India has how many states and union territory?

Appeared in: NIMHANS Nursing Officer - 2021

Explanation

India's current political structure comprises 28 states and 8 Union Territories.
This configuration is a result of recent administrative changes, as confirmed by current government sources.
In 2019, the state of Jammu and Kashmir was reorganized into two Union Territories: Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, reducing the state count to 28.
In 2020, the Union Territories of Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli were merged into a single entity, bringing the UT count to 8.

Option B: This option incorrectly states the number of states as 27. Following the reorganization of Jammu & Kashmir, the number of states became 28.
Option C: This option incorrectly states the number of Union Territories as 7. While India did have 7 UTs for a long time, the number changed after 2019.
Option D: This option incorrectly states the number of states as 29. India had 29 states before the state of Jammu & Kashmir was converted into two Union Territories in 2019.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Indian Polity and General Knowledge as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Keeping up-to-date with the political map of India is crucial for general knowledge, a common section in many competitive exams, including those for nursing recruitment.
Questions on this topic often test awareness of recent current events, like the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019, and the merger of UTs.
What if? If this question were asked between August 2019 and January 2020, the correct answer would have been 28 states and 9 Union Territories.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question from the domain of general knowledge and current affairs.
First, identify the core of the question: the current number of states and UTs in India.
Access your memory regarding India's political geography. Crucially, recall any recent major changes.
Remember the 2019 reorganization of Jammu & Kashmir from a state into two UTs. This reduced the state count from 29 to 28 and increased the UT count from 7 to 9.
Then, remember the 2020 merger of Daman & Diu with Dadra & Nagar Haveli. This kept the state count at 28 but reduced the UT count from 9 to 8.
Combine these facts to arrive at the final count: 28 states and 8 UTs. Select the option that matches this.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Nursing_Management_and_leadership_Johny_Kutty_JosephCbs_Publishers (pp 16-364 of 374) p. 12-14

E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 2 — Subpart B (pp 233-449 of 464) p. 3-5

Practise the full NIMHANS Nursing Officer - 2021

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.