Under the Constitution of India, which Schedule must be amended to create or form a new State?

Introduction / Context:
This question tests your knowledge of the structure of the Constitution of India, specifically the Schedules. It focuses on the Schedule that deals with the names, territories and formation of States and Union Territories. Such questions are common in exams on Indian polity because they check whether you have a clear mental map of what each Schedule in the Constitution contains.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• The context is the Constitution of India and its Schedules.
• The task is to identify which Schedule must be amended when a new State is created or territorial changes are made.
• We assume that the question refers to the standard arrangement of Schedules as found in the original Constitution and subsequent amendments.

Concept / Approach:
The First Schedule of the Constitution of India contains the list of States and Union Territories along with details of their territories. Whenever a new State is created, merged or renamed, or when territorial boundaries are altered, the relevant entries in the First Schedule must be amended through a constitutional amendment or a reorganisation act. The other Schedules deal with different matters: the Second Schedule relates to emoluments and allowances of high officials, the Third Schedule to oaths and affirmations, and the Fourth Schedule to allocation of seats in the Rajya Sabha. Therefore, only the First Schedule is directly linked with the creation or alteration of States.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall what each relevant Schedule contains, especially the First and Second Schedules.Step 2: Identify that the list of States and Union Territories, including their territorial descriptions, is provided in the First Schedule.Step 3: Understand that creating a new State or changing boundaries requires changing that list, so the First Schedule must be amended.Step 4: Conclude that option D, referring to the 1st Schedule, is the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Another way to verify is to remember landmark reorganisation events such as the States Reorganisation Act, the creation of Telangana or earlier formation of linguistic States. In every such case, the constitutional changes involved amendments to the First Schedule because it is the official list of States. This confirms that the First Schedule is the one directly linked with formation of new States.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A: The 4th Schedule deals with allocation of seats to States and Union Territories in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha), not the formal creation of States.Option B: The 3rd Schedule contains forms of oaths and affirmations for various constitutional offices and has no role in creating States.Option C: The 2nd Schedule deals with salaries, allowances and privileges of high constitutional functionaries, not with the list of States.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates often mix up the First and Fourth Schedules because both are associated with States. The key difference is that the First Schedule lists the States and territories, whereas the Fourth Schedule lists how many Council of States seats each gets. Keeping a simple mental table of each Schedule and revising it regularly will help to avoid such confusion in competitive examinations.

Final Answer:
Correct answer: 1st Schedule