The formation of new states and UTs in India involves a constitutional process that can be initiated by the central government, as per the provisions laid out in Article 3 of the Indian Constitution. It allows for the alteration of boundaries, the formation of new states, or the bifurcation of existing ones. The process includes:
Proposal by the President: The President can propose the creation or alteration of states after consulting the state legislature(s) concerned.
Parliamentary Approval: The proposal is then presented before Parliament, which must pass a bill to approve the formation of a new state or union territory. This bill requires a simple majority for approval.
Considerations: Factors such as administrative feasibility, socio-cultural concerns, and economic viability are considered during the decision-making process.
Notable examples include the formation of Telangana in 2014 and the reorganization of Jammu & Kashmir in 2019.