In Indian political geography, what is the capital town of the former Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli?

Introduction / Context:
Union territories and their capitals are a standard part of Indian polity and geography. Before recent administrative mergers, Dadra and Nagar Haveli functioned as a separate Union Territory with its own administrative headquarters. This question asks for the capital town of that former territory, a typical fact based item in general knowledge tests that checks recall of small but important administrative centres.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- The question refers to the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli. - It specifically asks for the capital town. - Options include Silvassa, Dadra, Nagar Haveli and Kavaratti. - The context is based on the traditional administrative arrangement familiar from many exam syllabi.

Concept / Approach:
The concept is basic administrative geography. Silvassa has long been known as the capital town of Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Dadra and Nagar Haveli themselves are parts of the territory rather than separate capital towns, while Kavaratti is the capital of Lakshadweep. The approach is to recall the list of Union Territories and their capitals as presented in civics and geography books and to match each correctly.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Verification can be done by consulting any reliable general studies book or government source that lists Indian states and Union Territories with their capitals. These sources consistently mention Silvassa as the capital of Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Older school textbooks and atlases also show this fact in tabular form, which confirms that Silvassa is the correct answer used in most competitive examinations.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Dadra is a small town forming part of the Union Territory but is not the designated capital. The term Nagar Haveli refers to the main inland portion of the territory and not to a specific capital city. Kavaratti is completely unrelated to this territory; it is the capital of the Lakshadweep group of islands. None of the above is incorrect because Silvassa clearly matches the required fact as per standard references.

Common Pitfalls:
One pitfall is to assume that the name of the territory implies that Dadra or Nagar Haveli must be the capital, which is not the case. Another common error is confusing different island and coastal Union Territories, leading some students to choose Kavaratti by mistake. Regular revision of a simple table that lists all states and Union Territories along with their capitals is the most effective way to avoid such confusion.

Final Answer:
The capital town of the former Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli is Silvassa.