Maarg Manthan · Topic 28.1

First Schedule: Names of States and Union Territories

Indian Polity › Schedules of the Constitution · Topic 28.1

The First Schedule names the States and Union Territories (28 and 8 at present) and their territories under Articles 1 and 4, and can be changed by an ordinary law of Parliament under Articles 2 and 3 without a constitutional amendment.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Polity · Schedules of the Constitution

At a Glance

What it is List of the States and Union Territories and their territory
Articles Articles 1 and 4
Present position 28 States and 8 Union Territories
Changed by Laws under Articles 2, 3 and 4
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Polity: Schedules of the Constitution

Where Does It Fit?

This is the first topic of the category on the Schedules of the Constitution. The First Schedule names the States and Union Territories and specifies their territorial extent. Under Article 1 the territory of India comprises the territories of the states, the Union territories and any territories that may be acquired.

What the Schedule Contains

The First Schedule has two parts: the names of the States and their territorial jurisdiction, and the names of the Union Territories and their extent. Article 1 describes India as a Union of States, and the territory of India as a wider expression than the Union of India, because the latter includes only states, while the territory of India includes the states, the Union Territories and the acquired territories. The states are members of the federal system and share powers with the Centre. The Union Territories and acquired territories are directly administered by the Central government. At present there are 28 States, 8 Union Territories and no acquired territories.

States (28)	Union Territories (8)
Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal	Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Delhi (National Capital Territory), Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Lakshadweep, Puducherry

How the Schedule Is Changed

Article 2 empowers Parliament to admit into the Union new states or establish new states on such terms as it thinks fit. Article 3 enables Parliament to form new states and alter the areas, boundaries or names of existing states. Article 4 provides that laws made under Articles 2 and 3 for the amendment of the First Schedule and the Fourth Schedule are not to be deemed amendments of the Constitution under Article 368. This means that these Schedules can be changed by an ordinary law passed by a simple majority and the usual legislative procedure, and not by the special procedure for constitutional amendments. A bill under Article 3 can be introduced in Parliament only on the recommendation of the President, and before recommending, the President refers it to the state legislature concerned for its views, which are not binding. These steps are taken up in the topics on the territory of India.

Union Territories: Creation and Years

Union Territory	Year of creation
Andaman and Nicobar Islands	1956
Delhi	1956 (redesignated National Capital Territory in 1992)
Lakshadweep	1956 (named Laccadive, Minicoy and Amindivi Islands till 1973)
Puducherry	1962 (named Pondicherry till 2006)
Chandigarh	1966
Jammu and Kashmir	2019
Ladakh	2019
Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu	2020

In 1956 the Union Territories were constituted by the 7th Amendment Act and the States Reorganisation Act, 1956. Some, such as Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Goa, were later elevated to statehood. Areas acquired from the Portuguese (Goa, Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli) and the French (Puducherry) became Union Territories. The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 bifurcated the erstwhile state into the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the Union Territory of Ladakh, the latter taking Kargil and Leh districts.

Why Union Territories Exist

Political and administrative considerations: Delhi and Chandigarh.
Cultural distinctiveness: Puducherry and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
Strategic importance: Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep.
Special treatment of backward and tribal people: Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh, which later became states.

The number of states and Union Territories has grown from 14 and 6 in 1956 to 28 and 8 at present. Names have also changed: the United Provinces became Uttar Pradesh in 1950, Madras became Tamil Nadu in 1969, Mysore became Karnataka in 1973, Uttaranchal became Uttarakhand in 2006 and Orissa became Odisha in 2011.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Reference list Used in questions on territory
Article 4 Not a constitutional amendment
Recent changes Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh

What Came Next?

The next topic covers the Second Schedule, which deals with emoluments of high office-holders.

Key People and Terms

Territory of India States, UTs and acquired territories
Union of India The states only
Article 3 Alter boundaries and names
Acquired territory Territory gained by India
National Capital Territory Delhi since 1992

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

28 States and 8 UTs.
Articles 1 and 4.
Laws under 2 and 3 are not Article 368 amendments.
J&K and Ladakh: 2019.
Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu: 2020.

Do Not Confuse With

Territory of India and Union of India Wider versus narrower
Article 2 and Article 3 New states versus existing states
Ordinary law and constitutional amendment Article 4

Memory Hook

Twenty-eight and eight: the First Schedule lists them and an ordinary law can change them.

Mains Angle

Questions on this topic usually ask about how the territory can be altered. Use these points to add depth.

Flexibility Simple majority change
Role of states Views are not binding
Union Territories Direct central administration
Reorganisation 2019 example

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“How can the territory and names of states be altered under the Constitution?”

How to Answer

Introduction First Schedule.
Articles 2 to 4 Procedure.
Examples Recent changes.
Conclusion Federal implications.

GS Relevance

Prelims: Indian Polity, schedules. GS Paper 2: Union and its territory.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the First Schedule contain?

The First Schedule lists the names of the States and their territorial jurisdiction and the names of the Union Territories and their extent, and at present there are 28 States and 8 Union Territories under it.

Is the First Schedule amended by a constitutional amendment?

No. Article 4 says laws made under Articles 2 and 3 to amend the First and Fourth Schedules are not constitutional amendments under Article 368, so Parliament can change them by an ordinary law with a simple majority.

Which Articles deal with the territory of the Union?

Article 1 describes the territory of India, Article 2 admits or establishes new states, Article 3 forms new states and alters areas, boundaries or names of states, and Article 4 provides for consequential amendments of the First and Fourth Schedules.

Which Union Territories were created most recently?

The Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh were created in 2019 by the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu was formed as a merged Union Territory in 2020.

What is the difference between the territory of India and the Union of India?

The Union of India includes only the states, while the territory of India is a wider expression covering the states, the Union Territories and any territories that may be acquired by the Government of India.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 A law under Article 3 amends the First Schedule and counts as an Article 368 amendment.

False

Article 4.

2 India has 28 States and 8 Union Territories.

True

In the First Schedule.

3 Ladakh became a Union Territory in 2019.