Which are 8 union territories in India

India's eight union territories are Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Delhi (National Capital Territory), Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry. These territories differ from states in their administrative structure, as they are directly governed by the Central Government through appointed administrators or Lieutenant Governors, rather than having their own elected chief ministers with full state-level powers (though Delhi and Puducherry have partial statehood with elected legislatures).

Each union territory serves distinct strategic, administrative, or historical purposes. For instance, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep are remote island chains requiring centralized maritime governance, while Chandigarh functions as a shared capital for Punjab and Haryana. Delhi, as the National Capital Territory, houses the central government and maintains a unique governance model that balances local representation with federal oversight. The newest union territories, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, were created in 2019 from the former state, reflecting evolving administrative priorities in strategically sensitive border regions.