Explanation: India, as a federal union, is divided into states and union territories. The states are governed by their own elected governments, while union territories are directly governed by the central government. The number of states in India has changed over time due to various political and administrative decisions.
Historically, India had 28 states as of 2021. This number has been stable since the creation of Telangana in 2014, which was the last state to be formed, bringing the total to 28. Prior to this, the number of states was 27, with the addition of Telangana increasing the count to 28.
It is important to note that the number of states can change due to political decisions, such as the division or merger of existing states. However, as of 2021, the number of states has remained at 28. The confusion might arise from the recent changes in the number of states, but the current count is 28.
In addition to the 28 states, India also has 8 union territories. These are directly governed by the central government and include areas such as the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Lakshadweep, Ladakh, National Capital Territory of Delhi, Puducherry, and the newly formed Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Understanding the political divisions of India is crucial for students preparing for competitive examinations such as the UPSC, SSC, State PSC, Bank PO, and CLAT, where questions on Indian geography and political divisions are common. It is essential to keep track of any recent changes in the number of states and union territories to ensure accurate knowledge.