Delhi Region: National Capital Territory & National Capital Region

Delhi is both a city and a Union Territory (UT) officially called the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT).

Administrative Structure

• NCT of Delhi: 1,484 km², 3 districts (Delhi, New Delhi, Shahdara), 11 subdivisions, 33 tehsils. Own legislature, CM, LG (Lieutenant Governor).
• New Delhi: The capital district (42.7 km²) within NCT — houses Rashtrapati Bhavan, Parliament, Supreme Court, ministries.

National Capital Region (NCR)

A planning region (not administrative) covering ~55,000 km² across 4 states:

• NCT of Delhi (core)
• Haryana: Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Rohtak, Rewari, Jhajjar, Palwal, Nuh.
• Uttar Pradesh: Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Bulandshahr, Hapur, Baghpat.
• Rajasthan: Alwar, Bharatpur.

Geographic Context

• North India, Indo-Gangetic Plain.
• Bordered by Himalayas (north, 250 km), Thar Desert (west), Central Highlands (south).
• Yamuna River (only major river) forms eastern boundary.

Why It Matters

NCR coordinates transport (RRTS, Metro), air quality (CAQM), water, waste — across state lines. 46M+ people (2021), world's 2nd largest urban agglomeration.