The Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu were born on 17th December 1779 as a result of a treaty between the Portuguese and the Marathas. There, Marathas were the rulers of this territory before it came under Portuguese rule. In 1779, a treaty was signed between the Marathas and the Portuguese which allowed the latter to collect revenues from Dadra and Nagar Havel. There were 72 villages in DNH which were known as Parganas.

The treaty was only made for the collection of revenues in compensation for their loss of a warship called ‘Santana’ which had earlier been captured by the Marathas but not surrendered to the Portuguese in spite of their many entreaties. But subsequently, instead of collecting only the revenues from the region, the whole territory came under the clutch of the Portuguese. Their supremacy over the land continued for more than 150 years.

India became independent in 1947 and the reorganization movement of several princely states and colonies was carried out by major political leaders. The Indian nationalist volunteers liberated Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu only in July 1954 and a pro-India administration was formed. This land was made a centrally administered union territory with effect from August 11, 1961, by an amendment in the Indian Constitution. The territory came to be known as Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.

The main occupation of Tribal people is agriculture but due to the rapid growth of Industrial development in this UT about 45850 persons are employed in about 45850 persons are employed in about 3000 industrial units which are functioning at present. The main festivals are Holi and Diwali. The Union Territory has one Parliamentary Constitution single constituency of Members of Parliament of this U.T. The territory is surrounded by the Valsad district of Gujarat on the West North and east and by the Thane District Of Maharashtra on the South & Southern East. It is hilly on the northeast and East parts of the territory surrounded by ranges of Sahyadri mountains (Western Ghats). The terrain is Intersected by the River Daman Ganga and its three Tributaries. The territory receives an annual rainfall between 2000 to 2500 mm. The nearest Railway station is Vapi, which is about 18 Km from Silvassa. The U.T. is linked with National Highway No.8.

The national programme of Nutritional support to primary Education commonly known as the PM POSHAN Programme was launched as a centrally sponsored scheme on 15 August 1995, its objective to boost the Universalization of Primary Education by increasing enrolment, retention and attendance and simultaneously impacting the nutrition of student in primary classes, improving enrolment and regularities of attendance and deducting the dropout. (The aim and objective of the programme have been to achieve universalization of elementary education by enhancing enrolment, retention and attendance and improving the nutritional status and quality of education).