Union territory

Union territory

Union territories are federal territories governed directly by the Central Government of India. Delhi, Puducherry and Jammu and Kashmir operate differently from the other five. The Constitution does not stipulate how tax revenue is to be devolved to the union territories.

About Union territory in brief

Summary Union territoryUnion territories are federal territories governed directly by the Central Government of India. As of 2020 there are eight union territories. Delhi, Puducherry and Jammu and Kashmir operate differently from the other five. The Constitution does not stipulate how tax revenue is to be devolved to the union territories, unlike for the states. Some union territories are provided more funds, while others are given less, in an arbitrary manner by the union government. Three union territories have representation in the upper house of the Indian Parliament, the Rajya Sabha. The constitutional status a union territory is similar to a few state under perennial president’s rule per Article 356 subject to the supreme power accorded to the President in the affairs of the country.

The status of union territory may be assigned to an Indian sub-jurisdiction for reasons such as safeguarding the rights of indigenous cultures, averting political turmoil related to matters of governance, and so on. These union territories could be changed to states in the future for more efficient administrative control. After the introduction of GST, UT-GST is applicable in union territories which are not having legislative assembly.