Union Territories of India: Ladakh, Chandigarh, Puducherry, Jammu And Kashmir And More

Union Territories of India: Have you ever wondered the difference between a state and an union territory? Well we are here to answer your question. A state has its own elected government while a UT is a small area ruled by the centre. 

What are Union Territories of India?

NCERT defines union territories as, ''There are some units of the Indian Union which enjoy very little power. These are areas which are too small to become an independent State but which could not be merged with any of the existing States.These areas are called Union Territories. These territories do not have the powers of a State. The Central Government has special powers in running these areas.''

Also Read: Union Territories of India 2022: Know Everything about UTs

How many Union Territories are there in India?

 India has eight union territories. By the Jammu and Kashmir reorganisation Act 2019, the state lost its statehood and was bifurcated into two Union Territories (i) Jammu and Kashmir and (ii) Ladakh. The eight union territories are- Chandigarh, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Puducherry, Delhi, Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. 

Chandigarh

The beautiful union territory of Chandigarh was planned by the famous French architect Le Corbusier. 'Chandi', means the goddess of power and 'garh' beyond the temple gave the city its name Chandigarh-The City Beautiful. Chandigarh is the capital of both Punjab and Haryana. 

Ladakh 

Ladakh was bifurcated from the former state of Jammu and Kashmir. Ladakh was divided into two full-fledged districts of Leh and Kargil. Ladakh is well known for its breathtaking mountains and culture. 

Jammu and Kashmir 

The former state was bifurcated into two UTs- Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. The winter capital of Jammu & Kashmir is Jammu while the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir is Srinagar. 

Puducherry 

In 1954, Puducherry was merged into the Republic of India after attaining independence from French Rule. Puducherry was granted the status of Partial Statehood in 1963. Puducherry has its own legislature and executive councils of ministers. 

Delhi 

The union territory of Delhi was earlier a State. After the State Reorganisation Act of 1956, Delhi lost its Statehood. In 1991,  Partial Statehood status was granted to the Union Territory of Delhi and it came to be known as the National Capital Territory of Delhi. 

Also Read: Explained: Why Union Territories exist in India?

Lakshadweep

Lakshadweep is India’s smallest Union Territory and has 36 islands. It is often described as the ‘’Lakshadweep, the group of 36 islands known for its exotic and sun-kissed beaches and lush green landscape. The name Lakshadweep in Malayalam and Sanskrit means ‘a hundred thousand islands.’’ 

Andaman and Nicobar Islands

The Andaman & Nicobar Islands are located in the Indian Ocean. The union territory comprises two island groups - the Andaman Islands and the Nicobar Islands. Out of 836 Islands, some 31 are permanently inhabited.

Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu

The union territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu were merged with effect from 26 January 2020. Now it is known as the union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. In 1961, Daman and Diu were merged into  India, after attaining independence from the Portuguese.

Union Territories and their Capitals

CBSE Video Courses for All Subjects for Class 10 Students 

Class 10 students can study effectively with the help of video courses prepared by the subject matter experts. These video courses will explain the concepts in a simple and interactive manner which will help learners to understand clearly. The videos are available for all major subjects including social science. Refer to the below link: 

Note: All images have been taken from the official websites of the respective Union Territories. 

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