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Puducherry
Puducherry is a remarkable Union Territory of India situated around 2400 km. away from the capital. It consists of 0.10% population of India. Sri Aurobindo Ashram is a well-known place here that draws a lot of people to this UT every year.
| Topic | Data/Facts |
| 1 History | 1.1 Puducherry was formed on 1st November, 1954. It became an Union Territory on 16th August, 1962. 1.2 It was formed out of four territories of former French India, namely Pondichéry (Pondicherry; now Puducherry), Karikal (Karaikal), Mahé and Yanaon (Yanam), excluding Chandannagar. It is named after the largest district, Puducherry. 1.3 Pondicherry changed its official name to Puducherry on 20 September 2006. |
| 2 Geography | 2.1 Climate: (i) The climate of Pondicherry is classified by the Köppen climate classification as tropical wet and dry. (ii) Summer lasts from April to early June. (iii) This is followed by a period of high humidity and occasional thundershowers from June till September. (iv) The northeast monsoon sets in during the middle of October, and Pondicherry gets the bulk of its annual rainfall during the period from October to December. 2.2 Agriculture: (i) The potential for fisheries is substantial in the Union Territory. (ii) To certain extent vegetables and some fruit trees like jack, mango, cashew are very common. Other than this, tuber crops, vegetables and other annuals are cultivated in this Region. (iii) Coconut, Arecanut, Pepper, Banana and Tapioca are the major crops grown in this Region. (iv) Farming around Pondicherry include crops such as rice, pulses, sugarcane, coconuts, and cotton. 2.3 Major Rivers: Rivers: (i) Gingee River (ii) Guduvaiyar River (iii) Malattar River (iv) Pambaiyar River (v) Pennaiyar River (vi) Arasalar River (vii) Nandalar River (viii) Nattar River (ix) Noolaar River (x) Puravadayanar River (xi) Thirumalairajan River (xii) Vanjiar River (xiii) Mahé River (xiv) Ponniyar River (xv) Goutami River Lakes: (i) Bahour Lake (ii) Ousteri Lake (iii) Velrampet Lake (iv) Nallambal Lake 2.4 Animals: Squirrels, mangoose, varanus, civet cat, jackal and many snakes. 2.5 Neighbouring States: Tamil Nadu – North Andhra Pradesh – West Kerala – South Bay of Bengal – East 2.6 Capital city: Pondicherry 2.7 Total Land Area: (i) Total area is 483 sq. km. (ii) Area Rank in India : 34th |
| 3 Forestry | 3.1 Forest: (i) Forest Cover: 52.41 sq. km. (ii) Very Dense Forest: 0 (iii) Moderately Dense Forest: 17.66 sq. km. (iv) Open Forest: 34.75 sq. km. (Data as per ISFR 2019 assessment) 3.2 Birds Sanctuary: Oussudu Bird Sanctuary, Oussudu |
| 4 Economy | 4.1 Major Economic Data: (i) GDP Growth: 17.12% (ii) GDP: US$1.399 bn (2004-05) (iii) GDP Rank: 26th (iv) Per Capita Income: US$766 4.2 Industries: Major industries are as under: – (i) The potential for fisheries is substantial in the Union Territory. (ii) Puducherry is one of the most popular tourist spots in India for national and international tourists. (iii) The city features an expanded industrial background that is occupied with mechanical industries, pharmaceutical manufacturers, chemical manufacturers, food industries and so on. (iv) The union territory of Puducherry is the home of a lot of well-known chemical industries that manufacture industrial chemicals. (v) Being an important commercial centre of South India, the union territory of Puducherry houses a lot of mechanical industries that primarily function on the field of engineering science that practices the precepts of applied science, physical science and materials science for designing, fabricating, and upkeep of mechanical arrangements. |
| 5 Transportation | 5.1 Air, Railway, Roads and Sea Ports are the major modes of transportation in Puducherry. 5.2 Other Important facts: (i) Puducherry U.T. has several ports namely Karaikal port, Puducherry port, Mahe port. Among them, Largest port is Karaikal Port. (ii) Puducherry has a network all-weather metalled roads connecting the territory. Puducherry has a road length of 2,552 km (road length per 4.87 km2), the highest in the country. PRTC busses plays a vital role in puducherry U.T. 5.3 Major Railway Stations (i) Puducherry (ii) Mahe (iii) Villianur (iv) Karaikal (v) Tirumalairayanpattinam 5.4 Major Air Ports: Domestic Airports: Pondicherry Airport |
| 6 Infrastructures | 6.1 Power installed Capacity: (i) Total Power: 378.33 MW (ii) Thermal: 283.00 MW (iii) Nuclear: 86.00 MW (iv) Hydro: 0 (v) Renewable Energy Source: 9.33 MW |
| 7 Census and Demography | 7.1 Demographic Data: (i) Population: 1,247,953 (12.48 Lakhs) (ii) Male: 612,511 (iii) Female: 635,442 (iv) Gender Ratio: 1037 females for 1000 males (v) Population Growth: 28.08% (vi) Percentage of total population of the country: 0.10% (vii) Density: 2547/sq. km. (viii) Rural Population: 395,200 (31.67%) (ix) Urban Population: 852,753 (68.33%) (x) 29th most populous state in India (Based on 2011 census) 7.2 Major Religion followers: (i) Hinduism: 1,089,409 (87.30%) (ii) Christianity: 78,550 (6.29%) (iii) Islam: 75,556 (6.05%) (iv) Jainism: 1,400 (0.11%) (v) Buddhism: 451 (0.04%) (vi) Sikhism: 297 (0.02%) (Based on 2011 census) |
| 8 Culture | 8.1 Literature: Literary work is majorly found under categories: (i) Tamil (ii) French (iii) English (iv) Malayalam (v) Telugu 8.2 Major Poets & Authors: (i) David Annoussamy (ii) Sri Aurobindo (iii) Priya Davidar (iv) M. Mukundan (v) Prapanchan (vi) Bharathidasan (vii) Kabilan (viii) K. D. Sethna (ix) Vanidasan 8.3 Major Festivals: (i) Thai Pongal (ii) International Yoga Festival (January) (iii) Mascarade Festival (Mask Festival) (iv) Maasi Magam (v) Villianur Temple Car Festival (vi) Bastille Day (vii) Sri Aurobindo’s Birth Anniversary (viii) Fete De Pondicherry 8.4 Folk Dance: Garadi 8.5 Major Religious Places: (i) Sri Aurobindo Ashram (ii) Matrimandir in Auroville (iii) Sri Manakula Vinayagar Temple (iv) Varadaraja Perumal Temple (v) Vedhapureeswarar Temple (vi) Sri Vadukeeswarar Temple (vii) Sri Ponniyamman Temple (viii) Sri Senganiamman Temple (ix) Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (x) The Eglise de Notre Dame des Anges (xi) The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception (xii) St. Andrew’s Church (xiii) Meeran Mosque (xiv) Kuthbha Mosque |
| 9 Education | 9.1 State Literacy Data: (i) Total: 957,309 (85.85%) (ii) Male: 497,378 (91.26%) (iii) Female: 459,931 (80.67%) 9.2 Major Universities: Pondicherry University 9.3 Major Institutions: (i) Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry (ii) NIT Pondicherry, Karaikal (iii) Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, Puducherry |
| 10 Tourism | 10.1 A French colony until 1954, this coastal town retains a number of colonial buildings, churches, statues, and systematic town planning, as well as urban architecture of the local Tamil style. As such the town has been dubbed “The Europe of India”. It nevertheless draws tourists from around the world and from across India. Pondicherry is also a popular weekend destination, which can be reached easily from the nearby cities such as Chennai and Bangalore, principally because lower taxation on alcoholic beverages makes drinking in the Union Territory enclave much less expensive than in neighboring states. 10.2 Major Tourist Spots: (i) Sri Aurobindo Ashram (ii) Auroville (iii) The French War Memorial (iv) Promenade Beach (v) Ousteri Lake (vi) Bharathi Park (vii) Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (viii) St. Andrew’s Church |
| 11 Sports | 11.1 State Game: Puducherry has multiple sports clubs. Football and Cricket are the most played games here. 11.2 Major Stadium: (i) Indira Gandhi Sports Stadium (ii) YSR Indoor Stadium 11.3 International Players from the state: Cricket: (i) P. M. K. Mohandas (ii) P. M. K. Raghunath Volleyball: Prabagaran Basketball: Sozhasingarayer Robinson |
| 12 Governance & Administrative Divisions | 12.1 Administrative divisions: (i) Number of Districts: 4 (ii) Number of Tehsils: 8 (iii) Number of Police Stations: 30 (iv) Number of Urban Towns: 2 (v) Number of Villages: 92 12.2 Official Languages: (i) Tamil (ii) English (iii) French Additional Offiicial Language: (i) Malayalam (ii) Telugu (Based on census-2011) 12.3 Constituent Facts: (i) Number of Assembly seats: 33 (ii) Number of Parliament seats: 1 (iii) Legislature: Unicameral 12.4 Chief Minister: N. Rangaswamy (from 07 May, 2021) First Chief Minister: Edouard Goubert (1963) 12.5 Lieutenant Governor: Kuniyil Kailashnathan (from 27/07/2024) First Lieutenant Governor: S.L. Silam (From 14/10/1963 to 13/10/1968) 12.6 Judiciary: 12.6.1 Madras High Court has its jurisdiction over the entire state of Tamil Nadu and Union territory of Puducherry. 12.6.2 It was established on 15th August, 1862. (i) Number of Judges: 75 (ii) (Permanent: 56 Addl: 19) (iii) Judge Retirement Age: 62 |
| 13 Other Important facts | 13.1 UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Silk Road Sites in India (Proposed) 13.2 GI Tags: (i) Villianur Terracotta Works (ii) Tirukanur Papier Mache Craft 13.3 Number of Archaeological Sites: (i) Arikamedu (ii) Varadharaja Perumal Temple, Puducherry (iii) Varadharajaperumal temple, Thirubuvanai 13.4 State Symbols: State Animal: Indian palm squirrel State Bird: Koel State Flower: Cannonball tree flower State Tree: Bael fruit tree |
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