Practice paper — Constitution Part I — The Union and its Territory
20 questions · answer key at the end · no time limit
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1.According to Article 1 of the Constitution, how is India described?
- (A) A Union of States
- (B) A Federation
- (C) A Confederal State
- (D) A Sovereign Republic
2.Where does Article 1 provide that the States and the territories thereof are specified?
- (A) Fourth Schedule
- (B) First Schedule
- (C) Article 1 itself
- (D) President's Order
3.Which of the following is NOT included in the 'territory of India' as set out in Article 1(3)?
- (A) The territories of the States
- (B) The Union territories specified in the First Schedule
- (C) Such other territories as may be acquired
- (D) Territories of foreign countries
4.If India acquires a new territory after the Constitution came into force, Article 1 indicates that the acquired territory will be:
- (A) Automatically listed in the First Schedule
- (B) Part of the territory of India
- (C) A new State necessarily
- (D) Excluded until Parliament enacts law
5.Which statement correctly distinguishes Article 1(2) from Article 1(3) regarding newly acquired territory?
- (A) Article 1(2) makes all acquired territories States automatically
- (B) Article 1(3) includes acquired territories in the territory of India but Article 1(2) limits States to those in the First Schedule
- (C) Article 1(3) excludes Union territories from acquired territories
- (D) Article 1(2) and (3) both say acquired territories are in the First Schedule
6.Under the provision "Parliament may by law admit into the Union, or establish, new States on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit.", who has the power to admit or establish new States?
- (A) Parliament
- (B) The President
- (C) A State Legislature
- (D) The Supreme Court
7.According to the provision, by what means must the power to admit or establish new States be exercised?
- (A) By presidential proclamation
- (B) By law
- (C) By executive order
- (D) By agreement of state legislatures
8.What does the phrase "on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit" in the provision mean about Parliament's role when creating or admitting new States?
- (A) Terms must be approved by State legislatures before admission
- (B) Terms are subject to a national referendum
- (C) Parliament may determine the terms and conditions at its discretion
- (D) Terms are fixed elsewhere in the Constitution and cannot be changed
9.Is Parliament required by this provision to admit new States whenever a request is made?
- (A) Yes — admission is mandatory on request
- (B) Yes — but only with a two-thirds majority
- (C) Yes — if the Union Cabinet so directs
- (D) No — the provision uses the word "may", so admission is discretionary
10.Which of the following actions is NOT within the scope of this provision as written?
- (A) Determining the mode of altering internal boundaries of existing States
- (B) Admitting territories into the Union
- (C) Establishing new States
- (D) Imposing terms and conditions for admission of new States
11.Which clause of Article 3 permits altering the name of any State?
- (A) Clause (a) — form a new State by separation or uniting territories
- (B) Clause (b) — increase the area of any State
- (C) Clause (e) — alter the name of any State
- (D) Clause (c) — diminish the area of any State
12.Under clauses (a) to (e) of Article 3, does the term 'State' include a Union territory?
- (A) No — 'State' never includes a Union territory under Article 3
- (B) Yes — in clauses (a) to (e) the term 'State' includes a Union territory
- (C) Only in the proviso does 'State' include a Union territory
- (D) Only when Parliament so declares by law
13.According to the proviso to Article 3, when must the President refer a Bill to a State Legislature for expressing its views before the Bill is introduced in Parliament?
- (A) When the proposal contained in the Bill affects the area, boundaries or name of any of the States
- (B) When the Bill concerns only Union territories
- (C) Only when the State requests referral after the Bill is introduced
- (D) When the Bill proposes to increase the powers of Parliament over the States
14.Is the President's recommendation required before introducing any Bill under Article 3 in either House of Parliament?
- (A) No — recommendation is required only if the Bill affects a State's boundaries
- (B) No — recommendation is not required for Bills concerning Union territories
- (C) Yes — but only if the Bill seeks to form a new State
- (D) Yes — recommendation of the President is always required
15.Does the proviso to Article 3 make Parliament bound to obtain the consent of an affected State Legislature before altering that State's boundaries or name?
- (A) Yes — Parliament needs the State Legislature's formal consent before passing the law
- (B) No — referral is required and Parliament must adopt the Legislature's views if given
- (C) No — the proviso only requires referral to the State Legislature for expressing views within a specified period and does not make Parliament bound to accept those views
- (D) Yes — consent is required only when the State has a unicameral legislature
16.According to Article 4, what must any law made under Article 2 or Article 3 contain?
- (A) Provisions for amendment of the First Schedule and the Fourth Schedule
- (B) A declaration that it is an amendment under Article 368
- (C) A sunset clause limiting its operation to five years
- (D) Provisions abolishing the Preamble
17.Does Article 4 treat a law made under Article 2 or Article 3 as an amendment of the Constitution for the purposes of Article 368?
- (A) Yes, always it is treated as an amendment under Article 368
- (B) Only if Parliament expressly says so in the law
- (C) No, it shall not be deemed to be an amendment for the purposes of Article 368
- (D) Only when the law alters fundamental rights
18.May a law under Article 2 or Article 3 include provisions relating to representation in Parliament or in the Legislature(s) of the State(s) affected?
- (A) No, such laws are limited only to schedule amendments
- (B) Yes, they may include supplemental, incidental and consequential provisions including provisions as to representation
- (C) Only if the change affects more than one State
- (D) Only after a separate constitutional amendment under Article 368
19.Which of the following matters does Article 4 expressly allow Parliament to include in a law made under Articles 2 or 3?
- (A) Changes to the Preamble
- (B) Abolition of the Supreme Court
- (C) Alteration of fundamental rights
- (D) Supplemental, incidental and consequential provisions necessary to give effect to the law
20.What is the legal effect of clause (2) of Article 4 on laws made under Article 2 or Article 3?
- (A) It declares that such laws shall not be treated as amendments of the Constitution for the purposes of Article 368
- (B) It makes such laws subject to the special procedure prescribed by Article 368
- (C) It exempts such laws from any parliamentary scrutiny
- (D) It allows States to amend the First and Fourth Schedules independently
Answer key
Explanations
- 1. (A) Article 1(1) states explicitly: "India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States." This description is given verbatim in the provision.
- 2. (B) Article 1(2) states: "The States and the territories thereof shall be as specified in the First Schedule." Thus the First Schedule is the location specified by the Article.
- 3. (D) Article 1(3) enumerates the territory of India as (a) territories of the States, (b) Union territories in the First Schedule, and (c) such other territories as may be acquired. Territories of foreign countries are not included.
- 4. (B) Article 1(3)(c) includes "such other territories as may be acquired" in the territory of India, so an acquired territory becomes part of the territory of India. The Article itself does not state any automatic listing or State creation process.
- 5. (B) Article 1(3)(c) expressly includes acquired territories in the territory of India, while Article 1(2) states that "The States and the territories thereof shall be as specified in the First Schedule," indicating that the States are those listed in the First Schedule. Thus acquired territory is part of India's territory but Article 1(2) confines the States to the First Schedule.
- 6. (A) The provision begins with "Parliament may by law...", which directly vests the power to admit into the Union or establish new States in Parliament. No other authority is mentioned in the text.
- 7. (B) The text states "Parliament may by law admit into the Union, or establish, new States...", so the power is to be exercised "by law". The provision does not refer to proclamations, executive orders, or state agreements.
- 8. (C) The provision explicitly allows Parliament to admit or establish new States "on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit," which indicates Parliament has discretion to decide those terms. The text does not require state approval, referenda, or pre-fixed constitutional terms.
- 9. (D) The provision uses the word "may" ("Parliament may by law admit...") which indicates a discretionary power rather than a mandatory duty to admit new States upon request. No mandatory requirement or voting threshold is specified in the text.
- 10. (A) The provision specifically authorizes Parliament to "admit into the Union, or establish, new States" and to set "terms and conditions". It does not mention altering internal boundaries of existing States, so that action is not covered by this text.
- 11. (C) Article 3(1)(e) expressly lists 'alter the name of any State' as one of the powers of Parliament. The provision enumerates clauses (a) to (e) including (e) for altering a State's name.
- 12. (B) Explanation I to Article 3 states that, in clauses (a) to (e), 'State' includes a Union territory. The same Explanation I clarifies that this inclusion does not extend to the proviso.
- 13. (A) The proviso requires that where the proposal in the Bill affects the area, boundaries or name of any of the States, the President must refer the Bill to that State Legislature for expressing its views within the specified or allowed period. The referral requirement is triggered by effects on a State's area, boundaries or name as stated.
- 14. (D) The proviso begins by stating that 'no Bill for the purpose shall be introduced in either House of Parliament except on the recommendation of the President.' This applies to Bills under Article 3 generally, without limiting it to particular clauses.
- 15. (C) The proviso mandates referral by the President to the State Legislature for 'expressing its views' within a specified or allowed period and requires that the period expire. It does not state that Parliament must obtain or accept the State Legislature's consent before passing the law.
- 16. (A) Clause (1) expressly requires that any law referred to in Article 2 or Article 3 shall contain such provisions for the amendment of the First Schedule and the Fourth Schedule as may be necessary to give effect to the law.
- 17. (C) Clause (2) states that no such law shall be deemed to be an amendment of this Constitution for the purposes of Article 368, so it is not treated as an Article 368 amendment.
- 18. (B) Clause (1) permits such a law to contain supplemental, incidental and consequential provisions, explicitly including provisions as to representation in Parliament and the Legislature or Legislatures of the State or States affected.
- 19. (D) Clause (1) authorizes the law to contain such supplemental, incidental and consequential provisions as Parliament may deem necessary to give effect to the law; none of the other options are mentioned in the provision.
- 20. (A) Clause (2) explicitly states that no such law shall be deemed to be an amendment of the Constitution for the purposes of Article 368; it does not place them under Article 368 procedure or create the other effects listed.