Union and its Territory Questions and Answers

Q: Sikkim became a full-fledged State of the Union of India in

Sikkim became a full State in 1975.After a referendum in April 1975 in which Sikkimese voters chose to abolish the monarchy and join India, the Constitution (Thirty-sixth Amendment) Act made Sikkim the 22nd State of India on 16 May 1975.In 1974 the Thirty-fifth Amendment had made Sikkim only an 'associate state', which is why 1974 is a tempting wrong answer.

Q: In order to form a new State, which Schedule in the Constitution of India needs to be amended?

The schedule to be amended is the First Schedule.The First Schedule lists the states and union territories and their territories. Forming a new state under Articles 2 and 3 therefore changes it. Such a law is not treated as a constitutional amendment under Article 368, by Article 4.The Second Schedule deals with the salaries and allowances of constitutional office holders, the Third with the forms of oaths and affirmations, and the Tenth with disqualification on grounds of defection. (The Fourth Schedule, on Rajya Sabha seats, also changes when a state is formed, but it is not among the options.)

Q: How many States and Union Territories were established by the 1956, State Restructuring Act ?

The States Reorganisation Act of 1956 established 14 States and 6 Union Territories.On 1 November 1956 the Act reorganised the country, largely on linguistic lines, into 14 States (Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Bombay, Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Madras, Mysore, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal) and 6 Union Territories (Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Laccadive, Minicoy and Amindivi Islands, Manipur and Tripura).The larger numbers in the other options belong to later reorganisations.

Q: Which Article of the Constitution empowers the Parliament to create new states, alter their boundaries, even their names ?

The power comes from Article 3.Article 3 lets Parliament, by law, form a new state by separating territory from a state or uniting states, increase or reduce the area of any state, and alter the boundaries or name of any state. A bill for this needs the President's recommendation, and the President must refer it to the state legislature concerned for its views.Article 4 says such laws are not constitutional amendments under Article 368. Article 5 deals with citizenship at the commencement of the Constitution, and Article 17 abolishes untouchability.

Sikkim became a full-fledged State of the Union of India in

A.1974
B.1975
C.1976
D.None of the above

Exam Year(s)

BPSC Exam - 2023, BPSC CDPO - 2023,

Answer: B

Sikkim became a full State in 1975.

After a referendum in April 1975 in which Sikkimese voters chose to abolish the monarchy and join India, the Constitution (Thirty-sixth Amendment) Act made Sikkim the 22nd State of India on 16 May 1975.

In 1974 the Thirty-fifth Amendment had made Sikkim only an 'associate state', which is why 1974 is a tempting wrong answer.

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In order to form a new State, which Schedule in the Constitution of India needs to be amended?

A.Second Schedule
B.Tenth Schedule
C.Third Schedule
D.First Schedule.

Exam Year(s)

Kerala PSC KAS - 2020,

Answer: D

The schedule to be amended is the First Schedule.

The First Schedule lists the states and union territories and their territories. Forming a new state under Articles 2 and 3 therefore changes it. Such a law is not treated as a constitutional amendment under Article 368, by Article 4.

The Second Schedule deals with the salaries and allowances of constitutional office holders, the Third with the forms of oaths and affirmations, and the Tenth with disqualification on grounds of defection. (The Fourth Schedule, on Rajya Sabha seats, also changes when a state is formed, but it is not among the options.)

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How many States and Union Territories were established by the 1956, State Restructuring Act ?

A.14 States, 6 Union Territories
B.18 States, 9 Union Territories
C.22 States, 8 Union Territories
D.21 States, 7 Union Territories

Exam Year(s)

MPPSC State Service - 2021, MPPSC Forest Service - 2021,

Answer: A

The States Reorganisation Act of 1956 established 14 States and 6 Union Territories.

On 1 November 1956 the Act reorganised the country, largely on linguistic lines, into 14 States (Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Bombay, Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Madras, Mysore, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal) and 6 Union Territories (Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Laccadive, Minicoy and Amindivi Islands, Manipur and Tripura).

The larger numbers in the other options belong to later reorganisations.

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Which Article of the Constitution empowers the Parliament to create new states, alter their boundaries, even their names ?

A.Article 4
B.Article 5
C.Article 3
D.Article 17

Exam Year(s)

Tripura Public Service Commission - 2014,

Answer: C

The power comes from Article 3.

Article 3 lets Parliament, by law, form a new state by separating territory from a state or uniting states, increase or reduce the area of any state, and alter the boundaries or name of any state. A bill for this needs the President's recommendation, and the President must refer it to the state legislature concerned for its views.

Article 4 says such laws are not constitutional amendments under Article 368. Article 5 deals with citizenship at the commencement of the Constitution, and Article 17 abolishes untouchability.

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In the Constitution of India, provision relating to the formation of new States can be amended by

A.A Parliamentary resolution which should be ratified by majority of State Legislatures.
B.A simple majority in each House of Parliament.
C.3/4th majority in the Parliament
D.2/3rd majority in the each House of Parliament provided they also constitute the majority of total members of each House.

Exam Year(s)

UGC NET - 2012,

Answer: B

The provisions on the formation of new states can be amended by a simple majority in each House of Parliament, which is option B. Article 4 provides that laws made under Articles 2 and 3, which admit or establish new states and alter the areas, boundaries or names of existing states, are not to be treated as amendments of the Constitution for the purposes of Article 368. They therefore need no special majority and no ratification by the state legislatures. Options A, C and D describe the special procedures of Article 368 that apply to other amendments, which are not needed here.

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