State and Union Territories

11. Which one among the following statements about the States Reorganizati

Which one among the following statements about the States Reorganization Act is not correct?

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The Act dealt with the issue of redrawing of the boundaries of States
It was passed in the year 1956
It created fourteen States and six Union Territories
The State boundaries were drawn for administrative convenience
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2012
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The States Reorganization Act, 1956, primarily aimed at redrawing state boundaries based on linguistic and cultural homogeneity, although administrative convenience was also a consideration. Statement D claims that the state boundaries were drawn *for administrative convenience* as the *sole* or *primary* reason, which is incorrect as the linguistic principle was the dominant factor driving the reorganization.
The States Reorganization Act of 1956 was a major reform of the boundaries of India’s states and territories, implementing the recommendations of the Fazal Ali Commission (States Reorganisation Commission).
The Act came into effect on 1st November 1956. It created 14 states and 6 union territories by reorganizing existing states based largely on language. Statements A, B, and C are factually correct about the Act.

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12. In January 2020, the administration of which of the following Union Te

In January 2020, the administration of which of the following Union Territories has been merged together?

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Daman and Diu and Puducherry
Puducherry and Dadra and Nagar Haveli
Puducherry and Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu
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UPSC NDA-2 – 2022
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In January 2020, the two Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu were merged into a single Union Territory named Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. The merger was enacted through the Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (Merger of Union Territories) Act, 2019, passed by the Parliament of India.
This merger aimed to improve administrative efficiency and streamline services for the citizens of these two previously separate Union Territories.
The Act came into effect on January 26, 2020. With this merger, the number of Union Territories in India reduced from nine to eight (at that time, before the reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir). The capital of the new merged Union Territory is Daman.

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13. Which one of the following is correct in respect of total number of St

Which one of the following is correct in respect of total number of States and Union Territories in India?

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28 States and 8 Union Territories
27 States and 9 Union Territories
30 States and 6 Union Territories
29 States and 7 Union Territories
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2022
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The correct answer is A) 28 States and 8 Union Territories.
As of January 26, 2020, India consists of 28 States and 8 Union Territories. This configuration resulted from the reorganization of the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories (Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh) in 2019, and the merger of the Union Territories of Daman and Diu, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli into a single Union Territory (Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu) in 2020.
Before the 2019 reorganization, India had 29 States and 7 Union Territories. The changes were significant and relevant for any contemporary general knowledge question about India’s administrative structure.

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14. Consider the following statements: 1. The Constitution of India empo

Consider the following statements:

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  • 1. The Constitution of India empowers the Parliament to form new States and to alter the areas, boundaries or names of existing States by passing a resolution in simple majority.
  • 2. Jammu and Kashmir has been given special status under Article 370 of the Constitution of India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2016
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The correct answer is B) 2 only.
– Statement 1 says Parliament can form new States or alter areas/boundaries/names by “passing a resolution in simple majority”. Article 3 of the Constitution empowers Parliament to do so by enacting a *law*. Such a law requires a simple majority for passage (as per Article 4(2), it is not considered an amendment under Article 368). However, the process is through a legislative bill, not merely a resolution. A resolution is typically a formal expression of opinion or a decision on a procedural matter, not the instrument for creating a law. Thus, statement 1 is technically incorrect due to the use of the term “resolution”.
– Statement 2 says Jammu and Kashmir was given special status under Article 370. This is factually correct based on the Constitution of India as it existed until August 2019. Article 370 granted special autonomous status to J&K. While this status was subsequently revoked/modified, the statement accurately reflects a constitutional provision that existed for a long period. Assuming the question refers to the Constitution generally, this statement is correct.
– Therefore, only statement 2 is correct.
Article 3 of the Indian Constitution deals with the formation of new States and alteration of areas, boundaries or names of existing States. The process requires a Bill introduced in Parliament on the recommendation of the President, who must usually refer it to the concerned state legislature for expressing its views within a specified period. However, Parliament is not bound by the views of the state legislature. Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, was abrogated/modified by the Government of India in August 2019 through Presidential Orders, effectively integrating J&K more fully with the Union.

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15. Which of the following State/s is/are common to Bru-Reang Agreement, N

Which of the following State/s is/are common to Bru-Reang Agreement, NLFT (SD) Agreement and Tripartite Agreement with TIPRA ?

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Tripura
Assam and Tripura
Tripura and Mizoram
Manipur and Mizoram
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-2 – 2024
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Let’s examine the states involved in each agreement:
– Bru-Reang Agreement: Involved the Government of India, Government of Tripura, Government of Mizoram, and Bru representatives. (States: Tripura, Mizoram)
– NLFT (SD) Agreement: Signed between the Government of India, Government of Tripura, and the NLFT(SD) insurgent group. (State: Tripura)
– Tripartite Agreement with TIPRA: Signed between the Government of India, Government of Tripura, and TIPRA Motha. (State: Tripura)
The only state common to all three agreements is Tripura.
These agreements address long-standing issues related to insurgency, displacement (Bru refugees), and the rights/demands of indigenous communities primarily in Tripura.
The Bru-Reang agreement aimed at the permanent settlement of Bru refugees, displaced from Mizoram, in Tripura. The NLFT (SD) agreement brought one faction of the banned NLFT group into the mainstream. The agreement with TIPRA relates to addressing the socio-economic and cultural demands of the indigenous people of Tripura.

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16. Consider the following statements with regard to the formation of new

Consider the following statements with regard to the formation of new States and alteration of boundaries of existing States :

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  • Parliament may increase the area of any State.
  • Parliament may diminish the area of any State.
  • Parliament cannot alter the boundary of any State.
  • Parliament cannot alter the name of any State.

Which of the statements given above is/are not correct ?

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1 and 2
2 and 3
3 and 4
4 only
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-2 – 2019
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Statements 3 and 4 are not correct.
Article 3 of the Indian Constitution empowers the Parliament to legislate on matters concerning the formation of new States and the alteration of areas, boundaries, or names of existing States.
Article 3 states that Parliament may by law:
(a) form a new State by separation of territory from any State or by uniting two or more States or parts of States or by uniting any territory to a part of any State;
(b) increase the area of any State;
(c) diminish the area of any State;
(d) alter the boundaries of any State;
(e) alter the name of any State.
Therefore, statements 1 and 2 are correct as Parliament can increase or diminish the area of any State. Statement 3 is incorrect because Parliament *can* alter the boundary of any State. Statement 4 is incorrect because Parliament *can* alter the name of any State. The statements that are not correct are 3 and 4.

17. How many Zonal Councils were set up vide Part-III of the States Re-org

How many Zonal Councils were set up vide Part-III of the States Re-organization Act, 1956 ?

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Eight
Seven
Six
Five
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-2 – 2019
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Part III of the States Re-organization Act, 1956, originally established five Zonal Councils.
These five councils were the Northern, Central, Eastern, Western, and Southern Zonal Councils.
A sixth Zonal Council, the North-Eastern Zonal Council, was established later by the North Eastern Council Act, 1971, and includes the states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura.

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18. Some Indian territory was transferred in 2015 to Bangladesh by followi

Some Indian territory was transferred in 2015 to Bangladesh by following which procedure?

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By an agreement between the Government of India and the Government of Bangladesh
By a legislation passed by the Parliament amending Schedule 1 to the Constitution of India
By amending Schedule 1 to the Constitution of India by exercising amending power of the Parliament
By amending Schedule 1 to the Constitution of India by exercising amending power of the Parliament and ratification by sixteen State Legislatures
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-2 – 2016
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The transfer of Indian territory to Bangladesh in 2015 was done to implement the 1974 Land Boundary Agreement and its 2011 Protocol. According to the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Berubari Union case (1960), the transfer of Indian territory to a foreign country requires a constitutional amendment under Article 368. Consequently, the 100th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2015, was passed by Parliament to give effect to the transfer of territories, including amending the First Schedule of the Constitution which lists the States and the Union Territories and their territories. This amendment was passed using the amending power of Parliament under Article 368.
– Transfer of Indian territory to a foreign country requires a constitutional amendment (Berubari case ruling).
– The 2015 transfer to Bangladesh was implemented through the 100th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2015.
– This amendment modified the First Schedule of the Constitution.
– The amendment was enacted using the power under Article 368.
– This specific amendment did not require ratification by state legislatures under the proviso to Article 368(2).
The 100th Amendment involved the exchange of 111 Indian enclaves in Bangladesh for 51 Bangladeshi enclaves in India, as well as addressing adverse possessions and the demarcation of a 6.1 km undefined border stretch. It settled a long-standing border dispute. The process involved amending the Constitution under Article 368, which requires passage by a special majority in both Houses of Parliament.

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19. Which of the following States/UTs are included in the Northern Zonal

Which of the following States/UTs are included in the Northern Zonal Council?

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Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir
Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and NCT of Delhi
Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan
Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana
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UPSC CDS-1 – 2023
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The correct answer is B, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and NCT of Delhi.
The Northern Zonal Council, established under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, comprises the states of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, and the Union Territories of Chandigarh, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, and Ladakh. Option B correctly lists several of the states and the National Capital Territory of Delhi, all of which are members of the Northern Zonal Council. Options A, C, and D incorrectly include Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, which belong to the Central Zonal Council.
Zonal Councils are advisory bodies that aim to promote inter-state cooperation and coordination. They were created to foster a sense of regionalism while ensuring national integration. There are five Zonal Councils: Northern, Central, Eastern, Western, and Southern. A separate North Eastern Council was established by the North Eastern Council Act, 1971.

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20. Which of the following statements with regard to the creation of a new

Which of the following statements with regard to the creation of a new state or alteration of boundaries of states is/are correct ?

  • 1. An amendment has to be moved in the Parliament under Article 368 of the Constitution of India.
  • 2. Ratification by one half of the states is necessary after the amendment is made by the Parliament.
  • 3. The legislation can be passed by a simple majority of both Houses of Parliament.

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

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1 and 3 only
2 only
3 only
2 and 3 only
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-1 – 2021
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The creation of a new state or alteration of boundaries of states is governed primarily by Article 3 of the Indian Constitution. Article 4(2) states that any law made under Article 2 (admission or establishment of new states) or Article 3 shall not be deemed to be an amendment of the Constitution for the purposes of Article 368. Therefore, it does not require an amendment under Article 368. The legislation can be passed by a simple majority of both Houses of Parliament. Ratification by states is not required for this process. Thus, only statement 3 is correct.
The power to create new states or alter existing ones rests with the Parliament, and it can be exercised through ordinary legislative procedure (simple majority), not requiring the special majority and state ratification process mandated by Article 368 for constitutional amendments.
Article 3 requires that a bill for the purpose of creating a new state or altering boundaries must be introduced in Parliament only on the recommendation of the President. Before recommending, the President has to refer the bill to the state legislature(s) concerned for expressing its/their views within a specified period. However, Parliament is not bound by the views of the state legislature.

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