Which Union Territory was created last?
Q. Which UT was created last?- Published on 10 Mar 17a. Lakshadweep
b. Chandigarh
c. Delhi
d. Puducherry
ANSWER: Chandigarh
- At present, there are twenty-nine states, 7 Union Territories (UTs) and no acquired territories.
- The union territories are those areas which are under the direct control and administration of the Central Government.
- Hence, they are also known as ‘Centrally Administered Territories’.
- In this way, existence of these territories constitutes a conspicuous departure from federalism in India; the Government of India is plainly unitary in so far as the relationship between New Delhi and these Central enclaves is concerned.
Creation of UTs -
- During the British Rule, certain areas were constituted as ‘scheduled districts’ in 1874.
- Later, they came to be known as ‘chief commissioner’s provinces’.
- After independence, they were placed in the category of Part ‘C’ and Part ‘D’ states.
- In 1956, they were constituted as the ‘Union Territories’ by the 7th Constitutional Amendment Act (1956) and the States Re-organisation Act (1956).
- Gradually, some of these Union Territories have been made states.
- Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Goa, which are states today were once Union Territories.
- The territories that were acquired from the Portuguese (Goa, Daman and Diu, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli) and the French (Puducherry) were constituted as the Union Territories.
7 UTs are (year of creation) -
1. Andaman and Nicobar Islands - 1956.
2. Delhi - 1956.
3. Lakshadweep - 1956.
4. Dadraand Nagar Haveli - 1961.
5. Daman and Diu - 1962.
6. Puducherry - 1962.
7. Chandigarh - 1966.
- Till 1973, Lakshadweep was known by the name of Laccadive, Minicoy and Amindivi Islands.
- In 1992, Delhi was re-designated as the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
- Till 2006, Puducherry was known as Pondicherry.
The Union Territories have been created for various reasons like -
1. Political and administrative consideration - Delhi and Chandigarh.
2. Cultural distinctiveness - Puducherry, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu.
3. Strategic importance - Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep.
4. Special treatment and care of the backward and tribal people - Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh (These later became states).
