Art. 2 Part I: Union and its Territory

Admission or Establishment of New States

Exact text — Constitution of India

Parliament may by law admit into the Union, or establish, new States on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit.

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

This Article gives Parliament power over two distinct situations: 'admitting' a new state means bringing in territory that wasn't previously part of India (relevant historically, e.g. for former princely states or territories like Goa and Sikkim), while 'establishing' means creating a wholly new state from scratch. Parliament can attach whatever terms and conditions it thinks appropriate.

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This Article (distinct from Article 3, which deals with reorganising EXISTING Indian territory) is the constitutional basis historically used when previously non-Indian territory became part of the Union — like Sikkim's 1975 merger, or the integration of former French and Portuguese territories.

Read alongside this one

Art. 3 — Formation of New States Art. 5 — Citizenship at the Commencement of the Constitution

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 2

What's the difference between Article 2 and Article 3?

Article 2 covers admitting new territory into India or establishing a genuinely new state where it didn't exist before; Article 3 covers reorganising India's EXISTING territory — splitting, merging, or renaming states that are already part of the Union.

← PreviousArticle 1: Name and Territory of the Union Next →Article 2A: (Repealed) Sikkim's Association With the Union

The text above reproduces Article 2 of the Constitution of India as amended to date, for general educational reference. It is public-domain legislative text, but we recommend cross-checking the authoritative version at legislative.gov.in or india.gov.in before relying on it for a legal matter. The explanation, examples and FAQs are general information, not legal advice — consult a qualified advocate for guidance on your specific situation.