Part I of the Indian Constitution: The Union and Its Territory

Practice vocabulary terms and constitutional articles regarding the territorial structure and integration of India as outlined in Part I of the Constitution.

Part I of the Indian Constitution

Covers 'The Union and Its Territory' and includes Articles 1 to 4.

Instruments of Accession

Legal documents signed by rulers of princely states to handle political integration into India, a process managed by Sardar Patel and VP Menon.

Union of States

The term used in Article 1 to describe India (Bharat), signifying it is indivisible and states have no right to secede.

Article 1

Defines 'India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States' and includes territories of states, Union Territories, and any acquired territories (e.g., Goa 1961, Sikkim 1975).

Article 2

Empowers Parliament to admit or establish new states into the Union, such as foreign territories like Sikkim in 1975.

Article 3

Allows Parliament to create new states, increase or decrease area, or change the boundaries or name of any existing state.

Article 4

Declares that laws made under Article 2 or 3 are not treated as Constitutional Amendments under Article 368.

Sikkim (1975)

Admitted as a full-fledged state using Article 2 via the 35th and 36th Amendments.

States Reorganisation Act, 1956

Legislation based on the Fazl Ali Commission (1955) that formed states on linguistic lines.

Fazl Ali Commission (1955)

The commission whose recommendations led to the States Reorganisation Act of 1956.

First Schedule

The part of the Constitution containing the list of States and Union Territories, which can be modified by Article 4.

Fourth Schedule

The part of the Constitution detailing Rajya Sabha seat allocation, which can be modified by Article 4.

Article 368

The article for the complex constitutional amendment process, which is explicitly bypassed for territorial changes made under Articles 2 and 3.

President’s recommendation

A necessary prerequisite for introducing a bill in Parliament for the formation or alteration of states under Article 3.

Telangana (2014)

A state carved from Andhra Pradesh using the powers granted under Article 3.

Dadra & Nagar Haveli + Daman & Diu (2020)

Two Union Territories that were merged into a single entity in 2020.