Puducherry, formerly known as 'Pondicherry', is located on the southeast coast of India, bordered by Tamil Nadu. The territory changed its official name to Puducherru on 1 October 2006. The name 'Puducherry' is a compound of the Tamil words putu and cēri meaning 'new settlement'.
Puducherry is a geographically unique scattered territory, consisting of four former French colonies: Puducherry and Karaikal (surrounded by Tamil Nadu), Yanam (surrounded by Andhra Pradesh) and Mahe (surrounded by Kerala).
The Union Territory of Puducherry (formerly Pondicherry) was formed on 1 July 1963, from four former French India colonies: Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahé, and Yanam. After 31 August 1964, it came under the control of the Ministry of Home Affairs. In India, lieutenant governors are in charge of union territories.
Who is the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry?
K. Kailashnathan (Kuniyil Kailashnathan) is the 25th and current Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry. He was appointed as the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry by President Droupadi Murmu, effective August 7, 2024. He succeeded C.P. Radhakrishnan in this role.
He is a retired 1979-batch IAS officer who previously served as the Chief Principal Secretary and Additional Chief Secretary to the Gujarat Chief Minister from 2006 to 20224.
In addition to this, K. Kailashnathan was also Chairman of Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd. He is the Chairman of Executive Council, Mahatma Gandhi Sabarmati Ashram Memorial Trust.
He was a Member of the Board of Directors of Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (GSPCL). He is a Post Graduate in M.Sc. (Chemistry) and M.A. [Economics (U.K.)].
Who appoints Lieutenant Governor of Union Territory?
The Lieutenant Governor is directly appointed by the President of India by a warrant under hand and seal.
The Lieutenant Governor is appointed for a term of five year at the pleasure of the President. Part VIII of the Indian Constitution (Articles 239 to 241) provide the framework for the administration of Union Territories (UTs), which are governed directly by the Union government.
The President of India acts as the administrator for these territories, often appointing a Lieutenant Governor or Administrator, in accordance with the Article 239 of the Constitution.
The President of India acts as the adminsitrator for these territories, often appointing a Lieutenant Governor or Administrator, in accordance with the Article 239 of the Constitution.
As of 2026, five Union Territories (UTs) in India have a Lieutenant Governor (LG), including Delhi (National Capital Territory, Jammu & Kashmir, Puducherry, Ladakh, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands).
Puducherry History
Puducherry has a distinct history as a former French colony. The city is often referred to as the "French Riviera of the East" due to its 300-year history as a French colony until 1954.
The foundation of Puducherry was laid in 1673 when the French East India Company obtained a decree from the Qiladar of Valikondapuram under the Sultan of Bijapur.
On 4 February 1673, French official Bellanger established a residence in the Danish Lodge, marking the beginning of the French rule. In 1674, the French East India Company designated François Martin as the first governor, establishing a trading centre.
On 1 November 1954, the French territories were transferred de facto to India, ending the 280 years of French rule. In the process, one of the French colonies 'Chandannagar' was merged with the state of West Bengal in 1954.
The formal de jure transfer was completed on 16 August 1962, when the Treaty of Cession was ratified. Later, the Union Territory of Puducherry (formerly Pondicherry) was formed on 1 July 1963.
Also read: Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Elections 2026: How Many Seats, Candidates and Where to Check Results
