📑 Topics on this page (Jump to Topic):
📌 1. Articles 1–4
| Article | Provision |
|---|---|
| Art. 1 | India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States; territory = states + UTs + acquired territories. |
| Art. 2 | Parliament may admit into the Union or establish new states (not already part of India — e.g. Sikkim 1975). |
| Art. 3 | Parliament may form new states, alter area/boundary/name — by simple majority; bill needs the President's prior recommendation; state legislature's views are taken but not binding. |
| Art. 4 | Laws under Art. 2 and 3 are not amendments under Art. 368. |
⚠️ Exam Traps:
- India is called "an indestructible Union of destructible states" — Parliament can alter a state's boundary without its consent.
- Ceding Indian territory to another country needs an Art. 368 amendment (Berubari 1960) — hence the 9th (1960) and 100th (2015, India-Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement) Amendments.
📌 2. Reorganisation of States
| Commission/Committee | Year | Key point |
|---|---|---|
| Dhar Commission | 1948 | Favoured administrative convenience over language |
| JVP Committee (Nehru, Patel, Pattabhi Sitaramayya) | 1948–49 | Rejected language as the basis |
| Fazl Ali Commission (members: K.M. Panikkar, H.N. Kunzru) | 1953–55 | Broadly accepted language; rejected "one language one state" |
- Andhra State (1953) — first linguistic state; after Potti Sriramulu's 56-day fast and death.
- States Reorganisation Act 1956 (7th Amendment): 14 states, 6 UTs; Part A/B/C/D classification abolished.
| State | Year | Carved from |
|---|---|---|
| Maharashtra & Gujarat | 1960 | Bombay State |
| Nagaland | 1963 | Assam |
| Haryana (Chandigarh UT) | 1966 | Punjab |
| Himachal Pradesh (full state) | 1971 | UT to state |
| Manipur, Tripura, Meghalaya | 1972 | Meghalaya from Assam; others from UTs |
| Sikkim (22nd state) | 1975 | 36th Amendment |
| Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Goa | 1987 | UTs to states |
| Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand | 2000 | MP, UP, Bihar |
| Telangana (29th state) | 2 Jun 2014 | Andhra Pradesh |
💡 Memory Tip: November 2000 order: Chhattisgarh (1 Nov) → Uttarakhand (9 Nov) → Jharkhand (15 Nov).
📌 3. Present Position: 28 States, 8 UTs
- J&K Reorganisation Act 2019: from 31 Oct 2019 the state of J&K → two UTs — Jammu & Kashmir (with legislature) and Ladakh (without); most of Art. 370 made inoperative (upheld by SC in Dec 2023).
- Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu — merged into one UT from 26 Jan 2020.
- 8 UTs: Andaman & Nicobar, Chandigarh, DNH & DD, Delhi, J&K, Ladakh, Lakshadweep, Puducherry. UTs with legislatures: Delhi (Art. 239AA, 69th Amendment 1991), Puducherry (Art. 239A), J&K.
- UTs are administered by the President through an Administrator/LG (Art. 239), Part VIII.
⚠️ Exam Traps:
- Telangana became the 29th state, but after J&K became UTs in 2019 there are now 28 states.
📌 4. Practice MCQs
📝 Practice MCQs (prepared by SF Prep — not PYQs)
Q1. What is India described as in Article 1? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Art. 1: "India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States."
Art. 1: "India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States."
Q2. Which Article provides for forming new states and altering boundaries of existing ones? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Art. 3 empowers Parliament to form new states and alter area/boundary/name.
Art. 3 empowers Parliament to form new states and alter area/boundary/name.
Q3. Which is true about a bill under Article 3? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
The bill can be introduced only on the President's recommendation; the state's views are sought but not binding.
The bill can be introduced only on the President's recommendation; the state's views are sought but not binding.
Q4. What does Article 4 say about laws forming new states? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Under Art. 4, laws under Art. 2 and 3 pass by simple majority and are not Art. 368 amendments.
Under Art. 4, laws under Art. 2 and 3 pass by simple majority and are not Art. 368 amendments.
Q5. Which was the first state formed on a linguistic basis? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Andhra State was formed in 1953 after the death of Potti Sriramulu.
Andhra State was formed in 1953 after the death of Potti Sriramulu.
Q6. Who chaired the States Reorganisation Commission (1953)? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Fazl Ali was chairman; Panikkar and Kunzru were members.
Fazl Ali was chairman; Panikkar and Kunzru were members.
Q7. Who was NOT a member of the JVP Committee? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
JVP = Jawaharlal, Vallabhbhai, Pattabhi.
JVP = Jawaharlal, Vallabhbhai, Pattabhi.
Q8. How many states and UTs were created by the States Reorganisation Act 1956? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
The 1956 Act created 14 states and 6 UTs.
The 1956 Act created 14 states and 6 UTs.
Q9. When was Bombay State split into Maharashtra and Gujarat? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Maharashtra and Gujarat were formed on 1 May 1960.
Maharashtra and Gujarat were formed on 1 May 1960.
Q10. Sikkim became a full state of India by which amendment? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
The 35th made Sikkim an "associate state"; the 36th (1975) made it a full state.
The 35th made Sikkim an "associate state"; the 36th (1975) made it a full state.
Q11. Which became the 29th state of India? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Telangana was carved out of Andhra Pradesh on 2 June 2014 as the 29th state.
Telangana was carved out of Andhra Pradesh on 2 June 2014 as the 29th state.
Q12. How many states and UTs does India have at present (2026)? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
After the 2019 J&K reorganisation and 2020 DNH-DD merger: 28 states and 8 UTs.
After the 2019 J&K reorganisation and 2020 DNH-DD merger: 28 states and 8 UTs.
Q13. Which Union Territory does NOT have a legislative assembly? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Delhi, Puducherry and J&K have assemblies; Ladakh is a UT without one.
Delhi, Puducherry and J&K have assemblies; Ladakh is a UT without one.
Q14. Delhi got special status (Art. 239AA) through which amendment? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
The 69th Amendment (1991) made Delhi the National Capital Territory with a legislature.
The 69th Amendment (1991) made Delhi the National Capital Territory with a legislature.
Q15. The India-Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement was given effect by which amendment? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
The 100th Amendment enabled the exchange of enclaves.
The 100th Amendment enabled the exchange of enclaves.
Q16. In which case was it held that ceding Indian territory to another country requires an Art. 368 amendment? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
After the Berubari reference (1960), the 9th Amendment was enacted.
After the Berubari reference (1960), the 9th Amendment was enacted.
Q17. What is the correct order (earliest first) of states formed in November 2000? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Chhattisgarh 1 Nov, Uttarakhand 9 Nov, Jharkhand 15 Nov 2000.
Chhattisgarh 1 Nov, Uttarakhand 9 Nov, Jharkhand 15 Nov 2000.
Q18. When did the merger of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu take effect? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
The merger took effect on 26 Jan 2020.
The merger took effect on 26 Jan 2020.
Q19. Under which Article does the President administer UTs through an Administrator? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Art. 239 in Part VIII.
Art. 239 in Part VIII.
Q20. In which year was Haryana carved out of Punjab? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Haryana was formed in 1966 and Chandigarh became a UT.
Haryana was formed in 1966 and Chandigarh became a UT.