State and Union Territories Archives

1. Which one of the following Union Territories has a Legislative Assembl

Which one of the following Union Territories has a Legislative Assembly ?

Puducherry

Chandigarh

Lakshadweep

Daman and Diu

This question was previously asked in

UPSC SO-Steno – 2017

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Puducherry is one of the Union Territories in India that has a Legislative Assembly.

As per the constitutional provisions and laws governing Union Territories, Puducherry (formerly Pondicherry) has a Legislative Assembly and a Council of Ministers headed by a Chief Minister. This setup is established under Article 239A of the Constitution and the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963. As of the time period when this question would likely have been framed, Delhi and Puducherry were the two Union Territories with Legislative Assemblies.

Chandigarh is the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana and is administered as a Union Territory without a Legislative Assembly. Lakshadweep is an island Union Territory administered by an Administrator. Daman and Diu was a Union Territory without a Legislative Assembly before being merged with Dadra and Nagar Haveli in 2020 to form the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, which is also administered without a Legislative Assembly. Jammu and Kashmir was reorganised in 2019 into a Union Territory with a Legislative Assembly, but this postdates the likely framing of this question.

2. Consider the following statements: 1. The Constitution of India pres

Consider the following statements:

1. The Constitution of India prescribes limits of territorial waters and maritime zones of India.
2. The resources of the exclusive zone of India vest in the Union of India.
3. The Constitution of India prescribes the limits of the exclusive economic zone of India.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

1 only

2 and 3

1 and 3

2 only

This question was previously asked in

UPSC Combined Section Officer – 2019-20

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The Constitution of India does not define the limits of India’s territorial waters, continental shelf, or Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). These limits are defined by legislation enacted by Parliament in accordance with international law. However, Article 297 of the Constitution states that all resources within India’s maritime zones vest in the Union of India. Therefore, only statement 2 is correct.

– Statement 1 is incorrect; the Constitution does not define maritime zone limits.
– Statement 3 is incorrect; the Constitution does not define the limits of the EEZ.
– Statement 2 is correct; Article 297 of the Constitution vests resources within the territorial waters, continental shelf, and EEZ in the Union.
– The limits of India’s maritime zones are determined by the Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and Other Maritime Zones Act, 1976.

India has sovereign rights over its territorial waters (up to 12 nautical miles from the baseline) and sovereign rights for exploring and exploiting resources in its continental shelf and Exclusive Economic Zone (up to 200 nautical miles from the baseline). These rights and the limits of these zones are regulated by parliamentary law consistent with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

3. Union Territories of ‘Dadra and Nagar Haveli’ and ‘Daman and Diu’ were

Union Territories of ‘Dadra and Nagar Haveli’ and ‘Daman and Diu’ were merged together in January 2020. Which one of the following cities was made capital of the merged Union Territory ?

Dadra

Diu

Daman

Silvassa

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2023

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When the Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu were merged in January 2020, Daman was made the capital of the merged Union Territory.

The merger was effected by the Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (Merger of Union Territories) Bill, 2019, passed by the Parliament of India.

Before the merger, Silvassa was the capital of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman was the capital of Daman and Diu. After the merger, the combined Union Territory is known as Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, with its administrative headquarters located in Daman.

4. Which one of the following statements is not correct ?

Which one of the following statements is not correct ?

Goa was established as a State by separating it from Union Territory of Daman and Diu in 1987

Mizoram was earlier a Union Territory

Karnataka was created by the States Reorganisation Act, 1956

The State of Bombay was bifurcated into Gujarat and Maharashtra in 1960

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2023

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The statement that is *not* correct is D. The State Election Commissioner is appointed by the Governor of the concerned state, not the President of India.

– Statement A is correct: Goa was made a full state in 1987 by separating it from the Union Territory of Goa, Daman and Diu (56th Constitutional Amendment Act).
– Statement B is correct: Mizoram was a Union Territory before attaining statehood in 1987 (53rd Constitutional Amendment Act).
– Statement C is correct: Karnataka (initially named Mysore State) was formed by the States Reorganisation Act, 1956. Its name was changed to Karnataka in 1973.
– Statement D is incorrect: Article 243K(1) of the Constitution states that the State Election Commissioner for Panchayats is appointed by the Governor of the state. The President appoints the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners of India, but not the State Election Commissioner for local bodies.

The creation and reorganisation of states in India has been a significant process post-independence. The States Reorganisation Act, 1956 was a major step in this direction, reorganizing states based on linguistic lines. The status and appointment of the State Election Commissioner are governed by the provisions added by the 73rd (Panchayats) and 74th (Municipalities) Constitutional Amendment Acts of 1992, which established the Panchayati Raj system as a constitutional body.

5. Which of the following statements about the territory of India is/are

Which of the following statements about the territory of India is/are correct?

1. It comprises of the territories of the States.
2. It comprises the Union Territories specified in the First Schedule.
3. It may include other acquired territories.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1 only

1 and 2 only

2 and 3 only

1, 2 and 3

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2019

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All three statements are correct according to Article 1(3) of the Constitution. Article 1(3) states that the territory of India shall comprise (a) the territories of the States, (b) the Union territories specified in the First Schedule, and (c) such other territories as may be acquired.

Article 1 defines the name and territory of the Union of India. The territory of India is a wider expression than the ‘Union of India’, which comprises only the States.

The power to acquire new territories is an inherent attribute of a sovereign state. The acquired territories become part of the territory of India and can be administered as Union Territories or integrated into existing States or formed as new States.

6. The States Reorganization Commission (SRC) of 1953 was consisted of

The States Reorganization Commission (SRC) of 1953 was consisted of

S. K. Dar, Justice Fazal Ali and K. M. Panikkar

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, K. M. Panikkar and S. K. Dar

Justice Fazal Ali, Hridaynath Kunzru and K. M. Panikkar

K. M. Panikkar, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Justice Fazal Ali

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2019

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The States Reorganization Commission (SRC) was appointed by the Indian government in December 1953 to examine the question of reorganizing the states of India on linguistic lines. The Commission consisted of three members: Justice Fazal Ali as the Chairman, and Sardar K. M. Panikkar and Pandit Hridaynath Kunzru as members. The commission submitted its report in 1955, leading to the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, which reorganized states and union territories.

– The SRC was established in 1953.
– Its main task was to recommend state reorganization based on linguistic principles.
– The three members were Justice Fazal Ali (Chairman), K. M. Panikkar, and Hridaynath Kunzru.

Prior to the SRC, the Dhar Commission (1948) and the JVP Committee (Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and Pattabhi Sitaramayya – 1948) had also examined the linguistic basis for state reorganization but were hesitant to fully endorse it initially. The SRC report provided a detailed framework that largely shaped the political map of modern India. S. K. Dar was the head of the 1948 Linguistic Provinces Commission (Dhar Commission), not the 1953 SRC. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was instrumental in integrating the princely states but was not a member of the 1953 SRC.

7. Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Not all Union T

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. Not all Union Territories have Legislative Assemblies.
2. Union Territory of Puducherry has a Legislative Assembly.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1 only

2 only

Both 1 and 2

Neither 1 nor 2

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CBI DSP LDCE – 2023

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Statement 1 is correct. Not all Union Territories in India have Legislative Assemblies. For example, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Lakshadweep, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, and Ladakh do not have legislative assemblies. Statement 2 is correct. The Union Territory of Puducherry was granted a Legislative Assembly by the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963. Delhi also has a Legislative Assembly (under Article 239AA), and Jammu & Kashmir was provided with a Legislative Assembly under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.

Only some Union Territories (Delhi, Puducherry, J&K) have Legislative Assemblies; others are directly administered by the Centre through an Administrator.

The administrative setup of Union Territories varies. Some are administered by an Administrator or Lieutenant Governor appointed by the President. Those with Legislative Assemblies (Delhi, Puducherry, J&K) have elected governments with limited powers compared to States, as the Administrator/Lieutenant Governor also holds significant authority, and certain subjects remain with the Central Government.

8. Which one of the following Indian States was admitted as an ‘Associate

Which one of the following Indian States was admitted as an ‘Associate State’ to the Union of India in 1974?

Meghalaya

Manipur

Mizoram

Sikkim

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CBI DSP LDCE – 2023

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Sikkim was admitted as an ‘Associate State’ to the Union of India in 1974 by the 35th Constitutional Amendment Act. This Act added Article 2A and the Tenth Schedule to the Constitution, giving Sikkim a unique status different from other states.

The 35th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1974 granted ‘Associate State’ status to Sikkim.

The status of ‘Associate State’ was temporary. Following a referendum in Sikkim, the 36th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1975 was passed, which repealed Article 2A and the Tenth Schedule and made Sikkim a full-fledged state of the Indian Union, adding it as the 22nd state.

9. The Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir came into force on :

The Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir came into force on :

15 August 1946

15 August 1947

26 January 1950

26 January 1957

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2016

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The correct option is D.

Jammu and Kashmir had a special status under Article 370 of the Constitution of India (now revoked). It had its own Constitution.
– The Constituent Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir was convened in 1951 to draft a Constitution for the state.
– The Constitution was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on November 17, 1956.
– The Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir came into force on January 26, 1957. This date coincided with India’s Republic Day.
– 15 August 1947 (B) is India’s Independence Day; 26 January 1950 (C) is India’s Republic Day, when the Constitution of India came into force.

The special status of Jammu and Kashmir and its separate Constitution were abrogated by the Indian Parliament in August 2019, reorganizing the state into two Union Territories, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

10. The Parliament of India may form a new State by separation of territor

The Parliament of India may form a new State by separation of territory from any State or by unifying any territory to a part of any State. Which of the following procedures is/are true in this regard?

1. By a simple majority and by the ordinary legislative process
2. On the recommendation of the President, who usually has to refer the bill to the legislature of the State(s) which is/are affected by the changes proposed in the bill
3. On the advice of the Prime Minister to the President

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1 and 2 only

1 and 3 only

1, 2, 3 and 4

3 and 4 only

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2013

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The correct answer is (A) 1 and 2 only.

– Statement 1: Article 3 of the Constitution empowers Parliament to form a new State, increase or decrease the area of any State, alter the boundaries or the name of any State by law. Such a law is passed by a simple majority of Parliament, and the procedure is considered an ordinary legislative process (not an amendment under Article 368). This statement is correct.
– Statement 2: Article 3 requires that a bill for any of the changes mentioned above can be introduced in either House of Parliament only on the recommendation of the President. Before recommending the bill, the President must refer it to the Legislature of the affected State(s) to express their views within a specified period. Parliament is not bound by the views expressed by the State Legislature, but the referral is mandatory. This statement is correct.
– Statement 3: While the President acts on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister (Article 74), the specific constitutional procedure laid down in Article 3 involves the President’s recommendation *after* the mandatory referral to state legislatures. Simply stating it’s on the advice of the Prime Minister is an incomplete description of the constitutional requirement under Article 3 regarding the formation/alteration of states.

– Formation of new states does not require a Constitutional Amendment under Article 368. Changes under Article 3 are explicitly exempted from the process of Article 368 by Article 4(2).