Constitution of IndiaPart I

Article 3

Formation of New States and Alteration of Areas, Boundaries or Names of Existing States

new statesreorganisationbifurcationTelanganaboundaries

Plain English Explanation

Article 3 gives Parliament the power to reorganise states — create new states, merge states, increase or decrease state areas, and rename states. Before introducing such a bill, the President must refer it to the concerned state legislature for its views (but Parliament is not bound by those views). This is how states like Telangana (2014), Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand (2000) were created.

Legal Text

The Constitution of India · Article 3

Parliament may by law— (a) 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; (b) increase the area of any State; (c) diminish the area of any State; (d) alter the boundaries of any State; (e) alter the name of any State.