---
title: "Article 1: India, That Is Bharat, Union of States"
description: "Article 1 names \"India, that is Bharat\" a Union of States, not a Federation—signalling indestructible national unity. Key UPSC GS2 polity provision explained."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/article-1-india-that-is-bharat"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- Article 1 of the Indian Constitution names the country "India, that is Bharat" and declares it a Union of States rather than a federation.
- Why does Article 1 use 'Union of States' instead of 'Federation'?
- Can Parliament change a State's name or boundaries under Article 1?
- Are 'India' and 'Bharat' legally equal names?
- Does Article 1 allow India to give away territory to another country?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

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## Timeline

1. 17 September 1949

   Clause (1) declares: "India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States." Clause (2) provides that the States and the territories thereof shall be as specifi…

2. 2 June 2014

   The bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh to create Telangana took effect on under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, enacted by Parliament under Article 3.

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Example

In August 2019, the Indian Parliament invoked Articles 1, 3 and 4 through the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act to convert the former State into two Union territories, demonstrating the Union's power to redraw State boundaries.

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