The Union and its Territories

The Union and its Territories

» Article 1 lays-down that India, i.e. Bharat, shall be a Union of States. The Territory of India shall consist of 1. the Territories of the States, 2. the Union Territories and 3. any Territories that may be acquired.
» Article 1 of the Constitution describes India as a Union of States not as a federation of states. Union of India is not the result of an agreement, nor has any State the right to secede from it.
» The Federation is called a Union of States, because it is indestructible.
» The Union Territories are not included in the 'Union of States'. Whereas the expression 'Territory of India' includes the States, the Union Territories and such other territories as may be acquired by India.
» The States and their territories are specified in the First Schedule to the Constitution. The Constitution empowers the Parliament for the admission or establishment of new States.

» Article 2 provides that Parliament may by law admit new States into the Union of India or establish new States on such terms and conditions as it deems fit. The Parliament has admitted the French settlements of Pondicherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yenam, the Portuguese settlements of Goa, Diu and Daman and Sikkim, etc. into India after independence.
» Article 3 of the Constitution empowers the Parliament to form a new State by altering boundaries of existing States.