Question

Which is the smallest (in area) of the following Union Territories?
A. Daman and Diu and Dadra Nagar and Haveli
B. Chandigarh
C. Ladakh
D. Lakshadweep

Answer 1

Hint:A Union Territory is a type of administrative division in India. It is governed directly by the Central Government of India. As of 2020, there are eight union territories in India, the latest being Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir which was added to the list in 2019 under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019. The union territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu were merged into a single union territory to be known as Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu in November 2019.

Complete Answer:
- Option A: Daman and Diu and Dadra Nagar and Haveli is a union territory in the Western region of India and were earlier two different union territories but were merged by new legislation introduced by the government. It has a combined area of 603 sq. Km. Hence, this is an incorrect option.
- Option B: Chandigarh is a union territory and the shared capital of the Indian states Haryana and Punjab. It is in the North region of India and has an area of 114 sq. km. Hence, this is an incorrect option.
- Option C: Ladakh is a union territory and was formed under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019. Leh and Kargil are the capital. It has an area of 59,146 sq. km. Hence, this is an incorrect option.
- Option D: Lakshadweep is a union territory and a group of islands in the Lakshadweep Sea to the southwestern coast of India. Kavaratti is the capital. It is the smallest union territory having an area of 32.62 sq. km. Hence, this is the correct option.

So, the correct answer is option D.

Note:The concept of union territories was not in the original version of the constitution but was later added on by the Constitution in the Seventh Amendment Act, 1956. Some union territories have their own elected legislatures and governments like Delhi, Jammu, and Kashmir, Puducherry.