First Schedule
Topic: Federalism and Centre-State Relations · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 7 "Federalism"
Meaning
The First Schedule of the Constitution lists the names and territories of India's states and Union territories. Parliament changes it by passing laws under Article 2 (admitting new states) or Article 3 (forming states and changing their areas, boundaries or names). Article 4 says these changes are not amendments under Article 368, so a simple majority is enough. The exception is giving Indian territory to another country. That needs a proper constitutional amendment (In re Berubari, 1960).
Example
When Telangana was carved out of Andhra Pradesh in 2014, the First Schedule was updated to list it as a new state. India now has 28 states and 8 Union territories.
Don't confuse with
- Seventh Schedule: it divides law-making subjects among the Union, State and Concurrent Lists. It does not list territories.
Related concepts
- Formation of new states
- Admission of new states
- Indestructible Union of destructible states
- Land Boundary Agreement
- Linguistic federalism