A Union Territory (UT) is a territory of India that is administered under the constitutional framework for Union Territories. Unlike states, which have their own constitutional arrangement and elected state governments, the Union plays a more direct role in the administration of UTs. However, the exact structure is not identical for every UT.
List of 8 Union Territories of India and Their Capitals
India currently has 8 Union Territories. The table below is designed as a quick reference for school GK, quizzes and competitive-exam revision.
| Union Territory | Capital / Administrative Centre | Location | Key Point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andaman and Nicobar Islands | Sri Vijaya Puram | Bay of Bengal | Island UT; formerly known as Port Blair |
| Chandigarh | Chandigarh | North India | Also serves as the capital of Punjab and Haryana |
| Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu | Daman | Western India | Formed by merger of two former UT administrations in 2020 |
| Delhi | New Delhi | North India | National Capital Territory; has a legislative assembly |
| Jammu and Kashmir | Srinagar (summer), Jammu (winter) | Northern India | UT with a legislature |
| Ladakh | Leh | Trans-Himalayan region | UT without a legislature |
| Lakshadweep | Kavaratti | Arabian Sea | Island UT |
| Puducherry | Puducherry | Southern India | UT with a legislative assembly |
What Is a Union Territory?
A Union Territory is a constituent administrative unit of India that comes under the Union's constitutional and administrative framework. Article 239 of the Constitution provides the general framework for administration of Union Territories through an Administrator appointed by the President, subject to the special provisions that apply to particular UTs.
This means the phrase "directly administered by the Centre" is useful as a simple GK explanation, but it should not be treated as meaning that every UT is administered in exactly the same way. Some UTs have legislatures and elected governments, while others do not.
Union Territories: Location and Key Facts
1. Andaman and Nicobar Islands
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are an island group in the Bay of Bengal. The UT is geographically separated from mainland India and is known for its strategic location, tropical ecosystems and marine biodiversity. Its capital is Sri Vijaya Puram, the city formerly known as Port Blair.
2. Chandigarh
Chandigarh is a Union Territory in northern India and is also the shared capital of Punjab and Haryana. It is known for its planned urban design and its role as an important administrative centre.
3. Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu
Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu is a Union Territory on India's western side. The present UT was created on 26 January 2020 by merging the former Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. Daman is the capital.
4. Delhi
Delhi is officially the National Capital Territory of Delhi. It is India's national capital territory and has a legislative assembly. New Delhi is the capital and the principal seat of the Union government.
5. Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir became a Union Territory on 31 October 2019 under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. It has a legislature. Srinagar serves as the summer capital and Jammu as the winter capital under the territory's administrative arrangement.
6. Ladakh
Ladakh became a separate Union Territory on 31 October 2019 when the former State of Jammu and Kashmir was reorganised. It comprises the Leh and Kargil districts under the 2019 reorganisation framework and does not have a legislative assembly. Leh is its capital.
7. Lakshadweep
Lakshadweep is India's smallest Union Territory by area and consists of islands in the Arabian Sea, off the southwestern coast of India. Kavaratti is the capital. Its island geography makes it distinct from mainland Union Territories.
8. Puducherry
Puducherry is a Union Territory in southern India with a legislative assembly. Its territory includes four geographically separated regions: Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam. Puducherry is the capital.
Which Union Territories Have a Legislature?
Not all Union Territories have legislative assemblies. For quick GK revision, remember the three UTs with legislatures:
| Union Territory | Legislature | Quick Note |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi | Yes | National Capital Territory with a Legislative Assembly |
| Jammu and Kashmir | Yes | Union Territory formed under the 2019 reorganisation framework |
| Puducherry | Yes | Union Territory with a Legislative Assembly |
The other five Union Territories—Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Ladakh and Lakshadweep—do not have legislative assemblies.
How the Current 8 Union Territories Were Formed
The present list of eight UTs reflects several changes in India's administrative structure. Two of the most important recent changes are the creation of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh as separate Union Territories in 2019 and the merger of Dadra and Nagar Haveli with Daman and Diu in 2020.
| Change | Year | What Happened? |
|---|---|---|
| Jammu and Kashmir reorganisation | 2019 | The former State of Jammu and Kashmir was reorganised into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. |
| Merger of two western UTs | 2020 | Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu became a single Union Territory. |
The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 specifically provides for the formation of Ladakh as a Union Territory without a legislature and Jammu and Kashmir as a Union Territory with a legislature.
States vs Union Territories
The basic difference is the constitutional and administrative framework under which they are governed. States generally have their own elected state governments and legislatures under the Constitution, while Union Territories are administered under the Union Territories framework. The arrangement varies among UTs because Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir and Puducherry have legislatures.
| Feature | State | Union Territory |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative framework | State government under the constitutional scheme for states | Union Territory framework under Part VIII of the Constitution |
| Role of Union government | States have greater constitutional autonomy in their assigned fields | Union has a more direct administrative role |
| Legislature | States have legislatures | Only some UTs have legislatures |
| Example | Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala | Chandigarh, Ladakh, Lakshadweep |
Important GK Facts About Union Territories
- India has 8 Union Territories at present.
- Chandigarh is a Union Territory and the shared capital of Punjab and Haryana.
- Delhi is officially the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
- Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir and Puducherry have legislative assemblies.
- Ladakh was created as a separate Union Territory in 2019.
- Jammu and Kashmir became a Union Territory on 31 October 2019.
- Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu became one Union Territory in 2020.
- Lakshadweep is an island Union Territory in the Arabian Sea.
- Andaman and Nicobar Islands are an island Union Territory in the Bay of Bengal.
- Leh is the capital of Ladakh.
- Kavaratti is the capital of Lakshadweep.
- Puducherry has a legislative assembly and includes Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam.
- Sri Vijaya Puram is the current official name of the capital of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
- Union Territories are administered under Part VIII of the Constitution, with special provisions for particular territories.
Union Territories GK Questions
1. How many Union Territories are there in India?
India has 8 Union Territories.
2. Which Union Territory is the capital of Punjab and Haryana?
Chandigarh is a Union Territory and serves as the shared capital of Punjab and Haryana.
3. Which Union Territories have legislative assemblies?
Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, and Puducherry have legislative assemblies.
4. What is the capital of Ladakh?
Leh is the capital of Ladakh.
5. What is the capital of Lakshadweep?
Kavaratti is the capital of Lakshadweep.
6. Which two Union Territories were created from the former State of Jammu and Kashmir?
Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh were formed as separate Union Territories under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.
7. Which Union Territory was formed by merging Dadra and Nagar Haveli with Daman and Diu?
Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu was formed by the merger of the two former Union Territories in 2020.
8. What is the capital of Andaman and Nicobar Islands?
Sri Vijaya Puram is the capital. It was formerly known as Port Blair.
9. Which Union Territory is located in the Arabian Sea?
Lakshadweep is an island Union Territory in the Arabian Sea.
10. Which Union Territory is located in the Bay of Bengal?
Andaman and Nicobar Islands is the island Union Territory located in the Bay of Bengal.
One-Minute Revision: Union Territories of India
| UT | Capital | Legislature? |
|---|---|---|
| Andaman and Nicobar Islands | Sri Vijaya Puram | No |
| Chandigarh | Chandigarh | No |
| Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu | Daman | No |
| Delhi | New Delhi | Yes |
| Jammu and Kashmir | Srinagar / Jammu | Yes |
| Ladakh | Leh | No |
| Lakshadweep | Kavaratti | No |
| Puducherry | Puducherry | Yes |
How to Prepare Union Territories for GK Exams
For quick revision, do not try to memorise the topic as one long list. Start with the eight UT names and capitals, then learn the three UTs with legislatures. After that, revise the two major recent administrative changes: the 2019 Jammu and Kashmir reorganisation and the 2020 merger of Dadra and Nagar Haveli with Daman and Diu.
- Memorise all 8 UTs with their capitals.
- Mark island UTs separately: Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep.
- Remember the three UTs with legislatures using D-J-P.
- Revise the 2019 and 2020 administrative changes.
- Use a blank map of India to connect each UT with its location.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Union Territories are there in India in 2026?
India has 8 Union Territories.
Which is the largest Union Territory of India by area?
Ladakh is the largest Union Territory by geographical area among India's current UTs.
Which is the smallest Union Territory by area?
Lakshadweep is the smallest Union Territory by area.
Which Union Territories have their own legislatures?
Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir and Puducherry have legislative assemblies.
Is Chandigarh a state or a Union Territory?
Chandigarh is a Union Territory. It also serves as the shared capital of Punjab and Haryana.
What is the new name of Port Blair?
The city was renamed Sri Vijaya Puram in 2024.
When did Ladakh become a Union Territory?
Ladakh became a Union Territory on 31 October 2019 under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.
When was Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu formed?
The merged Union Territory came into existence on 26 January 2020.
Are all Union Territories directly governed in the same way?
No. The constitutional and administrative arrangements differ. Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir and Puducherry have legislative assemblies, while the other five UTs do not.
Official Sources
- National Portal of India — current list of States and Union Territories.
- India Code — Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 — legal basis for the creation of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh as Union Territories.
Related General Knowledge Guides
Continue your GK preparation with more General Knowledge guides, including Indian States and Capitals, Indian States and Languages, National Symbols of India, General Knowledge Guides and Important Rivers in India.