Through which constitutional amendment was the Union Territory of Delhi made 'National Capital Territory of Delhi'?

The correct answer is 69th Amendment Act.

Key Points

• The 69th Constitutional Amendment Act, passed in 1991, granted special status to Delhi by declaring it the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi.
• Through this amendment, a legislative assembly and council of ministers were established for the NCT of Delhi, providing it with a partially autonomous status.
• The amendment inserted Articles 239AA and 239AB into the Indian Constitution, detailing the powers and structure of governance in Delhi.
• While Delhi gained a legislative assembly, certain powers like police, public order, and land remained with the central government under the purview of the Lieutenant Governor.
• The legislative assembly of Delhi was empowered to make laws on subjects listed in the State List and Concurrent List, except for those excluded under the amendment.

Additional Information

• Articles 239AA and 239AB
  • Article 239AA provides for a legislative assembly for Delhi with the power to make laws on specified subjects, except public order, police, and land.
  • Article 239AB allows the President of India to suspend the legislative assembly in case of a breakdown of constitutional machinery in Delhi.
• Union Territories with a Legislature
  • Delhi and Puducherry are the only two union territories in India with legislative assemblies and partial statehood powers.
  • The governance structure of these territories is distinct from other union territories, which are directly administered by the President through appointed administrators.
• Lieutenant Governor of Delhi
  • The Lieutenant Governor (LG) is the administrative head of Delhi, appointed by the President of India.
  • The LG acts as a bridge between the central government and the Delhi government and holds special powers regarding reserved subjects like police, public order, and land.
• Objective of the Amendment
  • The 69th Amendment aimed to balance the demand for autonomy in Delhi with the need to maintain its status as the capital of India, ensuring central oversight.
  • It introduced a unique governance model to address the administrative complexities of managing a national capital.