Union Territories in India

Constitutional Backdrop

• Article 1 of the Constitution: India shall comprise:
  • The territories of the States
  • The Union Territories (UTs)
  • Other territories that may be acquired.
• Part VIII (Articles 239–241): Deals specifically with administration of Union Territories.
  

Current Union Territories (8 UTs)

UT	Year Formed	Reason
Delhi (NCT)	1956	National capital; needs unique administrative setup
Andaman & Nicobar Islands	1956	Strategic location in Bay of Bengal
Lakshadweep	1956	Strategic location in Arabian Sea
Puducherry	1956	Cultural uniqueness due to French colonial past
Chandigarh	1966	Common capital of Punjab and Haryana
Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu	2020	Portuguese colonial heritage; merged in 2020
Jammu & Kashmir	2019	Reorganization due to security and governance issues
Ladakh	2019	Tribal, remote, and strategically sensitive area

1961: Dadra and NagarHaveli, which were under Portuguese rule, were merged into India and were made a Union territory.

1987: Daman and Diu earlier used to be part of Goa and became a Union territory.

2020: The two Union territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu were merged into a single territory.

Evolution of Union Territories

• Pre-1956:
  • India had Part A, B, C, and D States.
  • Part C and Part D were centrally administered (chief commissioners, lieutenant governors).
• States Reorganization Act, 1956:
  • Abolished Part C & D states → created Union Territories.
  • Initial UTs: Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep, Manipur, Tripura, Himachal Pradesh.
  • Later: Manipur, Tripura, Himachal Pradesh became full states.
• Key Events:
  • 1961: Dadra & Nagar Haveli merged post-Portuguese rule.
  • 1962: Puducherry integrated post-French rule.
  • 1966: Chandigarh formed as Punjab-Haryana capital.
  • 1987: Daman & Diu separated from Goa.
  • 2019: J&K Reorganization → J&K and Ladakh as UTs.
  • 2020: Dadra & Nagar Haveli merged with Daman & Diu → one UT.
    

Differences Between States & Union Territories

Parameter	States	Union Territories
Governance	Elected State Government	Administered by Union through LG/Administrator
Federal Structure	Enjoy federal status with legislative powers	Unitary character; powers centralized
Governor vs. Administrator	Governor acts on aid/advice of State Council	Administrator/LG acts on behalf of President
Legislature	All have assemblies	Only Delhi, Puducherry, and J&K have them
Rajya Sabha representation	All states	Only Delhi, Puducherry, J&K (others: none)

Classification of Union Territories

A. UTs with Legislative Assembly

(Delhi, Puducherry, Jammu & Kashmir)

• Executive:
  • Lieutenant Governor acts with aid and advice of Council of Ministers.
• Legislature:
  • Can make laws on State List (except police, public order, land) and Concurrent List.
  • Parliament retains overriding power.
    

B. UTs without Legislative Assembly

(Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep, Chandigarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, Ladakh)

• Executive:
  • Administrator or LG appointed by the President.
  • Advisory bodies (like HMACs) assist the Administrator.
• Legislature:
  • No assembly.
  • Parliament legislates on all three lists of the 7th Schedule.
  • President may make regulations for peace, progress, and good governance.
    

Judiciary in Union Territories

UT	Jurisdiction of High Court
Delhi	Delhi High Court
Puducherry	Madras High Court
Andaman & Nicobar Islands	Calcutta High Court
Chandigarh	Punjab & Haryana High Court
Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu	Bombay High Court
Lakshadweep	Kerala High Court
Jammu & Kashmir & Ladakh	J&K and Ladakh High Court

Significance of Union Territories

• Designed for flexible administration where:
  • Special governance is required (e.g. Delhi as the national capital).
  • Cultural uniqueness or tribal population needs safeguarding.
  • Strategic geopolitical and military importance exists (e.g. Ladakh, A&N Islands).
    

Way Forward / Reforms Suggested

• Review UT Status:
  • Periodic assessment if UTs should be granted full statehood (e.g. Delhi demand).
• Clear Role Definition:
  • Reduce Centre-State frictions in UTs with legislatures (Delhi case study).
• Enhanced Devolution:
  • Empower UTs with sufficient legislative, financial, and administrative powers for better governance.
• Promote Local Participation:

Encourage local self-governance in UTs without legislatures via Municipal and Panchayat bodies.