Q. Using the powers enshrined in Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution of India, the Parliament can do which of the following?
1. Admit new territories as new state of India.
2. Split or merge existing Indian states.
3. Transfer and exchange of territories to neighboring countries.
4. Alter the names and boundaries of existing Indian States.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Answer: B
Notes:
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: Article 2 of Indian constitution empowers the Parliament to admit new states on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit into the Union of India. Article 2 grants two powers to the Parliament:
- The power to admit into the Union of India new states (Statement 1 is correct)
- The power to establish new states.
Statements 2 and 4 are correct: Article 3 of Indian constitution authorizes the Parliament to:
- 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.
- Increase the area of any state
- Diminish the area of any state
- Alter the boundaries of any state
- Alter the name of any state.
Statement 3 is incorrect: Transfer and exchange of territories to neighboring countries is not the subject matter or article 2 or article 3. These matters are dealt with the help of different constitutional amendments. The supreme court has held that the power of Parliament to diminish the area of a State (under Article does not cover the cession of Indian territory to a foreign country.
