Article 3 - Formation of new States and alteration of areas, boundaries or names of existing States - Constitution of India

Article 3. Formation of new States and alteration of areas, boundaries or names of existing States.- 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: 1 [ Provided that no Bill for the purpose shall be introduced in either House of Parliament except on the recommendation of the President and unless, where the proposal contained in the Bill affects the area, boundaries or name of any of the States 2 [****] , the Bill has been referred by the President to the Legislature of that State for expressing its views thereon within such period as may be specified in the reference or within such further period as the President may allow and the period so specified or allowed has expired. ] 3 [Explanation I.- In this article, in clauses (a) to (e), State includes a Union territory, but in the proviso, State does not include a Union territory. Explanation II.- The power conferred on Parliament by clause (a) includes the power to form a new State or Union territory by uniting a part of any State or Union territory to any other State or Union territory. ] **************** NOTES:- 1 . Substituted vide Article 2 of the Constitution (5th Amendment) Act, 1955 dated 24-12-1955 w.e.f. 24-12-1955, before it was read as, Provided that no Bill for the purpose shall be introduced in either House of Parliament except on the recommendation of the President and unless, where the proposal contained in the Bill affects the boundaries of any State or States specified in Part A or Part B of the First Schedule or the name or names of any such State or States, the views of the Legislature of the State or, as the case may be, of each of the States both with respect to the proposal to introduce the Bill and with respect to the provisions thereof have been ascertained by the President. 2 . Omitted vide Article 29 of the Constitution (7th Amendment) Act, 1956 dated 19-10-1956 w.e.f. 01.11.1956, before it was read as; specified in Part A or Part B of the First Schedule 3 . Inserted vide Article 2 of the Constitution (Eighteenth Amendment) Act, 1966 dated 27-08-1966 w.e.f. 27-08-1966.