Constitutional Provisions — Overview
- Part: Part 1 | Articles: 1–4 | Schedule: 1st Schedule
- Bill requires prior approval of President before being introduced in Parliament
- President is NOT obligated to seek opinion of State Legislative Assembly
Article 1
Name & Territory of India
- Bharat means India — Territory includes: States, UTs, territories acquired by Govt of India
- States do NOT have the right to secede
- No agreement-based formation of states
- India = Indestructible Union of Destructible States
Article 2
Admission / Establishment of New States
- Admission of new States into the Union
- Inclusion of states already in existence
- States not yet included in Union — can be admitted
- Example: Sikkim
→ 35th Amendment 1974: Associated State Status
→ 36th Amendment 1975: Full Statehood
Article 3
Reorganization / Alteration of States
- Parliament can change area, name & boundaries of a State by simple majority
- Example: Jammu & Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019
- Creation of new states:
→ By separating / joining part of an area
→ By merging one state into another
- India ≠ USA: USA = federation by agreement between states. India = Parliament decides.
Article 4
No Constitutional Amendment Needed
- Changes under Article 2 & 3 do NOT require Article 368 amendment
- Can be done by Simple Majority (more than 50% of members present & voting)
Important Cases
| Case |
Year |
Key Point |
| Berubari Case |
1960 |
Transfer of Indian territory to another country → requires Constitutional Amendment |
| 100th Amendment |
2015 |
India-Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement |
| Maganbhai Patel vs. Union of India |
1969 |
Boundary dispute between India & another country → NO Constitutional Amendment needed;
executive can settle |
State Reorganization History
- In 1950: Indian states classified into 4 categories — A, B, C, D
- State Reorganization Act: 1956
- 7th Constitutional Amendment 1956: State reorganization on language basis + Integration of UTs
- Result: 14 States & 6 UTs created
Key Committees / Commissions
| Date |
Commission / Committee |
Recommendation |
| June 1948 |
SK Dhar (Linguistic Provincial Committee) |
Linguistic Basis ✗ | Administrative Convenience ✓ |
| Dec 1948 |
JVP Committee (Jawaharlal, Vallabhbhai, Pattabhi) |
Linguistic Basis ✗ |
| Dec 1953 |
Fazl Ali Commission
(Members: K.M. Panikkar, H.N. Kunzru) |
Linguistic Basis ✓ | One Language One State ✗
Recommended: 16 States & 3 UTs |
First State on Linguistic Basis
- Andhra Pradesh (1953) — carved from Madras State
- Demand led by Potti Sriramulu (who died on fast)
States Formed After 1950
Memory Trick
"AaM GuNaH Hi Megh ManTra Si GArMi de sakta hai"
1953Andhra PradeshAa
1960MaharashtraM
1960GujaratGu
1963NagalandNa
1966HaryanaH
1971Himachal PradeshHi
1972MeghalayaMegh
1972ManipurMan
1972TripuraTra
1975SikkimSi
1987GoaG
1987Arunachal PradeshAr
1987MizoramMi
Same-Year States
1960 mein kaunse 2 states bane?
Maharashtra + Gujarat (Bombay State split)
1972 mein kaunse 3 states bane?
Meghalaya + Manipur + Tripura
1987 mein kaunse 3 states bane?
Goa + Arunachal Pradesh + Mizoram
Sabse pehla state (post-1950)?
Andhra Pradesh (1953) — linguistic basis
Special Provision Articles (Art. 371 Series)
| Article |
State(s) |
Special Note |
| 371 |
Maharashtra & Gujarat |
— |
| 371A |
Nagaland |
— |
| 371B |
Assam |
— |
| 371C |
Manipur |
— |
| 371D |
Andhra Pradesh & Telangana |
— |
| 371F |
Sikkim |
— |
| 371G |
Mizoram |
— |
| 371H |
Arunachal Pradesh |
— |
| 371I |
Goa |
— |
| 371J |
Karnataka |
98th Amendment 2012 |
Sikkim — Special Journey
- 35th Amendment 1974: Sikkim got Associated State Status
- 36th Amendment 1975: Sikkim got Full Statehood (22nd State)
- Special provision under Article 371F
⚠️ Exam Traps
Trap #1 — India = Indestructible Union of Destructible States
Article 1: India = "Indestructible Union of Destructible States" — States ki boundaries badal
sakti hain (destructible), but Union nahi todha ja sakta (indestructible).
Trap #2 — Article 3 — Simple Majority
Article 3 ke under state ki boundaries change karna = Simple Majority kaafi hai — Article 368
amendment ki zaroorat NAHI. Yeh Article 4 ne clear kiya hai.
Trap #3 — State Legislature की राय
President ko State Legislature ka opinion LENA ZAROORI NAHI — sirf bill Parliament mein
present karne se pehle President ki prior approval chahiye. State's consent binding nahi hai.
Trap #4 — SK Dhar vs Fazl Ali Commission
SK Dhar (1948) = Linguistic basis ✗ (Administrative convenience recommend ki). Fazl
Ali Commission (1953) = Linguistic basis ✓ (One language one state ✗). Dono ke alag views hain.
Trap #5 — First Linguistic State
First state formed on linguistic basis = Andhra Pradesh (1953) — Madras State se carved. Fazl
Ali Commission report ke baad nahi, pehle Potti Sriramulu ke fast-unto-death ke baad bana.
Trap #6 — Berubari vs Maganbhai Case
Berubari (1960): Territory transfer to another country = Constitutional Amendment
CHAHIYE. Maganbhai Patel (1969): Boundary dispute with another country =
Amendment ki zaroorat NAHI; executive settle kar sakta hai. Opposite verdicts!
⚡ Quick Recall Cards
Articles 1–4
Article 1 — kya kehta hai?
Bharat = India; Territory (states + UTs + acquired territories); Indestructible Union
Article 2 — kya?
New states ki admission (e.g. Sikkim)
Article 3 — kya?
State ki area/name/boundary change by simple majority
Article 4 — kya?
Art. 2 & 3 changes = NO Art. 368 amendment needed
J&K Reorganization Act?
2019 — under Article 3
Reorganization Committees
SK Dhar — recommendation?
1948 — Administrative Convenience (Linguistic Basis ✗)
JVP Committee — recommendation?
Dec 1948 — Linguistic Basis ✗
Fazl Ali Commission — members?
Chairman: Fazl Ali; Members: K.M. Panikkar, H.N. Kunzru (1953)
Fazl Ali — recommendation?
Linguistic Basis ✓ | One Lang One State ✗ | 16 States + 3 UTs
1956 Act result?
14 States + 6 UTs
Sikkim
35th Amendment (1974)?
Sikkim — Associated State Status
36th Amendment (1975)?
Sikkim — Full Statehood
Sikkim ka special article?
Article 371F
State Formation Trick — YEARS
Trick sentence?
"AaM GuNaH Hi Megh ManTra Si GArMi de sakta hai"
1953 — state?
Andhra Pradesh (1st linguistic state)
1987 — 3 states?
Goa + Arunachal Pradesh + Mizoram
Special Provision — Art. 371
371J?
Karnataka (98th Amendment 2012)
371?
Maharashtra & Gujarat