Laxmikanth Test: Special Provisions For Some States - UPSC MCQ

• The instrument of Accession Under Article 1 of the Indian Constitution, the State of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) is a constituent state of Indian Union, and its Territory forms a part of the territory of India. On the other hand, Article 370 in Part XXI of the Constitution grants special status to it. 

• Accordingly, all the provisions of the Constitution of India do not apply to it. It is also the only state in the Indian Union which has its own separate state Constitution - the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir.

• The two new UTs, Ladakh and J&K, officially came into existence on the 144th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (31st October 2019), who is credited for the merger of over 560 princely states into the Union of India. 

• With this, President's rule imposed in undivided Jammu and Kashmir in June 2018 stands revoked. The flag and constitution of Jammu and Kashmir, as well as the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC), cease to exist, with the Indian Penal Code (IPC) now extending to both UTs. 

• The Union Territory of J&K will have a 114-member elected Assembly and a Chief Minister whereas the Union territory of Ladakh will be controlled directly by the L-G (i.e., without an Assembly).

1. The Sikkim Legislative Assembly is to consist of not less than 30 members. 

2. One seat is allotted to Sikkim in the Lok Sabha and Sikkim forms one Parliamentary constituency.

1. The President is authorized to provide for the creation of a committee of the Manipur Legislative Assembly consisting of the members elected from the Hill Areas of the state 

2. The President can also direct that the Governor shall have a special responsibility to secure the proper functioning of that committee. 

3. The Governor should submit an annual report to the President regarding the administration of the Hill Areas. 

4. The Central Government can give directions to the State Government as to the administration of the Hill Areas.

Under Article 371-J, the President is empowered to provide that the Governor of Karnataka would have special responsibility for

1. The establishment of a separate development board for Hyderabad-Karnataka region

2. Making a provision that a report on the working of the board would be placed every year before the State Legislative Assembly

3. The equitable allocation of funds for developmental expenditure over the region

4. The reservation of seats in educational and vocational training institutions in the region for students who belong to the region 5. The reservation in state government posts in the region for persons who belong to the region.

1. The establishment of separate development boards for (i) Vidarbha, Marathwada and the rest of Maharashtra, (ii) Saurashtra, Kutch and the rest of Gujarat; 

2. Making a provision that a report on the working of these boards would be placed every year before the State Legislative Assembly; 

3. The equitable allocation of funds for developmental expenditure over the above-mentioned areas, and 

4. An equitable arrangement providing adequate facilities for technical education and vocational training and adequate employment opportunities in the state services in respect of the above-mentioned areas.