Administrative Divisions of India States and Union Territories

India is described as a union of both States and Union Territories. And, for the purposes of administration, India is divided into 29 States (On the names of Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Goa, Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Manipur, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Orissa, Nagaland, Rajasthan, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Sikkim, Uttaranchal, Tripura, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh). It has 7 Union Territories, where Delhi, as the capital of India, is the largest metropolis in India.

Let us know the divisions of India States and Union Territories in detail.

Detailed Information About Administrative Divisions in India

The Administrative divisions of the Indian nation are Indian subnational administrative units. All of them compose a nested hierarchy of the country subdivisions. Both Indian states and territories utilise a variety of local titles for the same subdivision level (for example, all of Andhra Pradesh's Mandals equate to Uttar Pradesh's tehsils whereas, the other Hindi-speaking states and taluka of Maharashtra and Gujarat).

The smaller subdivisions (known as blocks and villages) exist only in the rural areas. Whereas, in the urban areas, instead of these rural subdivisions, the Urban Local Bodies exist.

Coming to the context of the Indian Constitution, the local government bodies are defined as the subjects of the State List. Thereby, either governed by the State Statutes or, in the Union Territories case, by the Union Parliament. Federal recognition of the local Government was expressed substantively in the 74th Constitution Amendment Act of the year 1992. This is detailed info on divisions of India states and union territories.

Zones

All of the states have been divided into five zones, with an Advisory Council tasked with "developing the cooperative working habit" among them. Part-III of the States Reorganisation Act of 1956 established five Zonal Councils. The modern composition of each of these Zonal Councils comes under the below zones:

• The Northern Zonal Council is comprised of the States of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan, Union Territories of Chandigarh and National Capital Territory of Delhi;

• The Eastern Zonal Council, which is comprised of the States of Jharkhand, Bihar, Sikkim and Orissa, West Bengal;

• The Central Zonal Council, which is comprised of the States of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh;

• Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and the Union Territory of Pondicherry make up the Southern Zonal Council.

• The Western Zonal Council, which includes the Union Territories of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, is made up of the states of Gujarat, Goa, and Maharashtra.

Administrative Divisions in Indian States and Union Territories

India is described as a union of both States and Union Territories. For the administrative purpose, India is divided into 29 States (with the names of Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Goa, Jharkhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Manipur, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Orissa, Nagaland, Rajasthan, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Sikkim, Uttaranchal, Tripura, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Himachal Pradesh).

And also with the 7 Union Territories. The states vary in terms of the size of the population, Territory, languages, and economic, historical and cultural development as well. Delhi, which is the capital of India, is the main and largest metropolis in India. This part has its own Legislative Assembly, named Lieutenant Governor, who is the Council of Ministers and also the Chief Minister.

As we have discussed, India contains 28 states and 7 union territories (including one national capital territory). The union territories of the country are governed by the administrators, who are appointed by the President of India. Two of the territories (named Pondicherry and Delhi) have been given statehood (partial), with executive councils of ministers and elected legislatures, however, with limited powers. This is a brief information about administrative divisions in indian states and union territories.

Difference Between Divisions of India States and Union Territories

• A state is a constituent division and it has a self-elected government, which holds the powers to frame the laws. While a Union Territory is described as a small administrative unit and is ruled by the Union Government. But coming to Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir and Puducherry, they are exceptional. 

• An Indian State completely enjoys a federal relationship with both the Union Government and also the executive and legislative powers that are distributed. Whereas, a Union Territory holds a unitary relationship having with the Union Government, including all the executive and legislative powers reside with the Indian Government. 

• A Governor works as the constitutional head of the State and the Indian President contributes his services as the executive head of the Union Territory. 

• The Chief Minister, who is elected by the people, will administer the State. Whereas the Union Territory is administered either by an Lieutenant or administrator Governor appointed by the Indian President. 

• States are very larger in size compared to the Union Territories. 

• All the states enjoy autonomous powers, whereas the Union Territories don't have autonomous powers.

List of Administrative Divisions in India

Let us look at the list of administrative divisions of india states and union territories here, followed by administrative divisions in indian states and union territories.

The list of Administrative divisions in India is listed below:

• Andhra Pradesh

• Arunachal Pradesh

• Asom (Assam)

• Bihar

• Karnataka

• Kerala

• Chhattisgarh

• Uttar Pradesh

• Goa

• Gujarat

• Haryana

• Himachal Pradesh

• Jammu and Kashmir

• Jharkhand

• West Bengal

• Madhya Pradesh

• Maharashtra

• Manipur

• Meghalaya

• Mizoram

• Nagaland

• Orissa

• Punjab

• Rajasthan

• Sikkim

• Tamil Nadu

• Telangana

• Tripura

• Uttarakhand (Uttaranchal)

List of Union Territories in India

Let us know the complete list of Union Territories in India

• Andaman and Nicobar

• Pondicherry

• Dadra and Nagar Haveli

• Daman and Diu

• Delhi

• Chandigarh

• Lakshadweep

Important Facts

• Puducherry (otherwise called Pondicherry) is the one and only Union Territory that is spread in 3 states as Puducherry (the major one) - It is situated in Tamil Nadu; Yanam - It is situated in Andhra Pradesh; Karaikal - It is situated in Tamil Nadu; Mahe - It is situated in Kerala.

• The Indira Point and the southern point of India are situated in the southern tip of Great Nicobar Island.

• Barren Island, which is the one and only active volcano of India that is situated in the east of Middle Andaman.

• Narcondam Island is a volcanic island that is situated in the northern-eastern part of North Andaman.

• 100 Channel (on 100 N Latitude) separates the Andaman Island from Nicobar.

• Between Little Andaman and South Andaman is the Duncan Pass.

• The Grand Channel lies between Sumatra (Indonesia) and Great Nicobar.

• The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are also called Emerald Islands.

• 80 Channel (the 80 N Latitude) is between Maldives and Minicoy.

• 90 Channel (the 90 N Latitude) separates Minicoy from the major archipelago of Lakshadweep.

• The Palk Strait is situated between Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu (India).

• The Adam's Bridge is situated between the divisions Tamil Nadu (India) and Sri Lanka. Pamban Island is described as a part of the Adam's Bridge. Rameshwaram is situated on the same Island.

• The Palk Bay is situated to the north and the Gulf of Mannar is situated to the south of the Adam's Bridge.