1

CDS – 2 VIRAAT 2023

Union and Its Territory - 1 DPP: 8.1

1. How many union territories are there in India? 8. Which princely states, among the following options,
(a) 6 (b) 7 refused to join India after independence?
(c) 8 (d) 9 (a) Faridkot and Junagarh
(b) Tonk, Kashmir and Hyderabad
2. Article 2 of the Indian Constitution deals with: (c) Hyderabad, Jaipur, and Punjab
(a) Establishment of new states (d) Hyderabad, Junagarh, and Kashmir
(b) Name of the states and union territories
(c) Alteration of areas of existing states 9. Which of the following Indian territories was not
(d) Changing the name of existing states under Portuguese rule?
(a) Goa
3. Which article of the Indian Constitution empowers
(b) Puducherry
the Parliament to alter boundaries of existing states?
(c) Daman
(a) Article 1 (b) Article 2
(c) Article 3 (d) Article 4 (d) Diu

4. Which article of the Indian Constitution proclaims 10. Ceding territory to another country can be done by
India as a "Union of States" and not a federation? ________.
(a) Article 1 (a) Executive Resolution
(b) Article 2 (b) Constitution Amendment by special majority
(c) Article 3 (c) Constitution Amendment by simple majority
(d) Article 4 (d) None of the above

5. Which Indian state holds the distinction of being the 11. Which of the following states were created in the
first to be formed based on linguistic year 2000?
considerations? 1. Chhattisgarh
(a) Kerala 2. Jharkhand
(b) Karnataka 3. Telangana
(c) Tamil Nadu 4. Arunachal Pradesh
(d) Andhra Pradesh Choose the correct option.
(a) 1, 2 and 4 only
6. In the context of India's governance structure,
(b) 1 only
identify which statement is true:
(a) The Union government is indestructible, while (c) 2 and 3 only
state governments can be destroyed. (d) 1 and 2 only
(b) The Union government is destructible, while
state governments are indestructible. 12. Article 2A of the Indian Constitution, which is now
(c) Both the Union and state governments have repealed, was associated with which Indian state?
equal power to destroy each other. (a) Mysore
(d) Neither the Union nor state governments have (b) Goa
the power to destroy each other. (c) Hyderabad
(d) Sikkim
7. Which governments entered into an agreement and
its protocol that led to the enactment of the 100th 13. When were the islands of Laccadive, Minicoy, and
Constitutional Amendment Act (2015)? Amindivi officially renamed as Lakshadweep?
(a) Governments of India and Pakistan (a) 1971
(b) Governments of India and China (b) 1972
(c) Governments of India and Bangladesh
(c) 1973
(d) Governments of India and Sri Lanka
(d) 1974
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14. Who among the following was not a member of the 18. Identify which of the following pairs is correct:
Linguistic Provinces Committee formed in 1. Dadra and Became union territory of India
December 1948? Nagar by the 10th Constitutional
(a) Vallabhbhai Patel Haveli Amendment Act, 1961
(b) Jawaharlal Nehru 2. Daman and Became union territory of India
(c) Pattabhi Sitaramayya Diu by the 12th Constitutional
(d) K.M.Panikkar Amendment Act, 1961
3. Puducherry Became union territory of India
15. Which of the following Indian states was the first to by the 14th Constitutional
have a new name? Amendment Act, 1962
(a) United Provinces 4. Sikkim Became full-fledged state of
India by the 35th Constitutional
(b) Madras
Amendment Act, 1975
(c) Mysore
Choose the correct option
(d) Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindivi Islands (a) Only 1 and 3
(b) 1, 2, 3 and 4
16. Considering the following statement about the states (c) 4 only
and union territories created after 1956, identify the (d) 2 and 4 only
correct ones.
1. The territory of Goa and Puducherry were 19. Which of the following statements is true about the
made a union territory of India by the 14th States Reorganisation Commission?
Amendment in 1962. 1. The States Reorganisation Commission was
2. Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram were made a established in 1952 as a three-member
full-fledged state of India in the year 1987. commission.
3. Tripura was made a full-fledged state of India 2. The commission submitted its report in 1954.
in the year 1972. 3. The commission has proposed the elimination
4. Dadar and Nagar Haveli were made a union of the existing four-fold classification of states
territory of India by the 10th Amendment in and territories
1962. 4. The commission recommended the
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only establishment of 16 states and three centrally
(b) 1, 2, 3 and 4 administered territories.
(c) 2 and 3 only Choose the correct option
(d) 4 only (a) 3 and 4 only
(b) 1,2 and 4 only
17. Considering Article 3 of the Indian Constitution, (c) 1, 2, 3 and 4
identify which of the following statements is true: (d) 1 only
1. Any bill proposing the changes to the
boundaries, names, and territories of existing 20. Match the following
states can be presented in Parliament solely List I List II
upon receiving prior recommendation from the (States) (Full statehood granted in year)
President. A. Gujarat 1. 1971
2. Secondly, before making such a B. Goa 2. 1960
recommendation, the President must refer the C. Himachal 3. 1966
bill to the relevant state legislature, allowing Pradesh
them a designated period to express their views D. Haryana 4. 1987
on the matter. Choose the correct option:
(a) Both 1 and 2 (a) A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3
(b) Neither 1 nor 2 (b) A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2
(c) Only 1 (c) A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2
(d) Only 2 (d) A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3
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Answer Key
1. (c) 11. (d)
2. (a) 12. (d)
3. (c) 13. (c)
4. (a) 14. (d)
5. (d) 15. (a)
6. (a) 16. (c)
7. (c) 17. (a)
8. (d) 18. (a)
9. (b) 19. (a)
10. (c) 20. (a)

Hints and Solutions
1. (c)
Key Concept: Union and Its Territory
Explanation:
• There are 8 Union Territories in India.
• The Union Territories (UTs) in India are
administrative divisions that are ruled directly
by the central government, unlike states that
have their own elected governments.
• Here is the list of the 8 Union Territories in
India:
1. Andaman and Nicobar Islands
2. Chandigarh
3. Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu
4. Lakshadweep
5. Delhi
6. Puducherry
7. Ladakh
8. Jammu and Kashmir
Note:
• Chandigarh serves as the capital for two states,
Punjab and Haryana.
• Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu
were two former Union Territories which were
merged into one on January 26, 2020.
2. (a)
Key Concept: Union and Its Territory
Explanation:
• Article 2 of the Indian Constitution deals with
the admission or establishment of new states in
India
• Article 2 empowers the Parliament of India to
make laws regarding the admission or
establishment of new states into the Union of
India.
• This means that any decision to create a new
state or admit a new territory as a state must be
approved by the Parliament through the
legislative process.
Note:
• Article 3 provides the legal framework for the
formation of new states, alteration of
boundaries, and changes in names and
territories of existing states in India.
• Article 1 of the Indian Constitution declares
India as a Union of States.
• It provides the name of the country, its
territory, and the states and union territories
that constitute the Union
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3. (c)
Key Concept: Union and Its Territory
Explanation:
• Article 3 of the Indian Constitution grants the
Parliament the power to make changes to the
boundaries, names, and territories of existing
states.
• This article provides the constitutional
framework for the reorganization of states
within India
• Article 3 allows the Parliament to increase or
decrease the territorial extent of a state.
• Article 3 also empowers the Parliament to
create new states.
• The Parliament has the authority to establish a
new state by separating territory from any
existing state or by merging two or more states
or parts of states.
• Any proposal to alter the boundaries, form new
states, or change the names of existing states
must be introduced as a bill in the Parliament.
• The bill must be passed by a simple majority in
each House of Parliament (Lok Sabha and
Rajya Sabha).
• While the power to alter boundaries and create
new states lies with the Parliament, Article 3
also requires the President of India to refer the
proposal to the concerned states' legislatures.
• The President must seek their views and
recommendations before giving his or her
assent to the proposed changes.
• This ensures that the states directly affected by
the proposed alterations have an opportunity to
express their opinions and concerns.
4. (a)
Key Concept: Union and Its Territory
Explanation:
• Article 1 of the Indian Constitution proclaims
India as a "Union of States"
• Article 1 states that India, which is referred to
as Bharat in the Constitution, shall be a Union
of States
• This term signifies that while India is a single
country, it is composed of various states that
have their own legislative, executive, and
administrative powers within their respective
jurisdictions.

• The article goes on to state that the states and
territories of India are as specified in the First
Schedule of the Constitution.
• The First Schedule provides a list of states and
union territories that existed at the time of the
Constitution's enactment.
• Over the years, amendments and
reorganizations have resulted in changes to this
list, but the fundamental principle of India
being a Union of States remains intact.
5. (d)
Key Concept: Union and Its Territory
Explanation:
• Andhra Pradesh holds the distinction of being
the first Indian state to be formed based on
linguistic considerations.
• Prior to its formation, the region comprising
Andhra Pradesh was a part of the Madras
Presidency during the British colonial era.
• However, there was a significant movement for
the creation of a separate state based on
linguistic identity.
• Responding to these demands, the government
of India established the State Reorganization
Commission in 1953.
• The commission was tasked with examining
and recommending the reorganization of states
on linguistic lines.
• On October 1, 1953, the state of Andhra
Pradesh was officially formed through the
merger of the Andhra state and the Telugu-
speaking areas of the Madras Presidency.
• The new state of Andhra Pradesh became the
first state in India to be established solely on
the basis of language.
6. (a)
Key Concept: Union and Its Territory
Explanation:
• In the context of India's governance structure,
the Union government is considered
indestructible, while state governments can be
dissolved or destroyed by the Union
government.
• India follows a federal system of government
where power is divided between the central or
Union government and the various state
governments.
• The Union government has certain powers and
responsibilities that are applicable to the entire
country, while state governments have their
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own set of powers and responsibilities limited
to their respective states.
• According to Article 3, the power to form new
states, alter boundaries, or merge existing states
lies with the Parliament, which represents the
Union government.
• The Parliament has the authority to make laws
regarding the creation or reorganization of
states.
• While the Parliament can create new states or
alter the boundaries of existing states, it does
not require the consent or approval of the
concerned state governments.
• The decision to form a new state or alter state
boundaries rests solely with the Union
government, and state governments do not have
the power to prevent or veto such decisions.
• This demonstrates that the Union government
is considered indestructible in comparison to
the state governments, which can be subject to
alterations or dissolution by the Union
government.
• Therefore, India is often referred to as ‘an
indestructible union of destructible states’.
7. (c)
Key Concept: Union and Its Territory
Explanation:
• The 100th Constitutional Amendment Act
(2015) was enacted to give effect to the
acquiring of certain territories by India and the
transfer of certain other territories to
Bangladesh.
• This amendment was a result of an agreement
and its protocol entered into between the
Governments of India and Bangladesh.
• India and Bangladesh had long-standing
territorial disputes over enclaves, which are
small areas of land surrounded by the territory
of another country.
• To resolve these territorial disputes, the
Governments of India and Bangladesh engaged
in negotiations and reached an agreement.
• As a part of the agreement, India transferred
111 enclaves to Bangladesh, while Bangladesh
transferred 51 enclaves to India.
• This exchange of territories was a significant
step towards resolving border disputes and
improving bilateral relations between the two
countries.
• To implement the agreement and the transfer of
territories, the 100th Constitutional
Amendment Act (2015) was enacted in India.

• This amendment provided the legal framework
for the acquisition and transfer of enclaves,
ensuring that the territorial changes were
recognized and enforced within the
constitutional framework of India.
8. (d)
Key Concept: Union and Its Territory
Explanation:
• After India gained independence, three princely
states refused to join India.
• These states were Hyderabad, Junagarh, and
Kashmir.
• Hyderabad was one of the largest princely
states in India, ruled by the Nizams.
• The Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali
Khan, initially declared independence and
expressed reluctance to join either India or
Pakistan.
• However, due to the military intervention by
the Indian government in 1948, the state of
Hyderabad was forcibly integrated into India.
• Junagarh, located in present-day Gujarat, was
ruled by the Nawabs.
• The Nawab of Junagarh, Muhammad Mahabat
Khanji III, declared his intention to accede to
Pakistan despite the majority of the population
being Hindu.
• This led to unrest among the people, and they
organized a revolt.
• The Indian government intervened, and
Junagarh was eventually integrated into India.
• The state of Jammu and Kashmir, ruled by
Maharaja Hari Singh, initially opted for
independence.
• However, due to the invasion by Pakistani
tribal militias and the deteriorating security
situation, the Maharaja requested assistance
from India.
• In exchange for military support, the Maharaja
signed the Instrument of Accession, officially
integrating Jammu and Kashmir into India.
9. (b)
Key Concept: Union and Its Territory
Explanation:
• Puducherry (formerly known as Pondicherry)
was not under Portuguese rule. It was a French
colonial territory.
• The territory of Puducherry was under French
control until they were handed over to India in
1954.
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• The French East India Company established its
presence in Puducherry along with its
surrounding territories of Karaikal, Mahe, and
Yanam in the late 17th century.
• However, in 1962, the 14th Constitutional
Amendment Act transformed it into a union
territory.
Note:
• The territories of Goa, Daman, and Diu were
under Portuguese rule.
• All the three territories were annexed by India
in 1961.
• The 12th Constitutional Amendment Act in
1962 designated Goa, Daman, and Diu as a
union territory of India
• However, in 1987 Goa became a full-fledged
state within the Indian Union.
• Daman and Diu were constituted as a separate
union territory, distinct from Goa.
10. (c)
Key Concept: Union and Its Territory
Explanation:
• The Supreme Court ruled in the 1960 Berubari
Union (West Bengal) Case that Parliament's
ability to reduce a state's size (as outlined in
Article 3) does not extend to the cession of
Indian territory to a foreign country.
• Therefore, in order to relinquish Indian land to a
foreign state, Article 368 of the Constitution
must be amended.
• This led to the passage of the Nineth
Constitutional Amendment Act (1960), which
officially ceded the disputed areas to Pakistan.
• To facilitate the swap of territory between India
and Bangladesh, the 100th Constitutional
Amendment Act of 2015 was passed.
• Under the terms of the agreement, India gave up
111 islands to Bangladesh, and Bangladesh gave
up 51.
11. (d)
Key Concept: Union and Its Territory
Explanation:
• Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand were the states
created in the year 2000.
• Chhattisgarh was carved out of the state of
Madhya Pradesh on November 1, 2000.
• The creation of Chhattisgarh was a result of the
long-standing demand for a separate state by
the people of the Chhattisgarh region, which
consists of a significant population of tribal
communities.

• Raipur is the capital city of Chhattisgarh.
• Jharkhand was formed on November 15, 2000,
by bifurcating the state of Bihar.
• Ranchi serves as the capital city of Jharkhand.
Note:
• Telangana was formed on June 2, 2014, as the
29th state of India.
• Prior to its formation, Telangana was part of
the state of Andhra Pradesh.
• Arunachal Pradesh is a state situated in the
northeastern part of India.
• It became a full-fledged state on February 20,
1987
12. (d)
Key Concept: Union and Its Territory
Explanation:
• Article 2A of the Indian Constitution, which is
now repealed, was associated with the state of
Sikkim.
• Sikkim, formerly an independent kingdom.
• Article 2A was inserted into the Indian
Constitution through the 35th Amendment Act
in 1974.
• It provided for the recognition of Sikkim as an
associate state of India.
• This article granted a special status to Sikkim,
distinct from other states in India.
• However, in 1975, a year after the insertion of
Article 2A, Sikkim underwent significant
political changes.
• A referendum was held in which the majority
of the Sikkimese people voted in favor of
abolishing the monarchy and making Sikkim a
state of the Indian Union.
• As a result, Sikkim became the 22nd state of
India in 1975 by the 36th Amendment Act.
• Following this transition, Article 2A was also
repealed by the 36th Amendment Act in 1975,
effectively removing the special associate state
status of Sikkim.
• The special provisions for Sikkim were then
incorporated into the newly added Article
371F.
13. (c)
Key Concept: Union and Its Territory
Explanation:
• In 1973, the Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindivi
Islands were officially renamed as
Lakshadweep.
• Prior to 1973, these islands were collectively
known as Laccadive Islands.
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• The name change was part of a series of actions
taken to reflect the cultural and historical
significance of the islands to the people living
there.
• The word "Lakshadweep" means "a hundred
thousand islands" in the Malayalam language,
which is spoken by the majority of the
population in the region.
Note:
In the same year i.e., 1973, the state of Mysore was
renamed as Karnataka.
14. (d)
Key Concept: Union and Its Territory
Explanation:
• K.M. Panikkar was not a member of the
Linguistic Provinces Committee.
• In response to demands for the reorganization
of states on a linguistic basis, the Government
of India appointed the Linguistic Provinces
Commission in June 1948, led by S.K. Dhar.
• The committee submitted the report in
December 1948, suggesting that states should
be reorganized based on administrative
convenience rather than language, causing
discontent among proponents of linguistic-
based reorganization.
• To address this discontent, the Congress party
established another committee in December
1948, known as the JVP Committee.
• The committee, comprising Jawaharlal Nehru,
Vallabhbhai Patel, and Pattabhi Sitaramayya,
was tasked with reexamining the question of
state reorganization.
• Their report, submitted in April 1949, formally
rejected language as the basis for
reorganization, emphasizing administrative
factors instead.
Note:
K.M. Panikkar was the member of States
Reorganisation Commission which was chaired by
Fazl Ali.
15. (a)
Key Concept: Union and Its Territory
Explanation:
• United Provinces was the first Indian state to
have a new name after independence.
• The United Provinces was a state in British
India that encompassed present-day Uttar
Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
• It was renamed as Uttar Pradesh on January 24,
1950, following India's independence.

• The name change was made to reflect the
linguistic and cultural diversity of the region, as
"Uttar Pradesh" translates to "Northern
Province" in Hindi.
• It's important to note that Uttar Pradesh remains
one of the most populous states in India.
Note:
• Madras was a state in southern India that was
renamed to Tamil Nadu on January 14, 1969.
• The state of Mysore was renamed as Karnataka
on November 1, 1973.
• Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindivi Islands
were a group of islands in the Arabian Sea.
• However, they were not a state but rather a
Union Territory of India.
• On November 1, 1973, the Union Territory was
renamed to Lakshadweep.
18.
16. (c)
Key Concept: Union and Its Territory
Explanation:
• Only the territory of Puducherry was made a
union territory of India by the 14th Amendment
in 1962.
• Goa, along with Daman and Diu was made the
union territory of India by the 12th Amendment
in 1961.
• Later, Goa, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram
were made a full-fledged state of India in the
year 1987.
• Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura were made a
full-fledged state of India in the year 1972.
• Dadar and Nagar Haveli were made a union
territory of India by the 10th Amendment in
1961.
17. (a)
Key Concept: Union and Its Territory
Explanation:
• Article 3 of the Indian Constitution grants the
Parliament the power to make changes to the
boundaries, names, and territories of existing
states.
• This article provides the constitutional
framework for the reorganization of states
within India
• Article 3 allows the Parliament to increase or
decrease the territorial extent of a state.
• Article 3 also empowers the Parliament to
create new states.
• The Parliament has the authority to establish a
new state by separating territory from any
8
existing state or by merging two or more states
or parts of states.
• Any proposal to alter the boundaries, form new
states, or change the names of existing states
must be introduced as a bill in the Parliament.
• Article 3 establishes two conditions regarding
this matter.
• First, any bill proposing the mentioned
alterations may only be introduced in
Parliament if it has received the prior
recommendation of the President.
• Second, before making a recommendation on
the bill, the President is required to consult the
relevant state legislature, allowing them to
express their views within a specified
timeframe.
(a)
Key Concept: Union and Its Territory
Explanation:
1. Dadra and Nagar Haveli:
• Before it's liberation in 1954, the territory was
under the rule of the Portuguese.
• In 1961, it was transformed into a union
territory of India.
• This transformation was enacted through the
10th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1961.
2. Daman and Diu:
• In 1961, India gained control over three
territories previously held by the Portuguese
• These territories were Goa, Daman, and Diu.
• To formalize the status of these territories, the
Indian government enacted the 12th
Constitutional Amendment Act in 1962.
• This amendment designated Goa, Daman, and
Diu as a union territory of India
• However, in 1987 Goa became a full-fledged
state within the Indian Union.
• Daman and Diu were constituted as a separate
union territory, distinct from Goa.
3. Puducherry:
• The territory of Puducherry was under French
control until they were handed over to India in
1954.
• Following the transfer, the territory was
initially governed as an 'acquired territory.'
• However, in 1962, the 14th Constitutional
Amendment Act transformed it into a union
territory.
4. Sikkim:
• Article 2A was inserted into the Indian
Constitution through the 35th Amendment Act
in 1974.

• It provided for the recognition of Sikkim as an
associate state of India.
• However, Sikkim became a full-fledged state of
India in 1975 by the 36th Amendment Act.
19. (a)
Key Concept: Union and Its Territory
Explanation:
• In the years following India's independence in
1947, the need for reorganizing states and
territories based on linguistic and
administrative factors became increasingly
apparent.
• In 1953, the Government of India established
the ‘States Reorganisation Commission’ to 20.
examine and recommend changes to the
existing state boundaries and administrative
divisions.
• The States Reorganisation Commission was
composed of three members: Justice Fazal Ali,
K. M. Panikkar and H. N. Kunzru.
• Justice Fazal Ali served as the Chairman of the
commission therefore, the commission was also
known as Fazl Ali Commission.
• After two years of rigorous study and
consultations, the States Reorganisation
Commission submitted its report on September
30, 1955.
• The commission's recommendations aimed to
address the demands for linguistic and
administrative reorganization.
• Some key recommendations included:
1. The commission proposed the elimination of
the existing four-fold classification of states
and territories, which comprised Part A, Part B,
Part C, and Part D states.
2. The commission recommended the formation
of 16 states and three centrally administered
territories.
• The recommendations of the States
Reorganisation Commission formed the basis
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9
for subsequent legislative and administrative
actions.
• The reorganization of states took place in
different phases, with the States Reorganisation
Act being passed by the Indian Parliament in
1956.
• This act provided the legal framework for the
formation, alteration, and abolition of states and
territories as per the commission's
recommendations.
• On November 1, 1956, a significant
reorganization took place resulting in the
creation of 14 states and 6 union territories.
(a)
Key Concept: Union and Its Territory
Explanation:
1. Gujarat:
• The full statehood of Gujarat was granted in the
year 1960
• In 1960, the state of Bombay was bifurcated
into two separate states - Gujarat and
Maharashtra - and Gujarat became a full-
fledged state.
2. Goa:
• The full statehood of Goa was granted in the
year 1987
• Before 1987, Goa was a union territory under
Indian administration.
3. Himachal Pradesh:
• The full statehood of Himachal Pradesh was
granted in the year 1971.
• Prior to that, Himachal Pradesh was also a
union territory.
4. Haryana:
• The full statehood of Haryana was granted in
the year 1966.
• Haryana was carved out of the state of Punjab
in 1966 to become a separate state.
• Before that, it was a part of Punjab.