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Union and Territories & Citizenship in India – Complete UPSC Polity Guide with Examples, Current Affairs & PYQ Analysis.

 

Introduction

Union and Territories and Citizenship are foundational chapters of Indian Polity. UPSC consistently asks questions from these areas because they explain India’s territorial structure and who legally belongs to the Indian State. Clear conceptual understanding here helps in Prelims MCQs, Mains answers, and Essay writing.

                         


Part I: Union and Territories of India (Articles 1–4)

Article 1: India as a “Union of States”

The Constitution describes India as a “Union of States”, not a federation of states.

Why “Union”?

  • States do not have the right to secede

  • The Union is indestructible

  • States are destructible and reorganizable

🔹 Daily-life example:
Even if a state assembly demands separation, it has no constitutional authority to do so.

Types of Territories in India

India consists of:

  • States

  • Union Territories (UTs)

🔹 Example:
Police and public order in Delhi are controlled by the Union Government, not the elected state government.

Article 3: Formation of New States

Parliament can:

  • Create new states

  • Merge states

  • Alter boundaries

  • Change names

✔ Requires simple majority, not constitutional amendment.

🔹 Example:
Telangana (2014) was created by reorganizing Andhra Pradesh under Article 3.

Part II: Citizenship in India (Articles 5–11)

What is Citizenship?

Citizenship defines the legal bond between an individual and the State.

Only citizens enjoy:

  • Fundamental Rights (Articles 15 & 16)

  • Political rights like voting and contesting elections

Citizenship at the Commencement of the Constitution

Articles 5–8 laid down criteria based on:

  • Domicile

  • Birth

  • Parentage

  • Migration from Pakistan

🔹 Example:
A person permanently residing in India in 1950 with Indian roots automatically became a citizen.

Citizenship Act, 1955

Provides for citizenship by:

  • Birth

  • Descent

  • Registration

  • Naturalization

  • Incorporation of territory

🔹 Example:
A foreign national residing in India for 12 years can apply for citizenship through naturalization.

Single Citizenship in India

India follows single citizenship, unlike countries like the USA.

🔹 Example:
A person from Rajasthan is not a separate state citizen, only an Indian citizen.

Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI)

OCI holders:

  • Cannot vote

  • Cannot hold constitutional posts

  • Can live and work in India long-term

Day-to-Day Examples for Better Understanding

  • Creation of Ladakh as a UT → Article 3

  • Issuance of Indian passport → Proof of citizenship

  • Foreign athlete representing India → Must acquire Indian citizenship

Current Affairs Linkage

  • Delhi Government vs LG powers dispute

  • Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) debates

  • Demand for statehood for Ladakh

UPSC often frames questions by combining static polity + current issues.

UPSC Exam Relevance

GS Papers

  • GS-II: Constitution, Polity, Governance

Prelims

  • Articles, constitutional terminology, factual clarity

Mains

  • Federalism

  • Citizenship issues

  • Centre–State relations

Essay

  • Unity and integrity of India

  • Citizenship and national identity

Optional Subjects

  • Political Science

  • Sociology

PYQ (Previous Year Questions) Analysis

Prelims 2016

Question: India is described as a “Union of States” because?
Tested: Nature of Indian federalism
Insight: Conceptual clarity over rote learning

Prelims 2020

Question: Which subjects are under Delhi Government’s control?
Tested: UTs with legislature
Insight: Static polity + current affairs linkage

Mains 2019

Question: Explain the constitutional provisions related to citizenship in India.
Tested: Articles 5–11 + Citizenship Act
Insight: Structured answers with examples score better


Indian Polity

│

├── Union & Territories

│   ├── States

│   ├── UTs with Legislature

│   └── UTs without Legislature

│

└── Citizenship

    ├── Articles 5–11

    ├── Citizenship Act, 1955

    ├── Single Citizenship

    └── OCI

Conclusion

Union and Territories and Citizenship explain India’s unity, territorial integrity, and constitutional identity. For UPSC, this topic demands conceptual clarity, constitutional articles, and current relevance rather than memorization.

Practice Questions

Prelims

  1. Which Article empowers Parliament to form new states?

  2. India follows which model of citizenship?

  3. Which UT has a legislature but limited police powers?

Mains

  1. Why is India described as a “Union of States” and not a federation?

  2. Discuss the constitutional and legal framework of citizenship in India.

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Location: India

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