Which of the following Articles of the Indian Constitution deals with the formation of new states and alteration of areas, boundaries or names of existing states?

Option 3 : Article 3

The correct answer is Article 3.

Article 3 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.

According to Article 1, the territory of India can be classified into three categories:

• Territories of the states
• Union territories
• Territories that may be acquired by the Government of India at any time.

Article 2 grants two powers to the Parliament:

• the power to admit into the Union of India new states; and
• the power to establish new states.

Article 4 allows for changes in the First Schedule i.e. names of the States in the Union of India and Fourth Schedule i.e. a number of seats allotted in the Rajya Sabha for each state.