Union territory: Difference between revisions

|population_range  = [[Lakshadweep]] – 64,473 (lowest)<br />[[Delhi|National Capital Territory of Delhi]] – 31,181,376 (highest)

|area_range        = [[Lakshadweep]] – {{Convert|32|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} (smallest)<br />[[Ladakh]] – {{Convert|59146|km2|sqmi||abbr=on}} (largest)

|subdivision        = [[List of districts in India|Districts]]<br />[[List of divisions in India|Divisions]]

}}

== Administration ==

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>

[[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> [[s:Constitution of India/Part XIX|Article 366(30)]] also defines Union territory as any union territory specified in the First Schedule and includes any other territory comprised within the territory of India but not specified in that Schedule. In the constitution wherever it refers to Territories of India, it is applicable to the 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 difference between states as listed in the First Schedule of the constitution and union territories with legislative assembly is that states were given autonomous powers as provided in the constitution without any possible interference by the parliament whereas UTs with legislative assembly ([[s:Constitution of India/Part VIII|Part VIII]]) has similar powers but parliament is empowered to modify or repeal or suspend the laws made by a union territory (ultimate authority by the parliament unlike the independent nature of the states).

| align=right|380,581

| align=right|8,249

|-

! scope="row"|[[Chandigarh]]

| align=right|114

| English

|-

! scope="row"|[[Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu]]  

| DD

| Western

| 26 January 2020

| align=right|603

|-

! scope="row"|[[Delhi]]

| 1 November 1956

| align=right|16,787,941

| Hindi, English

|-

! scope="row" |[[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]]

| style="text-align:right;"|12,258,433

| style="text-align:right;"|42,241

|-

! scope="row" |[[Ladakh]]

| style="text-align:right;"|290,492

| style="text-align:right;"|59,146

|-

! scope="row"|[[Lakshadweep]]

| LD

| Southern

| 1 November 1956

| align=right|64,473

| align=right|32

|-

! scope="row"|[[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]]

| PY

| Southern

| 16 August 1962

| align=right|1,247,953

|}

| North-Eastern

| [[Aizawl]]

| {{dts|21 January 1972}}

| {{dts|20 February 1987}}

| North-Eastern

| [[Agartala]]

| {{dts|1 November 1956}}

| {{dts|21 January 1972}}

== External links ==

{{State and Union Territory capitals of India}}