As of June 2017, how many union territories did India have according to the official administrative division at that time?

Introduction / Context:
India administrative structure consists of states and union territories. The number of union territories has changed over time due to the creation, merger or reorganisation of territories. This question specifically asks for the number of union territories India had as of June 2017, so it tests your knowledge of the situation before later administrative changes took place.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The date reference is June 2017. • We must recall the official count of union territories at that time. • Later changes, such as new union territories formed after 2017, are not to be considered.

Concept / Approach:
Before the major reorganisation in 2019 and later, India had seven union territories. These were Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Delhi, Lakshadweep and Puducherry. No new union territories had been added and none of these had been merged as of June 2017. Therefore, the correct number to remember for that date is seven.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: List the union territories as of 2017: Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Delhi, Lakshadweep and Puducherry. Step 2: Count them: Andaman and Nicobar Islands (1), Chandigarh (2), Dadra and Nagar Haveli (3), Daman and Diu (4), Delhi (5), Lakshadweep (6) and Puducherry (7). Step 3: Confirm that no additional union territories existed at that time; Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh were not union territories in 2017. Step 4: Note that the merger of Dadra and Nagar Haveli with Daman and Diu into a single union territory happened after 2017. Step 5: Since the total count in June 2017 was seven, select the option showing 7.

Verification / Alternative check:
If you consult any official yearbook or exam guide published around 2017, it will list seven union territories with the same names mentioned above. Later changes in 2019 and beyond, such as the reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir and the merger of Dadra and Nagar Haveli with Daman and Diu, are clearly noted as subsequent developments. This timeline confirms that seven is the correct number of union territories in June 2017.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
6: Too low for 2017, because all seven traditional union territories still existed separately at that time. 5: Even further from the correct count, omitting several established union territories. 4: Does not match any recent historical period for the number of Indian union territories. 8: Too high for 2017, since Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh had not yet been converted into union territories.

Common Pitfalls:
One common source of confusion is mixing up the post 2019 situation with the earlier one. After the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act and the merger of Dadra and Nagar Haveli with Daman and Diu, the number and names of union territories changed. Candidates who recently studied this updated information may incorrectly project it backwards to 2017. To avoid such mistakes, always pay close attention to the date mentioned in the question and base your answer on the administrative structure that existed at that specific time.

Final Answer:
As of June 2017, India had 7 union territories.