Given below are two statements, one is labeled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R)-

Assertion (A) - The President can recommend to the Parliament to change the the boundary of any state after seeking views of the concerned Legislature of that state on the subject within a specified period.

Reason (R) - It is not mandatory for the President to accept the proposal of the concerned State Legislature. 

Select the correct answer using the code given below-

The correct answer is Option 2.

Key Points

• The President of India has the power to recommend to the Parliament to change the boundary of any state.
• However, before making such a recommendation, the President is required to seek the views of the concerned Legislature of that state on the subject within a specified period. Hence Statement A is correct.
• While the President seeks the views of the concerned State Legislature, it is not mandatory for the President to accept their proposal. Hence, Statement R is correct.
• The President has the discretion to accept or reject the recommendation made by the State Legislature regarding the change in the boundary of a state.
• Both statements A and R are correct but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).

Additional Information

• By law, Parliament can form a new state by separating the territory from any state, by merging two or more states or parts of states. Parliament can also reduce or increase the area or alter the Boundary of any state or even change its name.
• The States Reorganisation Act, of 1956 was a major reform of the boundaries of India's states and territories, organizing them along linguistic lines.
• Article 3 of the Constitution of India dives and defines further and authorizes the Indian Parliament to form new states and alter the area, boundaries, or names of existing states by legislation.
• Article 3 
  • It deals with the formation of new States and the alteration of areas, boundaries, or names of existing States. In this regard, the Parliament may by law:
    • form a new state by separation of territory from any State or by uniting two or more States or parts of States or by uniting any territory to a part of any state.
    • Increase the area of any State.
    • Diminish the area of any State.
    • Alter the boundaries of any State.
    • Alter the name of any State