Article 239A
Creation of Legislatures for Certain Union Territories
Article 239A, inserted by the Constitution (Fourteenth Amendment) Act, 1962, empowers Parliament to create legislative assemblies, Councils of Ministers, or both for specific Union Territories. Such laws are not deemed amendments to the Constitution under Article 368, even if they have the effect of amending constitutional provisions. Puducherry is the primary Union Territory currently governed under this article. The Government of Union Territories Act, 1963 — enacted under Article 239A — established Puducherry's legislature and defines its functioning.
- Article 239A inserted in 1962 via the 14th Constitutional Amendment.
- Puducherry's Assembly has 33 members: 30 elected, 3 nominated by the Centre.
- The 1963 Act empowers Puducherry's legislature to make laws on State List and Concurrent List subjects (Seventh Schedule), making it broader in scope than Delhi's assembly.
- Matters such as public order (Entry 1), police (Entry 2), land (Entry 18), and State Public Services (Entry 41) of the State List fall within Puducherry legislature's competence — a key distinction from Delhi.
● Tracked since February 11, 2026 · last seen April 09, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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