Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The Indian Union consists of states and union territories (UTs). Over time, due to political, administrative, and developmental reasons, several UTs have been granted full statehood through acts of Parliament.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
1. Goa: After its liberation from Portuguese rule in 1961, Goa, along with Daman and Diu, was administered as a single union territory. On May 30, 1987, Goa was granted statehood, becoming India's 25th state, while Daman and Diu remained a separate UT.
2. Arunachal Pradesh: The region was known as the North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA) and was administered by the central government. In 1972, it was converted into a union territory and renamed Arunachal Pradesh. It was granted statehood on February 20, 1987.
Other examples include Himachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur, and Tripura, all of which were union territories before becoming full-fledged states.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Goa and Arunachal Pradesh are two examples of Indian states that held the status of a union territory before being granted statehood.