The States and Union Territories (First Schedule)
Linked to Articles 1 and 4
Official Scope
"The official geographical inventory of India. It defines the names and territorial jurisdictions of all 28 States and 8 Union Territories."
Detailed Analysis
The First Schedule is the foundational list of India's components. It is divided into two parts: States and Union Territories. For every state, it specifies the name and the territorial extent. For UTs, it specifies the name and the extent of the territory. This schedule is the first thing that changes when India's map is redrawn, such as when a new state is created or a name is changed.
Historical Evolution
Originally contained 9 States in Part A, 8 in Part B, and 10 in Part C. Following the States Reorganisation Act (1956), it was simplified into States and Union Territories. Major recent updates include the creation of Telangana (2014) and the reorganization of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh (2019).
Constitutional Impact
Whenever a new state is created or a territory is changed, this schedule must be updated by Parliament through a simple majority (Article 4).
Simply Explained
This schedule is like the **'Official Map'** of India. It lists every single state and defines exactly where their borders start and end.