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Indian Polity MCQs – 6 (Union and it’s Territory)
Union and it’s Territory MCQs with answers and explanations for preparation of UPSC, BPSC, UPPSC and other State PSC Examinations
Chapterwise MCQs
Short Notes
1. In the Constitution of India, The term ‘Federal’ is mentioned in :
(a) Preamble
(b) Part-III of the ConstitutionÂ
(c) Article 368 of the ConstitutionÂ
(d) Not mentioned anywhere
Correct Answer: Â (d) Not mentioned anywhere
- Term ‘Federal’ is not mentioned in the constitution.
- Article – 1 describes India ‘that is Bharat’ as a ‘Union of States’ .
- Reasons for calling India ‘Union’ and NOT a Federation:
- Â India is not the result of an agreement among the states like the American Federation.
- In India, The states can not break away from the union. The Union is indestructible which integrates various destructible states.
2. Consider the following statements with reference to the linguistic reorganization of states in independent India:
- The separate state of Andhra for the Telugu people came into existence in 1953.
- Jawaharlal Nehru was particularly in favor of the movement for linguistic reorganization of states that came in the wake of the success of the Andhra movement.
Which one of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) Only 1
(b) Only 2
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Correct Answer: (a) Only 1
- The separate state of Andhra for the Telugu people came into existence in 1953.
- The Linguistic Provinces committee consisting of Jawahar Lal Nehru, Sardar Vallahbhai Patel and Pattabhi Sitaramayya, submitted its report in April 1949.
- It rejected language as the basis for reorganization of states.
3. Consider the following statements:
- Parliament can increase the area of any state without the consent of the state legislature.
- Parliament can alter the name of any state without the consent of the state legislature.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Solution: (c) Both 1 and 2
- Constitution of India rants following powers to the Parliament:
- Parliament can form a new state by separating any territory from any state or by uniting two or more states
- Parliament can form a new state by uniting any territory to any state
- Parliament can increase the area of any state
- Parliament can decrease the area of any state
- Parliament can alter the boundaries of any state
- Parliament can alter the name of any state.
A bill which proposes any of the above changes can be introduced in the Parliament only with the prior recommendation of the President. However, The President/Parliament is not bound by the views expressed by the state legislature and may either completely or partially accept or reject them.
4. In which schedule of Indian Constitution, the territorial extent of Indian states and union Territories is prescribed?
(a) 1st scheduleÂ
(b) 2nd scheduleÂ
(c) 3rd scheduleÂ
(d) 4th schedule
Correct Answer: (a) 1st schedule
- First schedule lists the states and territories of India.
- Currently in 2023, there are 28 states and 8 Union territories in the country.Â
- Before 2019, there were 29 states in India, however, In 2019, Parliament passed the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, which reorganized the state of J&K into two union territories – Jammu and Kashmir in the west and Ladakh in the east, with effect from 31 October 2019.
5. Consider the following statements:
- The Parliament is empowered to alter the boundaries of any existing State of India.
- A Bill pertaining to the alteration of the boundaries of any existing State of India can be introduced only in the Rajya Sabha with the prior recommendation of the President.
Which one of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)Â Only 1
(b)Â Only 2
(c)Â Both 1 and 2Â Â Â Â
(d)Â Neither 1 nor 2
Correct Answer: (a) Only 1
- The Parliament is empowered to alter the boundaries of any existing State of India.
- A Bill pertaining to the alteration of the boundaries of any existing State of India can be introduced in any house of the parliament with the prior recommendation of the President.
6. The boundary of a State in India can be altered through the procedure laid down in:
(a)Â Article 368Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
(b)Â Article 130
(c)Â Article 70Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
(d)Â Article 3
Correct Answer: (d) Article 3
- Article – 3 enables Parliament to alter the boundaries of any state.
- A bill which proposes to alter the boundaries of any state can be introduced in the Parliament only with the prior recommendation of the President.
- Before recommending the bill to Parliament, the President has to refer the same to the concerned state legislature for expressing its views within a specified period of time.Â
- The President/Parliament is not bound by the views expressed by the state legislature and may either completely or partially accept or reject them.
7. Who among the following was the head of the Linguistic Provinces Commission formed in the year 1948, to enquire into the desirability of linguistic provinces?
(a) Jawaharlal Nehru                      Â
(b)Â Justice S.K. Dhar
(c) Justice Fazi Alt                        Â
(d)Â Pattabhi Sitaramayya
Correct Answer: (b)Â Justice S.K. Dhar
- After the prolonged demand for reorganization of states on linguistic basis by various South Indian states, the Government of India appointed the Linguistic Provinces Commission under the chairmanship of S.K. Dhar to examine the viability of this.
- However, the commission in its report rejected the idea of linguistic reorganization and recommended the reorganization of states on the basis of administrative convenience.
8. In 1953, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru formed a Commission to study the reorganization of states on a linguistic basis under the chairmanship of:
(a) T.T. Krishnamachari                   Â
(b)Â Vallabhbhai Patel
(c) Fazl Ali                      Â
(d)Â G.B. Pant
Correct Answer: (c) Fazl Ali    Â
- Following the Prolonged agitation and the death of Potti Sriramulu, the Government of India created the first linguistic state, known as Andhra state, by separating the Telugu speaking areas from the Madras state.
- This further intensified the demand from other regions for creation of states on linguistic basis.
- Hence, the Government appointed a three member states Reorganisation Commission under the chairmanship of Fazl Ali and other two members being K.M. Panikkar and H.N. Kunzru.
- The Commission submitted its report in September 1955 and on the whole accepted the linguistic reorganization of states.
- Government of India accepted most of the recommendations of states Reorganisation Commission and Parliament passed States Reorganisation Act, 1956 and the 7th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1956.
- This led to the creation of 14 states and 6 union territories on 1st November, 1956.
9. The Parliament of India passed the States Reorganisation Act in 1956 which created :Â
(a) 16 States and 3 Union Territories        Â
(b)Â 15 States and 5 Union Territories
(c) 14 States and 6 Union Territories        Â
(d)Â 24 States and 9 Union Territories
Correct Answer: (c) 14 States and 6 Union Territories  Â
- States Reorganisation Act, 1956 created 14 states and 6 union territories.
- More details in above question
10. The States of the India can be reorganized or their boundaries altered by:
(a)Â The Union Parliament with a simple majority in the ordinary process of legislation.
(b) Two-thirds majority of both the Houses of Parliament.
(c) Two-thirds majority of both the Houses of Parliament and the consent of the legislature of the concerned States.
(d)Â An executive order of the Union Government with the consent of the concerned State Governments.
Correct Answer: (a)Â The Union Parliament with a simple majority in the ordinary process of legislation.
- As per Article – 4, laws made for the establishment of new states or changing the areas, boundaries or names of existing states under Articles 2 OR 3 shall not be considered as amendments of the Constitution under Article 368.
- Such laws can be passed by a simple majority and by following ordinary legislative process. However, prior recommendation of the President will be mandatory as mentioned above.
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