Sambhav-2024

Day 15 : Analyse the evolution and rationale behind the creation of the Union Territories (UTs) in India. How do they differ from the states in terms of administration and governance? (250 Words)

06 Dec 2023 | GS Paper 2 | Polity & Governance

Approach / Explaination / Answer

  • Introduce your answer with a brief definition of union territories (UTs).
  • Discuss the factors that led to the creation of UTs and how they differ from the states in terms of administration and governance.
  • Conclude Suitably.

Introduction

The union territories (UTs) of India are administrative divisions that are directly governed by the central government, unlike the states that have their own elected governments. The union territories were created for various historical, political, and geographical reasons.

Body

Some of the factors that led to the creation of the union territories are:

  • Political and Administrative Considerations: Some regions, such as Delhi and Chandigarh, were given the status of union territories to ensure effective administration and representation of the national capital and the joint capital of two states, respectively.
  • Cultural distinctiveness: Some regions, such as Puducherry, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu, were former colonies of France and Portugal that were merged with India after their independence. They were made union territories to preserve their unique cultural identity and historical legacy.
    • Likewise, Ladakh was carved out of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 to address the demands of the Buddhist majority population for more autonomy and development.
  • Strategic Importance: Some regions, such as Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep, were made union territories to safeguard the national security and territorial integrity of India. These islands are located in the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea, and have strategic significance for India’s maritime and defence interests.
    • Similarly, Jammu & Kashmir was granted the status of UT, considering the internal security situation fueled by cross-border terrorism.
  • Special treatment and care of the backward and tribal people: Some regions, such as Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura, and Arunachal Pradesh, were initially made union territories to provide special attention and assistance to the development and welfare of the backward and tribal people living in these areas. They were later granted statehood after achieving a certain level of economic and social progress.

The union territories differ from the states in terms of administration and governance in the following ways:

States Union Territories
Their relationship with Centre is federal. Their relationship with Centre is unitary.
They share a distribution of power with the Centre. They share a distribution of power with the Centre.
They have autonomy. They do not have any autonomy.
Their executive head is known as governor. Their executive head is known by various designations–administrator or lieutenant governor or chief commissioner.
A governor is a constitutional head of the state. An administrator is an agent of the president.
Parliament cannot make laws on the subjects of the state list in relation to the states except under extraordinary circumstances. Parliament can make laws on any subject of the three lists the state list in relation to the states except under in relation to the union territories.

Conclusion

The evolution of UTs in India reflects a pragmatic approach to governance, addressing diverse historical, strategic, and administrative challenges. While Union Territories share some similarities with states, their unique characteristics, governance structures, and relationships with the central government distinguish them as a separate category within India's administrative framework.