RAS question
Article 239 provides that Union Territories shall be administered by:
Correct answer: (B) The President through an Administrator appointed by him.
Under Article 239(1), every Union Territory is administered by the President acting through an administrator appointed by him.
Explanation
Article 239(1) places the administration of every Union Territory with the President, not with a neighbouring State government or any individual minister. The President may act through an administrator whom he appoints, and the designation of that administrator is also specified by him. Familiar designations used for this role include Lieutenant Governor, Administrator, or Chief Commissioner. The constitutional chain of authority is clear: the Union Territory is administered by the President, and the day-to-day constitutional channel is an administrator appointed by the President. Article 239(1) therefore contains both parts: the President as the administering authority and the appointed administrator as the instrument through whom he acts.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) A Governor can be appointed as administrator of an adjoining Union Territory, but Article 239(1) does not make the Governor of the nearest State the default administering authority.
- (C) The Home Minister is not named in Article 239(1); the provision vests administration in the President acting through an administrator appointed by him.
- (D) Article 239(1) does not provide for direct administration by the Prime Minister; it specifies the President and an appointed administrator.
Concept
Part VIII governs the constitutional administration of Union Territories and separates their structure from the structure of States. In RAS preparation, exact constitutional authority named in an Article matters more than ordinary political practice.