The bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) into two Union Territories (UTs) in August 2019 increased the total number of UTs in India to nine. And, diminished the status of J&K from State to an UT.

Differences Between UTs and States:

Parameter	State	UTs
Governance	Have their own elected government with a Chief Minister as the head.	Governed directly by the Central Government. Some UTs like Delhi, Puducherry (and now Jammu and Kashmir) have their own legislature and government but with limited powers.
Legislative Powers	Possess their own legislative assemblies and can make laws on all subjects except those reserved for the Centre. Schedule 7 provides for subjects.	Legislative powers are vested in the Parliament, but UTs with legislative assemblies can make laws on certain subjects.
Judicial	Have their own high courts (except for some states that share a high court). The states of Haryana and Punjab share a common High court present in Chandigarh.	Do not necessarily have their own high court, they may fall under the jurisdiction of high courts of nearby states. Delhi and Puducherry are the only union territories with their own high court. The HC of Bombay is for Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
Financial Resources	Have their own resources and share in central taxes. They can also raise loans within or outside India. ( Article 292 and 293 )	Largely dependent on allocations from the Central Government for their finances.

Reasons for the Creation of UTs:

Strategic Importance:
1. Example: The creation of UTs like Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep due to their strategic locations on India's maritime borders.
Cultural Distinctiveness:
1. Example: Puducherry, with its unique Franco-Tamil culture, was given UT status to preserve its distinct identity.
Political and Administrative Considerations:
1. Example: Delhi, being the national capital, is a UT to facilitate central governance while having a local government with restricted powers.
Geopolitical Sensitivity:
1. Example: The bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two UTs (Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh) was done considering its geopolitical sensitivity, security concerns, and to ensure better administrative control and development.
Size and Population: Smaller regions with less population that may not be viable as independent states are designated as UTs for efficient governance.
1. Example: Chandigarh serves as a capital for both Punjab and Haryana and is managed as a UT due to its small size and demographic.

The creation of UTs in India is thus based on a variety of factors including strategic importance, cultural uniqueness, administrative convenience, and geopolitical considerations, providing a tailored approach to governance that suits the diverse needs of the country's different regions

Useful Links

Quick Links