territory of Delhi) – Delhi is in northern India and became a union territory in 1956. In 1991, it got special status as the National Capital Territory.
- Puducherry – Puducherry is on the southeastern coast of India and became a union territory in 1962 after joining the former French colonies with India.
- Ladakh – Ladakh is in northern India and was made in 2019 after separating it from Jammu and Kashmir.
- Jammu and Kashmir – Jammu and Kashmir is in northern India and was created in 2019 after the state of Jammu and Kashmir was reorganized.
What is the difference between Union Territory and state
- A state in India has its own government with a Chief Minister, while a union territory in India is looked after by a Lieutenant Governor or Administrator sent by the Central Government of India.
- A state in India can make many rules on its own, while a union territory in India mostly follows rules made by the Central Government of India.
- A state in India has full seats in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, while some union territories in India have fewer or no seats in the Rajya Sabha.
- A state in India is usually big in size and has more people, while a union territory in India is often smaller in area and population.
- A state in India is formed for local identity and better administration, while a union territory in India is formed for special reasons like culture, security, or national importance.
FAQs
There are 8 union territories in India. The union territories of India are directly controlled by the central government of India for better administration.
The smallest union territory of India is Lakshadweep. The union territory of Lakshadweep is only 32 square kilometers in size and is made up of small islands in the Arabian Sea.
The largest union territory of India is Jammu and Kashmir. The union territory of Jammu and Kashmir has an area of about 55,538 square kilometers after reorganization in October 2019 by the government of India.
The head of a union territory in India is the President of India. The President of India chooses an Administrator or Lieutenant Governor to look after and manage the administration of the union territory of India.
