Short note: New Delhi
- New Delhi is the capital of India and seat of the executive, legislative, and judiciary branches of the Government of India.
It is also the centre of the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi and is one of the eleven districts of Delhi National Capital Territory.
- With a population of 22 million in 2011, Delhi metropolitan region is the world’s second most populous city and the largest city in India and also one of the largest in the world in terms of area. After Mumbai it is also the wealthiest city in India, and has the 2nd highest GDP of any city in South, West or Central Asia.
- The foundation stone of the city was laid by George V, Emperor of India during the Delhi Durbar of 1911.
It was designed by British architects, Sir Edwin Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker.
The new capital was inaugurated on 13 February 1931, by India’s Viceroy Lord Irwin.
Short note: Puducherry
- UT CONSISTING 4 ENCLAVES:
Puducherry, formerly known as Pondicherry, is a Union Territory of India formed out of four enclaves of former French India and named after the largest, Pondicherry. It is also known as “The French Riviera of the East” (La Côte d’Azur de l’Est).
The union territory of Puducherry consists of four small unconnected districts: Pondicherry, Karaikal and Yanam on the Bay of Bengal and Mahé on the Arabian Sea.
Pondicherry and Karaikal have the largest areas and population, both as part of Tamil Nadu. Yanam and Mahé are enclaves of Andhra Pradesh and Kerala respectively.
- POCKETS:
Some of Puducherry’s enclaves are themselves amalgamations of non-contiguous enclaves, often called pockets in India. The Pondicherry district is made of 11 such pockets, some of which are very small and entirely surrounded by the territory of Tamil Nadu. The Mahé district is made up of three pockets. This unusual geography is a legacy of the colonial period with Puducherry retaining the borders of former French India. - PARTIAL STATEHOOD:
Puducherry is a Union Territory of India rather a state, which implies that governance and administration falls directly under federal authority. However, ALONG WITH DELHI, PUDUCHERRY IS ONE OF TWO UNION TERRITORIES IN INDIA THAT IS ENTITLED BY SPECIAL CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS TO HAVE AN ELECTED LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY AND A CABINET OF MINISTERS, thereby conveying partial statehood.
The Centre is represented by the LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR who resides at the Raj Nivas (Le Palais du Gouverneur) at the Park, the former palace of the French governor. The central government is more directly involved in the territory’s financial well-being unlike states, which have a central grant that they administer. Consequently, Puducherry has at various times, enjoyed lower taxes, especially in the indirect category.
- SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE STATUS:
According to the Treaty of Cession of 1956, the four territories of former French India territorial administration are permitted to make laws with respect to specific matters. In many cases, such legislation may require ratification from the federal government or the assent of the President of India.
Government: New Delhi
- The Secretariat Building houses Ministries of Defence, Finance, Home Affairs and External Affairs. It also houses the Prime Minister’s office.
- The national capital of India, New Delhi is jointly administered by both the federal Government of India and the local Government of Delhi, is also the capital of the NCT of Delhi.
- As of 2005, the government structure of the New Delhi Municipal Council includes a chairperson, three members of New Delhi’s Legislative Assembly, two members nominated by the Chief Minister of National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT) and five members nominated by the central government.
- The head of state of Delhi is the Lieutenant Governor of Union Territory of Delhi, appointed by the President of India on the advice of the Central government and the post is largely ceremonial, as the Chief Minister of Union Territory of Delhi is the head of government and is vested with most of the executive powers.
- According to the Indian constitution, if a law passed by Delhi’s legislative assembly is repugnant to any law passed by the Parliament of India, then the law enacted by the parliament shall prevail over the law enacted by the assembly.
- New Delhi is governed through a municipal government, known as the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC). Other urban areas of the metropolis of Delhi are administered by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). However, the entire metropolis of Delhi is commonly known as New Delhi in contrast to Old Delhi.
Geography: New Delhi
- With a total area of 1,484 km2 (573 sq mi), New Delhi forms a small part of the Delhi metropolitan area.
- Because the city is located on the Indo-Gangetic Plain, there is little difference in elevation across the city.
- New Delhi and surrounding areas were once a part of the Aravalli Range; all that is left of those mountains is the Delhi Ridge, which is also called the Lungs of Delhi.
- While New Delhi lies on the floodplains of the Yamuna River, it is essentially a landlocked city. East of the river is the urban area of Shahdara. New Delhi falls under the seismic zone-IV, making it vulnerable to earthquakes.
- New Delhi lies on several fault lines and thus experiences frequent earthquakes, most of them of mild intensity. There has, however, been a spike in the number of earthquakes in the last six years, most notable being a 4.7-magnitude earthquake on November 25, 2007.
International relations, organisations and summits: New Delhi
International relations and organisations:
The city is home to numerous international organisations. The Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology of the UNESCAP servicing the Asia-Pacific region is headquartered in New Delhi.[61] New Delhi is home to most UN regional offices in India namely the UNDP, UNODC, UNESCO, UNICEF, WFP, UNV, UNCTAD, FAO, UNFPA, WHO, World Bank, IMF, UNIFEM, IFC and UNAIDS.
New Delhi hosts 145 foreign embassies and high commissions.
Summits:
New Delhi hosted the 7th NAM Summit in 1983 and 4th BRICS Summit in 2012.
Short note: Chandigarh
Chandigarh is a city and a union territory in northern part of India that serves as the capital of the states of Haryana and Punjab.
As a union territory, the city is ruled directly by the Union Government of India and is not part of either state.
The city of Chandigarh was the first planned city in India post-independence in 1947 and was known internationally for its architecture and urban design.
The master plan of the city was prepared by Le Corbusier, transformed from an earlier plan by the American planner Albert Mayer.
The city tops the list of Indian States and Union Territories by per capita income in the country.
The city was reported to be the cleanest in India in 2010, based on a national government study, and the territory also headed the list of Indian states and territories according to Human Development Index.
The metropolitan of Chandigarh-Mohali-Panchkula collectively forms a Tri-city.
The name Chandigarh translates as “The Fort of Chandi”. The name is derived from an ancient temple called Chandi Mandir, devoted to the Hindu goddess Chandi, near the city (in Panchkula).
Brief History (formation): Chandigarh
After the Partition of India in 1947, the former British province of Punjab was also split between east Punjab in India and west Punjab in Pakistan. The Indian Punjab required a new capital city to replace Lahore, which became part of Pakistan during the partition.
On 1 November 1966, the newly formed state of Haryana was carved out of the eastern portion of Punjab, in order to create Haryana as a majority Hindi-speaking people, while the western portion of Punjab retained a mostly Punjabi language-speaking majority and remained as the current state of Punjab.
However, the city of Chandigarh was on the border, and was thus created into a union territory to serve as capital of both states.
Short note: Lakshadweep
- Lakshadweep formerly known as the Laccadive, Minicoy, and Aminidivi Islands is a group of islands in the Laccadive Sea, 200 to 440 kilometres (120 to 270 mi) off the south western coast of India.
- The archipelago is a Union Territory and is governed by the Union Government of India. They were also known as Laccadive Islands, although geographically this is only the name of the central subgroup of the group.
- Lakshadweep comes from “Lakshadweepa”, which means “one hundred thousand islands” in Sanskrit as well as many Indian languages.
- The islands form the smallest Union Territory of India: their total surface area is just 32 square kilometres (12 sq mi). The Exclusive Economic Zone area 4,00,000 square kilometres (150,000 sq mi).
- The region forms a single Indian district with ten sub divisions. KAVARATTI serves as the capital of the Union Territory and the region comes under the jurisdiction of Kerala High Court.
- The islands are the northernmost of the Lakshadweep-Maldives-Chagos group of islands, which are the tops of a vast undersea mountain range, the Chagos-Laccadive Ridge.
Geography: Lakshadweep
Lakshadweep is an archipelago of twelve atolls, three reefs and five submerged banks, with a total of about thirty-nine islands and islets.
The reefs are in fact also atolls, although mostly submerged, with only small unvegetated sand cays above the high-water mark. The submerged banks are sunken atolls.
Almost all the atolls have a northeast-southwest orientation with the islands lying on the eastern rim, and a mostly submerged reef on the western rim, enclosing a lagoon.
It has 10 inhabited islands, 17 uninhabited islands, attached islets, 4 newly formed islets and 5 submerged reefs.
The main islands are Kavaratti, Agatti, Minicoy, and Amini. The total population of the territory is 60,595 according to the 2001 census.
Agatti has an airport with direct flights from Kochi.
Government and administration: Lakshadweep
- Lakshadweep forms a single Indian district and is governed by an administrator appointed by the President of India under article 239 of the constitution.The present administrator is J K Dadoo.
- There are 10 Sub Divisions of the territory. In Minicoy and Agatti the Sub Division is under a Deputy Collector while in the remaining 8 islands developmental activities are coordinated by Sub Divisional Officers.
- The Collector cum Development Commissioner who is also the District Magistrate oversees matters coming under District Administration, such as revenue, land settlement, law and order.
The District Magistrate is assisted by one Additional District Magistrate and Ten Executive Magistrates with respect to enforcement of law and order.
- Administrator in his capacity as Inspector General of Lakshadweep Police has command and control of the Lakshadweep Police. Administration Secretariat is in Kavaratti.
- The union territory comes under the jurisdiction of the Kerala High Court at Kochi along with a system of lower courts.
- The territory elects one member to the Lok Sabha (lower house of the Parliament of India).
Economy: Lakshadweep
Lakshadweep’s gross state domestic product for 2004 is estimated at US$ 60 million at current prices.
There is little economic inequality in Lakshadweep and the poverty index is low.
Coconut fibre extraction and production of fibre products is Lakshadweep’s main industry.
There are five coir fibre factories, five production demonstration centres and seven fibre curling units run by the government of India. These units produce coir fibre, coir yarn, curled fibre and corridor mattings.
Fisheries:
Lakshadweep is the only coral atolls of the country. With a vast lagoon of 4,200 km2, it has territorial waters of 20,000 km2, Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 4,00,000 Lakhs km2 and coastal line of about 132 km.
There is an estimation of about one lack tones of tuna and tuna like fishes and about an equal quantity of shark in the sea around Lakshadweep.
Fishing is the main livelihood of the islanders.
Freshly caught tuna is processed by drying it in the sun after cooking and smoking. The resultant product, known as mas, are popular products exported from these islands to southeast Asian countries.
Eleven workshops in islands and two boat building yards cater to the needs of fishermen. There are 375 boats in operation in Lakshadweep.
Tourism:
Due to its isolation and scenic appeal, Lakshadweep was already known as a tourist attraction for Indians since 1974.
This brings in significant revenue, which is likely to increase. Since such a small region cannot support industries, the government is actively promoting tourism as a means of income in Bangaram and Kadmat islands.
Bangaram is projected as a major destination for international tourism.
Marine fauna are plentiful. Water sports activities such as scuba diving, wind surfing, snorkelling, surfing, kayaking, canoeing, water skiing, sportfishing, yachting and night-voyages into the sea are quite popular activities among tourists.
Tourists flock to these islands throughout the year except during the South-west monsoon months when seas are extremely rough.
Desalination: Lakshadweep
Desalination
A low-temperature thermal desalination plant opened on Kavaratti in 2005, at a cost of 50 million (€922,000).
The experimental plant, which uses the temperature difference between warm surface seawater and much colder seawater at 500m depth to generate potable water as well as energy, was slated to produce 100,000 litres/day of potable water from seawater.
The technology was developed by the National Institute of Ocean Technology. It can be used to produce drinking water and also for power generation and air conditioning.
In addition, the deep seawater contains extra nutrients for fish, an important source of food and income for the local population.
The government plans to set up desalination plants with a capacity of 10 million litres/per day on all islands and coastal areas.
In 2009, the NIOT announced plans to build plants on Minicoy, Agatti and Andrott.
Short note: Andaman and Nicobar Islands
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a group of islands at the juncture of the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea, and are a Union Territory of India.
The territory’s capital is the Andamanese town of Port Blair. The total land area of the territory is approximately 8,073 km2 (3,117 sq mi).
The capital of Nicobar Islands is Car Nicobar.
The islands host the Andaman and Nicobar Command, the only tri-service geographical command of the Indian Armed Forces.
At the independence of both India (1947) and Burma (1948), the departing British announced their intention to resettle all Anglo-Indians and Anglo-Burmese on the islands to form their own nation, although this never materialised.
It became part of the Indian union in 1950 and was declared a union territory in 1956.
Administration: Andaman and Nicobar Islands
In 1874, the British had placed the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in one administrative territory headed by a Chief Commissioner as its judicial administrator.
On 1 August 1974, the Nicobar islands were hived off into another revenue district with district headquarters at Car Nicobar under a Deputy Commissioner.
In 1982, the post of Lieutenant Governor was created who replaced the Chief Commissioner as the head of administration.
Subsequently a “Pradesh council” with Counselors as representatives of the people was constituted to advise the Lieutenant Governor.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands is divided into three districts. Each district is sub-divided into sub-divisions and taluks
Economy: Andaman and Nicobar Islands
- Agriculture:
A total of 48,675 hectares (120,280 acres) of land is used for agriculture purposes.
Paddy, the main food crop, is mostly cultivated in Andaman group of islands, whereas coconut and arecanut are the cash crops of Nicobar group of islands.
Field crops, namely pulses, oilseeds and vegetables are grown, followed by paddy during Rabi season.
Different kinds of fruits such as mango, sapota, orange, banana, papaya, pineapple and root crops are grown on hilly land owned by farmers.
Spices such as pepper, clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon are grown under a multi-tier cropping system.
Rubber, red oil, palm, noni and cashew are grown on a limited scale in these islands.
- Industry
There are 1,374 registered small-scale, village and handicrafts units. Two units are export-oriented in the line of fish processing activity.
Apart from this, there are shell and wood based handicraft units. There are also four medium sized industrial units.
SSI units are engaged in the production of polythene bags, PVC conduit pipes and fittings, paints and varnished, fibre glass and mini flour mills, soft drinks and beverages, etc.
Small scale and handicraft units are also engaged in shell crafts, bakery products, rice milling, furniture making, etc.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation has spread its wings in the field of tourism, fisheries, industries and industrial financing and functions as authorised agents for Alliance Air/Jet Airways.
The Islands have become a tourist destination, due to the draw of their largely unspoiled virgin beaches and waters.
Tourism
Andaman & Nicobar Islands are developing into a major Tourism hub with its exotic looking beaches and pristine islands having equally exotic names, wonderful opportunities for adventure sports like snorkeling and sea-walking.
According to official estimates, the flow of tourists doubled to nearly 300,000 in 2012 from 130,000 in 2008-09.
The Radha Nagar beach of Andamans was chosen as Asia’s best Beach in 2004.
Short note: Daman and Diu
For over 450 years, the coastal exclaves of Daman and Diu on the Arabian Sea coast were part of Portuguese India, along with Goa and Dadra and Nagar Haveli.
Goa, Daman, and Diu were incorporated into the Republic of India on 19 December 1961 by military conquest. Portugal did not recognise the Indian annexation of these territories until 1974.
The territory of “Goa, Daman, and Diu” were administered as a single union territory until 1987, when Goa was granted statehood, leaving Daman and Diu as a separate union territory.
Each enclave constitutes one of the union territory’s two districts. Daman and Diu are approximately 198 kilometres away from each other.
Administration:
According to the Constitution of India, Administration of Daman and Diu is carried out by an Administrator appointed by President of India.
An Administrator is an agent of the President not the head of state like a governor. Currently this post is held by Shri B. S. Bhalla, 1990 batch IAS Officers. He is assisted by a number of other officers in carrying out his duty.
Short note: Dadra and Nagar Haveli
Dadra and Nagar Haveli is a Union Territory in western India. Nagar Haveli is wedged between Maharashtra and Gujarat, whereas Dadra is a enclave 1 km NW surrounded by Gujarat. The shared capital is Silvassa.
These territories were earlier ruled by the Koli chiefs who were defeated by the Hindu kings of Jawhar and Ramnagar. The Marathas had conquered and annexed these territories to their kingdom.
It was annexed by India from Portugal on 2 August 1954. The people of the territory established free administration of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, which was finally merged into the Union of India in 1961.
Administration
A Lieutenant Governor administers the territory, which covers an area of 487 km² and consists of two talukas:
- Dadra
- Nagar Haveli
Dadra is the headquarters of Dadra taluka, comprising Dadra town and two other villages.
Silvassa is the headquarters of Nagar Haveli taluka, comprising Silvassa town and 68 other villages.
