---
title: "State of West Bengal v. Union of India (1963) — Definition"
description: "State of West Bengal v. Union of India (1963) is a key Supreme Court ruling that clarifies India's constitutional structure, crucial for UPSC GS2 aspirants."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/state-of-west-bengal-v-union-of-india-1963"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- State of West Bengal v.
- Union of India (1963) is a Supreme Court of India judgment holding that the Indian Constitution is not truly federal and that the states possess no sovereignty.
- What did the Supreme Court actually decide in State of West Bengal v. Union of India?
- How does this case relate to S. R. Bommai v. Union of India (1994)?
- Why is this case important for UPSC and constitutional law?

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

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In 2019 the Union Parliament reorganised the State of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories without binding state consent, exercising the Article 3 power whose breadth the 1963 judgment cited as proof that Indian states are not sovereign.

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