Which of the following places is not classified as a Union Territory in the present administrative structure of India?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Goa

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
India is divided into states and Union Territories for administrative convenience. Many competitive exams test whether candidates can correctly distinguish between these two types of administrative units. This question focuses on identifying which among the given options is not a Union Territory but a full-fledged state within the Indian Union. Understanding this basic political geography helps in interpreting news, government schemes, and constitutional provisions that often treat states and Union Territories differently.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • The question provides four well known Indian places: Puducherry, Goa, Delhi, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
  • Only one of these is a state, while the others are Union Territories.
  • The task is to choose the place that is not a Union Territory.
  • The answer must reflect the current constitutional status of these regions.


Concept / Approach:
To answer, we recall the list of Union Territories and identify which option is classified as a state instead. Union Territories are regions that are directly administered by the central government, sometimes with legislatures and sometimes without. States, on the other hand, have their own elected governments with wider legislative powers. By matching each option against the known list of Union Territories, we can logically eliminate and isolate the state among them.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Puducherry is a Union Territory with a legislative assembly. Step 2: Recall that Delhi, officially the National Capital Territory of Delhi, is also a Union Territory with a special status. Step 3: Remember that Andaman and Nicobar Islands form a Union Territory directly administered by the central government. Step 4: Note that Goa is a small state on the western coast of India and not a Union Territory. Step 5: Therefore, Goa is the only option that is not a Union Territory.


Verification / Alternative Check:
A quick cross check is to mentally list Indian states: Goa clearly appears among them as the smallest state by area after some reorganisations, known for tourism and coastal geography. When thinking of official lists of Union Territories, names like Puducherry, Delhi, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands consistently appear. This reinforces that Goa is the outlier and must be the correct choice. No current constitutional amendment has converted Goa into a Union Territory, so the classification remains valid.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Puducherry is wrong because it is officially a Union Territory composed of multiple enclaves such as Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe, and Yanam. Delhi is wrong because the National Capital Territory is a Union Territory with a special status and its own legislature. Andaman and Nicobar Islands is wrong because it is a Union Territory in the Bay of Bengal administered by a Lieutenant Governor on behalf of the central government.


Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to assume that Goa might be a Union Territory because of its small size or past Portuguese rule. Some learners also confuse Delhi's special status and elected assembly with that of a state, forgetting that it is still constitutionally a Union Territory. Another error is not staying updated with administrative changes, but in this case, Goa has remained a state since it was granted statehood in 1987. Carefully distinguishing between historical status and present constitutional status is essential.


Final Answer:
The place that is not classified as a Union Territory of India is Goa.

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