State Focus 8 of 10
State Focus Chandigarh Polity Polity & Governance

Why the Governor of Punjab also serves as the Administrator of the Union Territory of Chandigarh

Background: today's Chandigarh news names Gulab Chand Kataria as UT Administrator, as in the anti-drug campaign review.
The President appoints the Administrator of the Union Territory of Chandigarh.
The Rashtrapati Bhavan communique of 2016 appointed the Punjab Governor as Administrator "in addition to his duties as Governor of Punjab".
It followed a 32-year-old system in which the Punjab Governor also controlled the Union Territory as Administrator.
The Centre had briefly planned a separate Administrator, but dropped the idea.

Appointing authority: The President Administrator is also: Governor of Punjab Earlier system: 32-year-old
Why it matters for exams: Administration of Union Territories through an Administrator appointed by the President is a core polity topic.
Kerala PSCUPSC
4 October 2026 Source: Business Standard

In plain words

Administrator Administrator of a Union Territory — The President's appointee who runs a Union Territory without an elected state-style executive.

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