Delhi was given the special status of the National Capital Territory by the:

The Constitution (Sixty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1991 gave a special status to the Union Territory of Delhi. It was passed on the recommendations of the Balakrishnan Committee (S. Balakrishnan Committee, 1987-89), which was set up to look into the administrative set-up of Delhi.

The Amendment added two new articles, 239AA and 239AB, to the Constitution:

Article 239AA renamed the Union Territory of Delhi as the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, and its administrator as the Lieutenant Governor.

It created a Legislative Assembly for Delhi and a Council of Ministers headed by a Chief Minister, responsible to the Assembly. The Council of Ministers cannot have more than 10% of the total number of members of the Assembly.

The Legislative Assembly can make laws on subjects in the State List and the Concurrent List, except public order, police and land, which remain with the Centre.

In case of differences between the Lieutenant Governor and the Council of Ministers, the matter is referred to the President.

Article 239AB provides for the suspension of these provisions if the constitutional machinery fails.

The Legislative Assembly of Delhi has 70 members. The first elections under this system were held in 1993.

There have been disputes between the elected government and the Lieutenant Governor over powers. In 2018 and 2023, the Supreme Court held that the elected government has control over most matters, including services, except those excluded. Parliament then passed the Government of NCT of Delhi (Amendment) Act, 2023, which gave the Centre greater control over services.

Puducherry and Jammu and Kashmir are the other Union Territories that have legislatures.

Why not the other options?

• ✗The 61st Amendment (1989) reduced the voting age from 21 to 18.
• ✗The 74th Amendment (1992) gave constitutional status to municipalities.
• ✗The 7th Amendment (1956) reorganised states on a linguistic basis.