India currently has 8 Union Territories. As of August 5, 2019, when the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganization Act came into force, the country moved from 7 UTs to 8. Understanding these territories — their governance structure, legislature status, and constitutional provisions — is essential for UPSC Prelims, Mains, and interviews.
Here's what you need to know, straight off.
What Is a Union Territory?
A Union Territory is an administrative division directly governed by the Central Government through an administrator appointed by the President of India. Unlike states, which have their own elected governments with full legislative powers, UTs operate under Article 239 of the Constitution.
But not all UTs are equal. Some have their own legislatures. Some have elected Chief Ministers. And one — Delhi — has a unique quasi-state status that's been contested in court multiple times.
The key distinction: states derive their power from the Constitution; UTs derive theirs from Parliament.
Why Union Territories Exist
UTs exist for several reasons:
- Strategic importance — Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep
- Cultural distinctiveness — Puducherry (French colonial legacy), Dadra & Nagar Haveli (merged)
- National Capital — Delhi requires central administration
- Small size and population — Chandigarh, Daman & Diu
- Special circumstances — J&K reorganization for security and governance
All 8 Union Territories of India: Complete Table
| Union Territory | Capital | Area (km²) | Population (2011 Census) | Legislature | Administrator Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi (NCT) | New Delhi | 1,484 | 1,67,53,235 | Yes (Vidhan Sabha) | Lieutenant Governor |
| Puducherry | Puducherry | 479 | 12,47,953 | Yes (Legislative Assembly) | Lieutenant Governor |
| Jammu & Kashmir | Srinagar (S), Jammu (W) | 42,241 | ~1.25 crore | Yes (Legislative Assembly) | Lieutenant Governor |
| Ladakh | Leh | 59,146 | 2,74,289 | No | Lieutenant Governor |
| Chandigarh | Chandigarh | 114 | 10,55,450 | No | Administrator |
| Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu | Daman | 603 | ~6 lakh (combined) | No | Administrator |
| Andaman & Nicobar Islands | Port Blair | 8,249 | 3,80,581 | No | Lieutenant Governor |
| Lakshadweep | Kavaratti | 32 | 64,473 | No | Administrator |
Note: Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu merged into a single UT on January 26, 2020, reducing the total from 9 to 8 UTs.
The J&K Reorganization of 2019
This is one of the most significant constitutional changes in recent Indian history. On August 5, 2019, Parliament passed the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019. It came into effect on October 31, 2019.
What Changed
Before the reorganization:
- J&K was a full state with special status under Article 370 and Article 35A
- It had its own constitution, its own flag, and considerable autonomy
After the reorganization:
- Article 370 was effectively abrogated (Presidential Order under Article 370(3))
- J&K became a Union Territory with a legislature (Vidhan Sabha)
- Ladakh was carved out as a separate Union Territory without a legislature
- The state legislature was dissolved
Why It Matters for UPSC
- Article 370 abrogation: Constitutional validity challenged in Supreme Court (upheld in December 2023)
- Ladakh got UT status primarily due to demands for direct central governance from Leh and Kargil residents
- J&K's UT status is meant to be temporary — the government has indicated statehood will be restored after normalcy
Current Status of J&K
J&K held its first assembly elections as a UT in September-October 2024. The National Conference-Congress alliance won. Omar Abdullah became the Chief Minister. So J&K now has a functioning elected government, but the Lieutenant Governor retains significant powers — more so than in Delhi.
Related: Fundamental Rights in India
Delhi: The Special Case
Delhi is not a regular UT. It's the National Capital Territory of Delhi — a designation created by the 69th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1991, which inserted Article 239AA into the Constitution.
What Makes Delhi Different
Delhi has:
- An elected Legislative Assembly (70 seats)
- A Council of Ministers headed by a Chief Minister
- Jurisdiction over most subjects in the State and Concurrent Lists — except public order, police, and land
But the Lieutenant Governor is not just a rubber stamp. Article 239AA(4) says that if the Council of Ministers differs from the LG on any matter, it shall be referred to the President.
The Delhi vs Centre Battle
The power tussle between the elected Delhi government and the LG (representing the Centre) has been a recurring constitutional flashpoint.
Key Supreme Court judgments:
- Government of NCT Delhi v. Union of India (2018): Constitution Bench ruled that the LG is bound by the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers except on matters of public order, police, and land
- Government of NCT Delhi v. Union of India (2023): The Supreme Court gave the elected Delhi government control over services (bureaucracy). Parliament then passed the Government of NCT of Delhi (Amendment) Act, 2023 within days, taking services back under the LG's control.
So Delhi remains constitutionally complex. For UPSC, remember: Delhi has a legislature but limited powers compared to a full state.
Puducherry: The French Legacy UT
Puducherry (formerly Pondicherry, renamed in 2006) was a French colony until 1954. It consists of four geographically separated districts:
- Puducherry — on the Coromandel Coast (Tamil Nadu border)
- Karaikal — on the Coromandel Coast (Tamil Nadu border)
- Mahé — on the Malabar Coast (Kerala border)
- Yanam — on the Coromandel Coast (Andhra Pradesh border)
Puducherry has a 33-seat Legislative Assembly (30 elected + 3 nominated). It also has a Chief Minister and Council of Ministers. The LG is the administrator.
The Puducherry-Centre tension mirrors Delhi's — the elected government often clashes with the LG over policy decisions.
Chandigarh: The Shared Capital
Chandigarh is unique — it’s a UT that serves as the capital of two states: Punjab and Haryana. It was designed by Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier and is known for its grid-based urban planning.
It has no legislature and is administered directly by the Centre. The Administrator is also the Governor of Punjab (a combined charge arrangement).
The long-standing dispute between Punjab and Haryana over Chandigarh remains unresolved. Punjab claims it should be transferred to the state; Haryana wants it to remain a UT until a new capital for Haryana is built.
Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu
These two UTs were merged on January 26, 2020 through the Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (Merger of Union Territories) Act, 2019. The reason: administrative efficiency and to reduce the number of small UTs.
Before merger:
- Dadra and Nagar Haveli — former Portuguese territory, landlocked enclave surrounded by Gujarat and Maharashtra
- Daman and Diu — two separate coastal enclaves (Daman near Gujarat; Diu as an island off Gujarat's Saurashtra coast), also former Portuguese territories
Combined area: ~603 km². Capital: Daman.
Andaman & Nicobar Islands
This strategically located archipelago consists of approximately 572 islands (of which only about 38 are inhabited). It lies in the Bay of Bengal, close to the Strait of Malacca.
Key facts:
- Southernmost point of India — Indira Point in Great Nicobar Island (submerged slightly after 2004 tsunami)
- Home to the Sentinelese — one of the world's last uncontacted peoples
- Cellular Jail (Kala Pani) — historic colonial prison
- Major naval base — INS Jarawa, strategic importance for Indian Ocean Region
- Andaman Trunk Road passes through Jarawa tribal reserve (a major conservation controversy)
The LG here also functions as the Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman & Nicobar Command (Tri-Services command).
Related: Western Ghats Biodiversity
Lakshadweep: India's Smallest UT
Lakshadweep is the smallest Union Territory in India by both area (32 km²) and population (64,473 as per 2011 census). It’s a group of 36 islands in the Arabian Sea, about 200–440 km west of Kerala.
Key facts:
- Only coral atoll territory in India
- Population is predominantly Muslim (96%)
- Main language: Malayalam
- Economy: fishing and coconut cultivation
- Agatti Island has the only airport
- Came into spotlight in 2021 when proposed administrative reforms by the Administrator triggered protests
Difference Between State and Union Territory
| Feature | State | Union Territory |
|---|---|---|
| Constitutional Basis | Articles 152–237 | Articles 239–241 |
| Governance | Elected government with full powers | Central government (through Administrator/LG) |
| Legislature | Yes (bicameral or unicameral) | Only in Delhi, Puducherry, and J&K |
| Governor | Yes | Administrator or Lieutenant Governor |
| Subjects | State List + Concurrent List | As specified by Parliament |
| Police | Under state government | Under LG/Centre (in most UTs) |
| Representation | In both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha | In Lok Sabha; limited Rajya Sabha representation |
| Creation/Dissolution | Requires special majority + state consent (Article 3) | Parliament can do it by simple majority (Article 3) |
A critical point: Parliament can create, alter, or abolish a UT by simple majority. But for states, it requires a special majority and, in most cases, the consent of the affected state legislature.
Constitutional Provisions Related to Union Territories
| Article | Provision |
|---|---|
| Article 1 | India shall be a Union of States (UTs are not mentioned here but included implicitly) |
| Article 239 | Administration of Union Territories |
| Article 239A | Creation of local legislatures or CoM for certain UTs |
| Article 239AA | Special provisions for Delhi (NCT) |
| Article 239AB | Provision for imposition of President's Rule in Delhi |
| Article 240 | Power of President to make regulations for certain UTs |
| Article 241 | High Courts for Union Territories |
| Article 3 | Parliament's power to form new states and UTs |
UTs in Rajya Sabha
Only Puducherry sends elected members to the Rajya Sabha (1 seat). Delhi has 3 Rajya Sabha seats — but these are indirectly elected by the Delhi Legislative Assembly.
Other UTs don't elect Rajya Sabha members. Their interests are represented by the Centre.
High Courts Serving Union Territories
| Union Territory | High Court |
|---|---|
| Delhi | Delhi High Court |
| J&K and Ladakh | J&K and Ladakh High Court (common) |
| Puducherry | Madras High Court |
| Chandigarh | Punjab and Haryana High Court |
| Andaman & Nicobar | Calcutta High Court |
| Lakshadweep | Kerala High Court |
| Dadra & NH and Daman & Diu | Bombay High Court |
Previous Union Territories That Became States
Not all UTs remain UTs forever. Several have been elevated to statehood:
- Himachal Pradesh — UT from 1956, state from 1971
- Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura — UTs/sub-states, became full states in 1972
- Goa — UT from 1961 (merger from Portugal), state from 1987
- Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh — UTs, became states in 1987
The reverse has also happened: J&K was a state and became a UT.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. How many Union Territories are there in India in 2026?
There are 8 Union Territories in India. The number changed from 9 to 8 on January 26, 2020, when Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu merged into a single UT. J&K became a UT (from a state) on October 31, 2019, and Ladakh was carved out as a separate UT simultaneously.
Q2. Which Union Territories have their own legislature?
Three UTs have legislatures: Delhi (Vidhan Sabha, 70 seats), Puducherry (Legislative Assembly, 33 seats), and Jammu & Kashmir (Legislative Assembly). The remaining 5 UTs — Ladakh, Chandigarh, Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep, and Dadra & NH & DD — have no legislature.
Q3. What is the difference between a Lieutenant Governor and an Administrator?
The title depends on the UT. UTs that have or had legislatures — Delhi, Puducherry, J&K, Andaman & Nicobar — have a Lieutenant Governor. Smaller UTs like Chandigarh, Lakshadweep, and Dadra & NH & DD have an Administrator. Functionally, both are appointed by the President and represent the Centre.
Q4. Why does Chandigarh serve as capital for two states?
When Punjab was reorganized in 1966 and Haryana was carved out as a separate state, the city of Chandigarh was retained as a UT and designated as the shared capital of both states. This arrangement was meant to be temporary until Haryana built its own capital, but it has continued for over 50 years. Haryana is developing Nuh (Gurugram region) as a potential new capital, but nothing has been finalized.
Q5. Can Parliament change the area or name of a Union Territory without the consent of that UT?
Yes. Under Article 3, Parliament can form a new state or UT, increase or decrease the area of any state or UT, alter boundaries, and change names — all by a simple majority. For changes affecting a state, the Bill must first be referred to the state legislature for its views (though Parliament is not bound by those views). For UTs, even this step is not required.
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