How Many States and Union Territories Does India Have at Present

Introduction

India consists of 28 states and eight union territories. India is a massive country that ranks seventh in the globe in terms of land area. It is separated into states and union territories and operates in tandem with the government. Since 1956, the number of states and union territories has changed. There were 14 states and six union territories at the outset. The overall number of States and Union Territories in India has increased to 28 and 8, respectively, with the inclusion of new States and Union Territories.

States and Union Territories of India

When India gained independence on August 15, 1947, it became the democratic nation we know today. It is a republic, which means that the supreme power is in the hands of the people. All decisions are made by representatives elected by the public within and within the framework of a set of fundamental, written principles known as the "Constitution." The Constitution is the top legal authority in the country. On November 26, 1949, the Constituent Assembly passed it, and on January 26, 1950, it came into force. According to the preamble of the Indian Constitution, the nation is a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic with a parliamentary form of government. In India, there are currently 28 states and eight union territories.

History of Indian States

The split of J&K into two separate Union Territories brought the total number of states in India to 28. As a result of this split, the number of Union Territories rose from 7 to 9. We have detailed the evolution of all Indian states year by year on this page.

During the period, India had three types of states: (1) 'Territories of British India,' (2) 'Princely states,' and (3) French and Portuguese colonial territories.

Since Indian independence, the boundaries of Indian states have changed year after year. There were 17 provinces and 565 princely states in existence prior to partition. Following the Reorganisation of States in 1956, there were 14 states and six union territories. In 2014, there were 29 states and seven union territories. As of today, there are 28 states and nine union territories as a result of the division of Jammu and Kashmir.

History of The Union Territories of India

Indian states were classified into four categories after the Indian Constitution was approved in November 1949. Part A states were former British India governor-ruled provinces that retained governors and elected legislatures. Part B states were either former princely states or confederations of princely states with appointed governors (RajPramukh) and elected legislatures. Some former princely states and chief commissioners' provinces were also included in the Part C states. Andaman & Nicobar Islands was the only Part D state with a lieutenant governor chosen by the union government.

All Part C and Part D states were either merged into other states or consolidated into a single category dubbed "union territory" during the reorganisation of Indian states carried out by the States Reorganisation Act in 1956. Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep (known as the Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindivi Islands until 1973), Delhi, Manipur, Tripura, and Himachal Pradesh were thus established as union territories.

Evolution of States and Union Territories

• The component states of the Indian Republic went through a long process of evolution before taking their current shapes, sizes, and names.

• While India obtained formal independence, there was a yearning for governmental reform in other parts of the country.

• While the need for new states was mostly driven by language, constitutional drafters came from a variety of backgrounds.

• However, because the Constituent Assembly did not have enough time to explore such a large subject and administrative complexity, commissions were appointed to investigate the matter.

Indian States and Capitals

India currently has twenty-eight states and eight union territories. Each Indian state is represented by its own administrative, legislative, and judicial capital. In some states, all three functions are carried out in the same capital. A Chief Minister governs each state. This section has covered the Indian States, Union Territories, and their capitals.

Indian Union Territories and Capitals

The former state of Jammu and Kashmir has been divided into two Union Territories (UT) known as J&K and Ladakh. The newly formed union areas were established by a reorganisation act voted by Parliament on the 5th and 6th of August 2020. India now has eight Union Territories.

Facts About States and Union Territories

• Hyderabad was Andhra Pradesh's former capital, but it was replaced with Amravati, the people's capital. On October 22, 2015, the foundation stone was set.

• Since April 20, 1974, Itanagar has served as the state capital of Arunachal Pradesh. Arunachal Pradesh is the largest state in India's Northeast.

• Shillong was the state capital until 1972, when it was replaced by Dispur. Dispur is a locality or suburb of Guwahati, which is why Guwahati is commonly referred to as Assam's capital city.

• Dehradun is mentioned in the ancient puranic stories of the Ramayana and Mahabharata, making it one of India's oldest cities. Dehradun is also known as Guru Drona's Abode.

• Dermochelys Coriacea, the world's largest sea turtle, nests on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, as does India's sole active volcano.

• Previously, this territory was known as Pondicherry. On September 20, 2006, it was changed to Puducherry. Puducherry is more commonly known as the "White Town."

• New Delhi is the capital and administrative centre of India, as well as the administrative hub of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. The Union Territory of Delhi was renamed the National Capital Territory of Delhi by the Constitution Act of 1991.

How Delhi, Puducherry, J & K are different from other Union Territories?

• All states and three union territories in India, namely Puducherry, Delhi, and Jammu & Kashmir, have an elected legislature and administration.

• There are eight union territories in India, three of which, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, and Puducherry, have elected members and a Chief Minister due to a constitutional provision that grants them partial statehood.

• Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, and Puducherry each have their legislative assembly and executive council and function similarly to states. The remaining union areas are controlled and regulated by the country's Union, which is why they are referred to as union territories.

Conclusion

The country is divided into twenty-eight states and eight union territories. The President appoints an Administrator to administer Union Territories. From the greatest to the smallest state/UT in India, each has its population, history and culture, clothing, festivals, language, and so on. India is the seventh-largest country in the world and the world's second-most populated country, shortly to overtake China. It is impossible to control an entire country and its population from a single spot. As a result, India has been partitioned into states and union territories.