Which of the following statements with regard to the creation of a new state or alteration of boundaries of states is/are correct ? 1. An amendment has to be moved in the Parliament under Article 368 of the Constitution of India. 2. Ratification by one half of the states is necessary after the amendment is made by the Parliament. 3. The legislation can be passed by a simple majority of both Houses of Parliament. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

The correct answer is C, 3 only. A new state is created, or a state's boundaries changed, by an ordinary law of Parliament under Article 3, passed by a simple majority.

Article 3 lets Parliament form a new state, change the area, boundaries or name of any state. The bill can be introduced only on the President's recommendation, and the President must first refer it to the legislature of the state concerned for its views within a set time, but Parliament is not bound by those views. Article 4 says such a law is not an amendment of the Constitution for the purposes of Article 368, even though it changes the First and Fourth Schedules. That is how states such as Telangana (2014) were created.

A is wrong because no Article 368 amendment is needed. B is wrong because ratification by half the states applies only to certain federal amendments under Article 368, not to an Article 3 law. D is wrong because it includes statement 2.

Exam tip: New states = Article 3, simple majority, President's recommendation, state's views not binding; Article 4 says it is not an Article 368 amendment.