20. Arrange the following constitutional subjects in sequence:
I. Union and its territory,
II. Fundamental Duties,
III. Citizenship,
IV. Directive Principles of State Policy.
[UPPSC Combined State Examination, GS-I (12 Jun 2022)]
(A) II, IV, I, III
(B) I, III, IV, II
(C) III, I, II, IV
(D) IV, II, III, I
Answer: (B) I, III, IV, II
Explanation: The Constitution first addresses the Union and its territory in Part I, then citizenship in Part II. Directive Principles appear in Part IV, while Fundamental Duties were later added as Part IVA. Hence the required order is I–III–IV–II.
19. Who is in charge of a Union Territory in the absence of a Chief Minister?
[RRB Group D (25 Aug 2022, Shift 3)]
(A) Lieutenant Governor
(B) President
(C) Chief Justice of India
(D) Prime Minister
Answer: (A) Lieutenant Governor
Explanation: Union Territories can be administered through a Lieutenant Governor or another administrator appointed by the President. Where no elected Chief Minister exists, executive administration is exercised under this framework. Article 239 supplies the constitutional foundation for such arrangements.
18. Which of the following was the correct number of states and Union Territories in India in 2022?
[UPSC NDA-I, General Ability Test (10 Apr 2022)]
(A) 28 states and 8 Union Territories
(B) 27 states and 9 Union Territories
(C) 30 states and 6 Union Territories
(D) 29 states and 7 Union Territories
Answer: (A) 28 states and 8 Union Territories
Explanation: India had 28 states and eight Union Territories in 2022. Jammu and Kashmir’s reorganisation in 2019 and the 2020 combination of Dadra and Nagar Haveli with Daman and Diu explain the modern count. Territorial figures should always be matched to the question’s date.
17. Arrange the states by formation date:
I. Goa,
II. Telangana,
III. Jharkhand,
IV. Haryana.
[UPPSC Combined State/Upper Subordinate Prelims (2021)]
(A) I, II, III, IV
(B) IV, I, III, II
(C) IV, II, III, I
(D) IV, III, I, II
Answer: (B) IV, I, III, II
Explanation: Haryana became a state in 1966, Goa attained statehood in 1987, Jharkhand was created in 2000, and Telangana followed in 2014. Arranging those years from earliest to latest yields Haryana, Goa, Jharkhand and Telangana.
16. For creating a new state or altering state boundaries, consider:
(1) Article 368 amendment is necessary;
(2) half the states must ratify;
(3) simple-majority legislation can be passed.
Which is correct?
[UPSC CDS-I, General Knowledge (7 Feb 2021)]
(A) 1 and 3 only
(B) 2 only
(C) 3 only
(D) 2 and 3 only
Answer: (C) 3 only
Explanation: Article 3 permits state reorganisation by ordinary parliamentary law. Article 4 clarifies that this does not count as a constitutional amendment under Article 368. Consequently, neither the special amendment procedure nor ratification by half the states is required.
15. Which action is NOT possible through a law of Parliament under Article 3?
[UPPSC Civil Services Prelims, GS-I (2020)]
(A) Formation of new states
(B) Alteration of areas of states
(C) Alteration of boundaries of states
(D) Admission of new states
Answer: (D) Admission of new states
Explanation: Article 3 addresses changes involving existing state territory, including new-state formation, boundary modification and renaming. Article 2 separately provides for the admission or establishment of new states in the Union. Distinguishing these two provisions is essential.
14. Consider:
(1) Parliament may increase a state’s area;
(2) diminish its area;
(3) cannot alter its boundary;
(4) cannot alter its name.
Which statements are NOT correct?
[UPSC CDS, General Knowledge (8 Sep 2019)]
(A) 1 and 2
(B) 2 and 3
(C) 3 and 4
(D) 4 only
Answer: (C) 3 and 4
Explanation: Article 3 authorises Parliament to increase or reduce a state’s area and also to change its boundaries or name. Statements 3 and 4 wrongly deny these powers. The bill must nevertheless follow the constitutionally specified recommendation-and-consultation procedure.
13. Which Article of the Indian Constitution provides for formation of a new state?
[SSC CGL (12 Jun 2019, Shift 3)]
(A) Article 1
(B) Article 3
(C) Article 9
(D) Article 2
Answer: (B) Article 3
Explanation: Article 3 governs forming new states by separation or combination of existing territories. Article 1 defines India and its territorial extent, whereas Article 2 deals with admitting or establishing states. Article 9 concerns loss of citizenship on voluntarily acquiring foreign citizenship.
12. Which Part of the Indian Constitution deals with Union Territories?
[SSC CHSL (4 Mar 2018, Shift 1)]
(A) Part VI
(B) Part VII
(C) Part VIII
(D) Part IX
Answer: (C) Part VIII
Explanation: Part VIII deals with administration of Union Territories, principally beginning with Article 239. Do not confuse it with Part I, which concerns the Union’s overall territory and state reorganisation. Part VI covers states and Part IX covers Panchayats.
11. Consider:
(1) Every state has equal seats in Rajya Sabha;
(2) a state’s consent is unnecessary to alter its boundaries;
(3) India has no dual citizenship.
Which statements are correct?
[UPSC CDS, General Knowledge (5 Feb 2017)]
(A) 1, 2 and 3
(B) 2 and 3 only
(C) 1 and 3 only
(D) 2 only
Answer: (B) 2 and 3 only
Explanation: Rajya Sabha seats are not distributed equally among states; allocation is specified in the Fourth Schedule. Article 3 does not require state consent for boundary alteration, and the Indian Constitution establishes a single national citizenship rather than separate state citizenships.
