Union territory

2022-05-06T16:04:18Z

2409:4063:4D93:E673:0:0:C208:A910: robot: Update article

{{Short description|Form of administrative division in India}}
{{About|the union territories of India|other uses|Federal territory|and|Union territory (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox subdivision type
|name = Union territory
|map = {{Union Territories Labelled Map}}
|category = [[Federated state]]s
|territory = [[Republic of India]]
|start_date =
|current_number = 8
|number_date = 2022
|population_range = [[Lakshadweep]] - 64,473 (lowest); [[National Capital Territory of Delhi]] - 31,181,376 (highest)
|area_range = {{Convert|32|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} [[Lakshadweep]] – {{Convert|59146|km2|sqmi||abbr=on}} [[Ladakh]]
|government = [[Government of India|Union government]]
|subdivision = [[List of districts in India|Districts]], [[Administrative divisions of India#Divisions|Divisions]]
}}
A '''union territory''' ({{lang-hi|केन्द्र-शासित प्रदेश|kendr-shaasit pradesh|centrally administered province}}) is a type of [[administrative divisions of India|administrative division]] in the [[India|Republic of India]]. Unlike the [[states and union territories of India|states of India]], which have their own governments, union territories are [[federal territory|federal territories]] governed, in part or in whole, by the [[Government of India|Union Government of India]].<ref name="UT"/><ref>{{cite web
|url=https://m.youtube.com/knowindia/state_uts.php |title=States and Union Territories |publisher=KnowIndia.gov.in |access-date=2013-11-17|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131024173954/http://knowindia.gov.in/knowindia/state_uts.php |archive-date=2013-10-24|df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mapsofindia.com/maps/india/union-territories.html|title=Union Territories of India|access-date=21 September 2014|archive-date=22 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161122082149/http://www.mapsofindia.com/maps/india/union-territories.html|url-status=live}}</ref> There are currently eight union territories of India.

== History ==
{{Politics of India}}
{{multiple image
| total_width = 500
| image1 = India Administrative Divisions 1951.svg
| image2 = States Reorganisation Act 1956.svg
| footer = Comparison of the administrative divisions of India in 1951 and 1956
}}
{{multiple image
| total_width = 250
| image1 = Jammu & Kashmir Districts (2019).svg
| image2 = Ladakh Districts (2019).svg
| footer = [[Districts of Jammu and Kashmir]] and [[List of districts of Ladakh]] as of November 2019.}}

When the [[Constitution of India]] was adopted in 1949, the Indian federal structure included:
* Part C states, which were [[chief commissioner]]s' provinces and some princely states, each governed by a chief commissioner appointed by the [[President of India]]. The ten Part C states were [[Ajmer State|Ajmer]], [[Bhopal State (1949–56)|Bhopal]], [[Bilaspur State (1950 - 1954)|Bilaspur]], [[Coorg State|Coorg]], [[Delhi]], [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[Cutch State|Cutch]], [[Manipur]], [[Tripura]] and [[Vindhya Pradesh]].
* One Part D state ([[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]]) administered by a [[lieutenant governor]] appointed by the central government.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://indiacode.nic.in/coiweb/amend/amend7.htm |title=The Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956 |access-date=2011-11-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170501011646/http://indiacode.nic.in/coiweb/amend/amend7.htm |archive-date=1 May 2017 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

After the [[States Reorganisation Act, 1956]], Part C and Part D states were combined into a single category of "Union territory". Due to various other reorganisations, only 6 union territories remained:
* [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]]
* [[Lakshadweep|Laccadive, Minicoy & Amindivi Islands]] (later renamed [[Lakshadweep]])
* [[Delhi]]
* [[Manipur]]
* [[Tripura]]
* [[Himachal Pradesh]]

By the early 1970s, Manipur, Tripura, and Himachal Pradesh had become full-fledged states, and [[Chandigarh]] became a union territory. Another three ([[Dadra and Nagar Haveli]] and [[Daman and Diu]] and [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]]) were formed from acquired territories that formerly belonged to non-British colonial powers ([[Portuguese India]] and [[French India]], respectively).

In August 2019, the Parliament of India passed [[Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019]]. The act contains provisions to reconstitute the state of [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]] into two union territories, one to be eponymously called [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]], and the other [[Ladakh]] on 31 October 2019.

In November 2019, the Government of India introduced legislation to merge the union territories of [[Dadra and Nagar Haveli]] and [[Daman and Diu]] into a single union territory to be known as [[Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://theprint.in/india/there-will-be-one-ut-less-as-modi-govt-plans-to-merge-dadra-nagar-haveli-and-daman-diu/261056/ | title=There will be one UT less as Modi govt plans to merge Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu | date=2019-07-10 | agency=The Print | access-date=2019-08-22 | author=Dutta, Amrita Nayak | location=New Delhi | archive-date=14 April 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414072735/https://theprint.in/india/there-will-be-one-ut-less-as-modi-govt-plans-to-merge-dadra-nagar-haveli-and-daman-diu/261056/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|publisher=Press Trust of India|title=Govt plans to merge 2 UTs -- Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli|url=https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/national/754685-govt-plans-to-merge-2-uts----daman-and-diu-dadra-and-nagar-haveli|date=2019-11-22|access-date=2019-11-22|archive-date=14 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414072252/https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/national/754685-govt-plans-to-merge-2-uts----daman-and-diu-dadra-and-nagar-haveli|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite act|type=|index=|date=21 November 2019|article=Article 240 (2)|article-type=|legislature=[[Lok Sabha]]|title=Bill No. 366 of 2019|trans-title=THE DADRA AND NAGAR HAVELI AND DAMAN AND DIU (MERGER OF UNION TERRITORIES) BILL, 2019|page=|url=http://164.100.47.4/BillsTexts/LSBillTexts/Asintroduced/366_2019_LS_Eng.pdf|language=en}} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224021105/http://164.100.47.4/BillsTexts/LSBillTexts/Asintroduced/366_2019_LS_Eng.pdf |date=24 February 2021 }}</ref>

== Administration ==
The [[Parliament of India]] can pass a law to [[Amendment of the Constitution of India|amend the constitution]] and provide a Legislature with elected [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|Members]] and a Chief Minister for a union territory, as it has done for Delhi and Puducherry. In general, the [[President of India]] appoints an [[Administrator of the Government|administrator]] or [[lieutenant governor]] for each UT.<ref name="UT">[http://india.gov.in/knowindia/profile.php?id=21 Union Territories. Know India: National Portal of India] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121126234503/http://india.gov.in/knowindia/profile.php?id=21 |date=2012-11-26}}</ref>

Delhi, Puducherry and Jammu and Kashmir operate differently from the other five. They were given [[Capital districts and territories#India|partial statehood]] and Delhi was redefined as the [National Capital Territory] (NCT) and incorporated into a larger area known as the [[National Capital Region (India)|National Capital Region]] (NCR). Delhi, Puducherry and Jammu, and Kashmir have an elected [[State Legislative Assembly (India)|legislative assembly]] and an executive [[Cabinet (government)|council of ministers]] with a partially state-like function.<ref>{{Cite news|date=August 6, 2019 |title=Union territories with and without legislature: How will Ladakh be different from Jammu and free fire |website=India Today|language=en}}</ref>

Due to the existence of union territories, many critics have resolved India into a semi-federal nation, as the central and state governments each have their domains and territories of legislation. Union territories of India have special rights and status due to their constitutional formation and development. The status of "union territory" may be assigned to an Indian sub-jurisdiction for reasons such as safeguarding the rights of indigenous cultures, averting political turmoil related to matters of governance, and so on. These union territories could be changed to states in the future for more efficient administrative control.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://indiankanoon.org/doc/50919315/ |title=Supreme Court judgement, New Delhi Municipal Corporation ... vs State Of Punjab Etc.Etc on 19 December, 1996 |access-date=2017-09-17 |archive-date=5 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181205071318/https://indiankanoon.org/doc/50919315/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Constitution does not stipulate how tax revenue is to be devolved to the union territories, unlike for the states. The fund's devolution to union territories by the union government has no criteria where all the revenue goes to the union government. Some union territories are provided more funds, while others are given less, arbitrarily by the union government.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/puducherry-cm-n-rangasamy-seeks-clear-formula-for-devolution-of-central-funds/articleshow/46167853.cms |title=Puducherry CM N Rangasamy seeks 'clear formula' for devolution of Central funds |newspaper=The Economic Times |access-date=2017-09-17 |archive-date=29 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929045505/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/puducherry-cm-n-rangasamy-seeks-clear-formula-for-devolution-of-central-funds/articleshow/46167853.cms |url-status=live }}</ref> As union territories are directly ruled by the union government, some union territories get more funds from the union government than entitled on per capita and backwardness basis when compared to states.

After the introduction of [[Goods and Services Tax (India)|GST]], UT-GST is applicable in union territories which do not have a legislative assembly. UT-GST is levied at par with the applicable state GST in the rest of the country which would eliminate the previous lower taxation in the union territories.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.udyogsoftware.com/why-union-territory-gst-law-utgst-is-important-under-gst/ |title=Why Union Territory GST law (UTGST) is important? |access-date=2017-09-17 |archive-date=1 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171001031622/http://www.udyogsoftware.com/why-union-territory-gst-law-utgst-is-important-under-gst/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Constitutional status ==
[[s:Constitution of India/Part I|Article 1 (1)]] of the Indian constitution says that India shall be a "Union of States", which is elaborated under Parts [[s: Constitution of India/Part V|V (The Union)]] and [[s:Constitution of India/Part VI|VI (The States)]] of the constitution. Article 1 (3) says the territory of India comprises the territories of the states, the union territories and other territories that may be acquired. The concept of union territories was not in the original version of the constitution, but was added by the [[States Reorganisation Act, 1956|Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://indiacode.nic.in/coiweb/amend/amend7.htm |title=The Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956 |access-date=2017-09-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170501011646/http://indiacode.nic.in/coiweb/amend/amend7.htm |archive-date=2017-05-01|df=dmy-all }}</ref> In the constitution wherever it refers to Territories of India, it is applicable to whole country including union territories. Where it refers to only India, it applies to all states only but not to union territories. Thus, citizenship (part II), fundamental rights [[s:Constitution of India/Part III|(part III)]], Directive Principles of State Policy (part IV), Judiciary role, the Union Territories (part VIII), [[s:Constitution of India/Part XI|Article 245]], etc. apply to union territories as it refers specifically to Territories of India. The executive power of the Union (i.e. union of states only) rests with [[President of India]]. The President of India is also the chief administrator of union territories as per [[s:Constitution of India/Part VIII|Article 239]]. The union public service commission's role does not apply to all territories of India as it refers to India only in [[s:Constitution of India/Part XIV|Part XIV]].

The constitutional status of a union territory is similar to a state under the perennial [[president's rule]] per [[s:Constitution of India/Part XVIII|Article 356]] subject to specific exemptions to few union territories with legislative assembly. Per [[s:Constitution of India/Part VIII|Article 240 (2)]], supreme power is accorded to the president in regulating the affairs of all the union territories except Chandigarh, [[Delhi|NCT]] and Puducherry, including powers to override the laws made by Parliament and the constitution of India. Article 240 (2) allows implementing [[the United States as a tax haven|tax haven laws]] in these union territories to attract foreign capital and investments into India instead of depending on foreign [[tax haven]] countries.

Three of the union territories have representation in the upper house of the Indian Parliament, the [[Rajya Sabha]]. Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, and Puducherry. Puducherry and NCT of Delhi are the only 2 Union Territories which are exceptional among union territories in that each has its own locally elected [[State Legislative Assembly (India)|legislative assembly]] and have Chief Minister.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 April 2022 |title=Union territories of India |url=https://www.yogiraj.co.in/union-territories-of-india}}</ref>

== Current union territories ==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align: center; font-size: 90%;"
|-
! scope="col" style="width:8%;"|hi

! scope="col" style="width:1%;"|[[ISO 3166-2:IN]]
! scope="col" style="width:1%;"|[[Vehicle registration plates of India|Vehicle code]]
! scope="col" style="width:1%;"|[[Zonal Council|Zone]]
! scope="col" style="width:1%;"|Capital
! scope="col" style="width:1%;"|Largest city
! scope="col" style="width:1%;"|UT established
! scope="col" style="width:1%;"|Population
! scope="col" style="width:1%;"|[[List of states and union territories of India by area|Area]] (km2)
! scope="col" style="width:8%;"|Official languages
! scope="col" style="width:8%;"|Additional official languages
|-
! scope="row"|[[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]]
| IN-AN
| AN
| Southern
| colspan=2|[[Port Blair]]
| 1 November 1956
| align=right|380,581
| align=right|8,249
| [[Hindi]]
| English
|-
! scope="row"|[[Chandigarh]]
| IN-CH
| CH
| Northern
| [[Chandigarh]]
| —
| 1 November 1966
| align=right|1,055,450
| align=right|114
| English
| —
|-
! scope="row"|[[Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu]]
| IN-DH
| DD
| Western
| colspan=2|[[Daman, India|Daman]]
| 26 January 2020
| align=right|586,956
| align=right|603
| [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]], [[English language|English]]
| [[Hindi]], [[Marathi language|Marathi]]
|-
! scope="row"|[[Delhi]]
| IN-DL
| DL
| Northern
| [[New Delhi]]
| —
| 1 November 1956
| align=right|16,787,941
| align=right|1,490
| [[Hindi]], English
| [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], [[Urdu]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://delhi.gov.in/wps/wcm/connect/d09fd2004bd07ad9a305ab56803943f0/Delhi+Official+Languages+Act+2000.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&lmod=-344844204|title=Official Language Act 2000|date=2 July 2003|publisher=Government of Delhi|access-date=17 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304084459/http://delhi.gov.in/wps/wcm/connect/d09fd2004bd07ad9a305ab56803943f0/Delhi+Official+Languages+Act+2000.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&lmod=-344844204|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" |[[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu
and Kashmir]]
| IN-JK
| JK
| Northern
| [[Srinagar]] (Summer)<ref>{{cite web|title=Srinagar {{!}} History, Life, Lakes, & Map|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Srinagar|access-date=2021-07-26|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en|archive-date=20 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210820161123/https://www.britannica.com/place/Srinagar|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="jk_capital">{{Cite news|title=Jammu and Kashmir Government Puts An End To 149-Year-Old Practice Of 'Darbar Move'|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-jammu-and-kashmir-government-puts-an-end-to-149-year-old-practice-of-darbar-move/386683|access-date=2021-07-26|website=Outlook India|archive-date=26 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726184112/https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-jammu-and-kashmir-government-puts-an-end-to-149-year-old-practice-of-darbar-move/386683|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Jammu]] (Winter)<ref name="jk_capital" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Jammu {{!}} History, Map, & Facts|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Jammu|access-date=2021-07-26|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en|archive-date=6 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210906130526/https://www.britannica.com/place/Jammu|url-status=live}}</ref>
| [[Srinagar]]
| 31 October 2019
| style="text-align:right;"|12,258,433
| style="text-align:right;"|42,241
| [[Kashmiri language|Kashmiri]], [[Dogri language|Dogri]], [[Urdu]], [[Hindi]], English
|
|-
! scope="row" |[[Ladakh]]
| IN-LA
| LA
| Northern
| [[Leh]] (Summer) [[Kargil]] (Winter)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/lg-ut-hqrs-head-of-police-to-have-sectts-at-both-leh-kargil-mathur/|title=LG, UT Hqrs, Head of Police to have Sectts at both Leh, Kargil: Mathur|first=Daily|last=Excelsior|date=12 November 2019|access-date=17 December 2019|archive-date=13 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213231004/https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/lg-ut-hqrs-head-of-police-to-have-sectts-at-both-leh-kargil-mathur/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| [[Leh]]
| 31 October 2019
| style="text-align:right;"|290,492
| style="text-align:right;"|59,146
| [[Hindi]], English
|
|-
! scope="row"|[[Lakshadweep]]
| IN-LD
| LD
| Southern
| colspan=2|[[Kavaratti]]
| 1 November 1956
| align=right|64,473
| align=right|32
| [[Malayalam]], English
| —
|-
! scope="row"|[[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]]
| IN-PY
| PY
| Southern
| colspan=2|[[Pondicherry|Puducherry]]
| 16 August 1962
| align=right|1,247,953
| align=right|492
| [[Tamil language|Tamil]], English
| [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[French language|French]]<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.lawsofindia.org/pdf/puducherry/1965/1965Pondicherry3.pdf|title= Regional data|website= lawsofindia.org|access-date= 8 December 2020|archive-date= 11 September 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140911084318/http://www.lawsofindia.org/pdf/puducherry/1965/1965Pondicherry3.pdf|url-status= live}}</ref>
|}

== Former union territories ==
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 90%;"
|-
!Map
!Name
![[Zonal Council|Zone]]
!Capital
!Area
!UT established
!UT disestablished
!Now part of
|-
| [[File:IN-AR.svg|200px]]
| [[Arunachal Pradesh]]
| North-Eastern
| [[Itanagar]]
| {{cvt|83743|km²}}
| {{dts|21 January 1972}}
| {{dts|20 February 1987}}
| As an Indian state
|-
| [[File:IN-DN.svg|200px]]
| [[Dadra and Nagar Haveli]]
| Western
| [[Silvassa]]
| {{cvt|491|km²}}
| {{dts|11 August 1961}}
| {{dts|26 January 2020}}
| [[Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu]] union territory
|-
| [[File:IN-DD.svg|200px]]
| [[Daman and Diu]]
| Western
| [[Daman, India|Daman]]
| {{cvt|112|km²}}
| {{dts|30 May 1987}}
| {{dts|26 January 2020}}
| [[Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu]] union territory
|-
| [[File:IN-GDD.svg|200px]]
| [[Goa, Daman and Diu]]
| Western
| [[Panaji]]
| {{cvt|3814|km²}}
| {{dts|19 December 1961}}
| {{dts|30 May 1987}}
| [[Goa]] state and [[Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu]] union territory
|-
| [[File:IN-HP.svg|200px]]
| [[Himachal Pradesh]]
| northern
| [[Shimla]]
| {{cvt|55673|km²}}
| {{dts|1 November 1956}}
| {{dts|25 January 1971}}
| As an Indian state
|-
| [[File:IN-MN.svg|200px]]
| [[Manipur]]
| North-Eastern
| [[Imphal]]
| {{cvt|22327|km²}}
| {{dts|1 November 1956}}
| {{dts|21 January 1972}}
| As an Indian state
|-
| [[File:IN-MZ.svg|200px]]
| [[Mizoram]]
| North-Eastern
| [[Aizawl]]
| {{cvt|21,087|km²}}
| {{dts|21 January 1972}}
| {{dts|20 February 1987}}
| As an Indian state
|-
| [[File:IN-NL.svg|200px]]
| [[Nagaland]]
| North-Eastern
| [[Kohima]]
| {{cvt|16579|km²}}
| {{dts|29 November 1957}}
| {{dts|1 December 1963}}
| As an Indian state
|-
| [[File:IN-TR.svg|200px]]
| [[Tripura]]
| North-Eastern
| [[Agartala]]
| {{cvt|10491.65|km²}}
| {{dts|1 November 1956}}
| {{dts|21 January 1972}}
| As an Indian state
|}

== Proposed union territories ==
{{Main|Proposed states and union territories of India}}

=== Mahe ===
[[Mahe district]] is one of the four districts of [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]], lying opposite [[Puducherry district]] on the Kerala coast. It is argued by many advocating the adjoining of Mahe with [[Lakshadweep]] or Kerala or making a separate union territory because of a perceived lack of development compared to the rest of Puducherry.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}

=== Panun Kashmir ===
[[Panun Kashmir]] is a proposed union territory in the [[Jammu Valley]] which is advocated by the Kashmiri Pandit Network as a homeland for [[Kashmiri Hindus]] who have fled the Kashmir valley as a result of [[Exodus of Kashmiri Hindus|ongoing violence]] and hope to return.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.panunkashmir.org/ |title=A Homeland for Kashmiri Pandits |publisher=Panun Kashmir |date= |accessdate=2022-01-08 |archive-date=29 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029195320/http://www.panunkashmir.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Chakmaland ===
People of chakma region of Mizoram and adjoining states demand convert status of Chakma autonomous district council into Seprate union territory for us.
The chakma people ( who are mostly buddist) have faced discrimination by the mizo people,who are predominantly chiristian.
The Proposed U.T consist of chawngte,Kamalanagar and tlabung districts.

=== Coorg ===
People of coorg (kodagu) district of Karnataka that is inhabited by kodava people.
Codava national council is to make it an union territory.

== See also ==
* [[Staff Selection Commission]]
* [[Federalism in India]]
* [[Lawmaking procedure in India]]
* [[List of amendments of the Constitution of India]]
* [[List of Acts of the Parliament of India]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Commons category-inline|Union territories of India}}

{{State and Union Territory capitals of India}}
{{States and Union Territories of India}}
{{Terms for types of country subdivisions}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Union territories of India| ]]
[[Category:States and union territories of India]]
[[Category:Administrative divisions of India]]
[[Category:Territories]]

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Union territory