Article 3 and reorganisation of states MCQ - Practice Questions with Answers

Both statements are correct. Goa was liberated from Portuguese rule by the Indian Army Operation Vijay in December 1961 and constituted as the Union Territory of Goa Daman and Diu. It was elevated to full statehood on 30 May 1987 by the Constitution Fifty Sixth Amendment Act, becoming the twenty fifth State of the Indian Union.

Under Article 3 of the Constitution of India, Parliament may by law form new states and alter the areas, boundaries or names of existing states. The President has an important procedural role because the Bill is introduced only on the President's recommendation and the concerned state legislature is asked for its views, but the final legislative power rests with Parliament. A Governor cannot rename a state. A Cabinet Committee may advise within the executive, but it has no constitutional power to alter a state's name.

The States Reorganisation Act was passed in 1956 and came into force on 1 November 1956, reorganising Indian states mainly on linguistic lines. The year 1952 is too early and does not correspond to the passage of this Act. The year 1953 is associated with the creation of Andhra State and the setting up of the States Reorganisation Commission. The year 1955 is linked with the Commission’s report, not the Act itself. Therefore, 1956 is the year asked in the question.