State Formation in India

[UPSC Notes]
Formation of Indian States on Linguistic Grounds
Several attempts were made and rejected for the formation of States in India based on
linguistic grounds. Two distinct bodies were set up to evaluate the requirements for the
division of Indian states based on the languages by the folks.

Dhar Commission - Linguistic Provinces Commission

On June 17, 1948, the linguistic province’s commission was set by the constituent
assembly to look into the need to form states on a linguistic basis. S. K. Dhar, the judge
of Allahabad High court, was appointed as the head. On December 10, 1948, the
commission submitted a report. The commission rejected the idea of reorganization
based on language and suggested it be done based on administrative convenience,
including historical and geographical considerations.

JVP Committee
By December 1948, the JVP Committee was formed to re-examine the need for
reorganization of Indian states on a linguistic basis and study the recommendations of
Dhar Commision. The committee consisted of Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel, and
Pattabhi Sitaramayya. The committee submitted its report in April 1949, according to
which the plan of division based on language got rejected.

Linguistic Reorganisation of States

As the government dissolved the plan for the formation of states in India based on
linguistic division, there were protests in several regions of the country. The Kannada,
Malayalam, and Marathi-speaking people wanted their state. Over time the agitation got
intense.
The most vigorous protest came from that of the Telugu-speaking people from the
region, which was back then the Madras Presidency. During the 1952 general election
propaganda, the people of this region showed their disagreement with Nehru with black
flags and raised demand for a separate state of Andra for the Telugu-speaking people.
The hunger strike: By October, an individual named Potti Sriramalu, a veteran
Gandhian, went on a hunger strike seeking a separate state of Andra for the Telugu
speakers. The strike went on for 58 days. More people gathered for support, and there
were protests in various towns. Finally, on December 15, 1952, Potti Sriramalu faced
death due to a hunger strike. Unable to control the widespread protest, the government
was forced to accept their demand.
The state of Andhra Pradesh was formed on October 1, 1953. It was the first state to be
included on a Linguistic basis.

Formation of States Reorganization Commission

With the formation of the linguistic state of Andhra Pradesh, there were similar demands
for creating states based on language all over the country. By December 1953,
Jawaharlal Nehru formed the States Reorganization Commission (SRC) to study the
new demands. The commission consisted of Fazil Ali, H.N. Kunzru and K.M. Panikkar.
The commission submitted its report by 1955. Its main idea was to protect unity,
integrity, linguistic and cultural homogeneity, and financial, economic, and
administrative viability. Based on its report, it came up with a recommendation of
dividing the country into 16 states and three centrally administered areas.

States Reorganization Act, 1956

The government didn’t agree with the recommendation of the state reorganization
commission to divide the country into 14 states and six union territories under the States
Reorganization Act, 1956. According to this act, the boundaries of Indian states and
territories were organized on linguistic lines.
The states formed under States Reorganization Act were:
1. Andhra Pradesh
2. Assam
3. Bihar
4. Bombay
5. Jammu and Kashmir
6. Kerala
7. Madhya Pradesh
8. Madras
9. Mysore
10. Orissa
11. Punjab
12. Rajasthan
13. Uttar Pradesh
14. West Bengal
The union territories formed under States Reorganization Act were:
1. Andaman and Nicobar Islands
2. Delhi
3. Himachal Pradesh
4. Laccadive
5. Minicoy
6. Amindivi Islands
7. Manipur
8. Tripura

Formation of New States in India - Timeline

• In 1960, following the violence and agitation, the state of Bombay was divided to
form Gujarat and Maharashtra.
• In 1963, the state of Nagaland was created for the Nagas. It was meant to protect
their culture and ethnicity. However, the division was also done based on
geographical reasons.
• The regions under France and Portugal colonies, namely-Chandernagore, Mahe,
Yaman, Karaikal, Goa, Dam, and Diu, were either made to join with neighboring
states or union territories once they joined with India.
• Punjab reorganization act was passed in 1966. According to this, the state of
Punjabi-speaking areas was made Haryana, and the hilly regions joined with
Himachal Pradesh. In addition, Chandigarh was made to serve as the joint capital for
Punjab and Haryana.
• On December 18, 1970, the Himachal Pradesh state act was passed, and by
January 25, 1971, Himachal Pradesh became the 18 state of India.
th

• On January 21, 1972, Tripura, Meghalaya, and Manipur became states under the
North Eastern region reorganization act of 1971.
• On May 15, 1975, Sikkim acquired the status of state and became the 22 state of
nd

India.
• As per the statehood act of 1986, Mizoram became the 23 state on February 20,
rd

1987.
• In 1987, Arunachal Pradesh acquired the status of state.
• On May 30, 1987, Goa attained statehood.
• Under the Bihar reorganization act, Jharkhand was formed on November 15, 2000.
• The Madhya Pradesh reorganization act enabled the formation of Chhattisgarh on
November 1, 2000.
• By November 9, 2000, Uttaranchal became the 27 state of India.
th

• Telangana became the 29 Indian state on June 2, 2014, under the Andhra Pradesh
th

reorganization act.

Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act

Until 2019 Jammu and Kashmir exercised special powers under article 35A. It
empowered the state’s legislature to define permanent residents of the state and enable
them to exercise extraordinary powers and privileges. In addition, the state has its
constitution and separate land inheritance law.
On August 5, 2019, the Minister of Home Affairs, Amit Shah, introduced the Jammu and
Kashmir reorganization bill in the Rajya Sabha. As a result, article 370, including article
35A, got revoked. Further, the bill aimed at reorganizing the state of Jammu and
Kashmir into the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir (with assembly) and the union
territory of Ladakh (without assembly).
Jammu and Kashmir, after Article 370 of the Indian constitution is
revoked:
• No dual citizenship
• Central law can directly apply
• No separate laws
• Indian citizens from other states can buy land and property
• No two flags
• Election every five years
• The center can declare a financial emergency under article 360
• The center will manage police

Challenges in State Formation in India

Prime Minister Nehru and Deputy Prime Minister Vallabhbhai Patel were against
forming linguistic states.
It was evident that during the freedom struggle, the most influential parties of the time –
the Indian National Congress in 1920, had promised formation of provinces on a
linguistic basis right after independence. But later, the party’s ideas changed; they were
against the formation of the linguistic state.
The change in the decision was mainly due to the communal riots that broke out during
the post-colonial period. Freedom came along with partition, which caused lots of
bloodshed. The entire country is divided into two based on religion. There was forced
displacement, and many crimes were committed, killing millions of people.
This created distress in the minds of people. Nehru and Vallabhbhai Patel feared that
the linguistic formation of states would once again cause a division among people. They
perceived linguistic states as obstacles that would divide people. So they wanted to
promote the idea of nationalism to have everyone united and reject any place that would
bring about division.

Formation Dates of Indian States

Below mentioned is the complete list of formation of indian states after independence along with
the dates. Also, go through the States of India and their Capitals

Indian States
Formation of Formation Dates in
States in India Ascending Order Details

Punjab 1,947 Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966

 Originally known as the Ahom Kingdom was a part of the
Kamarupa Kingdom. It was reorganized as the North-East
Frontier Province in 1874, then Eastern Bengal and Assam
in 1905.
In 1912, Assam Province was formed before becoming a
Assam 1,950 state in 1950.
Originally was Bihar and Orissa Province. In 1936, Bihar
Bihar 1,950 Province was formed, leading to statehood in 1950.
Founded as Orissa Province in 1936, achieved statehood in
Odisha 1,950 1950, renamed Odisha on 1st November, 2011.

West Bengal 1950 Was a part of Bengal Province

In 1950, Himachal Pradesh was a Part C State and became a

Himachal state in 1971. Himachal Pradesh Union Territory was
Pradesh 1,971 formed in 1956 before statehood.

Rajasthan 30 March 1949 Was known as Rajputana agency - princely state

United Provinces of Agra and Oudh was created in 1937 and
Uttar Pradesh 24 January 1950 later UP State was formed in 1950.

Madhya Pradesh 1 November 1950 Achieved statehood in 1950

Andhra Pradesh was a part of Hyderabad and Andhra State.
Andhra Pradesh 1 November 1953 States Reorganisation Act, 1956 formed the new state.
Founded by the States Reorganisation Act, 1956 as Mysore
Karnataka 1 November 1956 State, renamed Karnataka in 1973

Kerala 1 November 1956 Founded by the States Reorganisation Act, 1956

Founded by the States Reorganisation Act, 1956 as Madras
Tamil Nadu 1 November 1956 State, renamed Tamil Nadu in 1969

Gujarat 1 May 1960 Bombay Reorganisation Act, 1960

Maharashtra 1 May 1960 Founded by the Bombay Reorganization Act, 1960.

Nagaland 1 December 1963 Founded by the State of Nagaland Act, 1962

Haryana 1 November 1966 Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966

Founded by the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act,
Manipur 21 January 1972 1971
Founded by the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act,
Meghalaya 21 January 1972 1971
Founded by the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act,
Tripura 21 January 1972 1971

Sikkim 16 May 1975 36th Amendment of the Constitution of India in 1975

North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971 created a

Arunachal UT and later was given a state status by State of Arunachal
Pradesh 20 February 1987 Pradesh Act, 1986
 Created as a Union Territory by the North-Eastern Areas
(Reorganisation) Act, 1971. Converted to a state by the State
Mizoram 20 February 1987 of Mizoram Act, 1986

Goa 30 May 1987 State of Goa Act, 1986

Chhattisgarh 1 November 2000 Madhya Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000

Founded by the Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000 as
Uttarakhand 9 November 2000 Uttaranchal, renamed Uttarakhand in 2007.
Bihar Reorganisation Act, 2000. Earlier, it was a part of
Jharkhand 15 November 2000 Bihar

Telangana 2 June 2014 Founded by the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014

Formation of Indian UTs

Go through the timeline for how union territories (UTs) in India were formed. Also, check Union
Territories of India and their capitals

Indian Union Territories Formation Dates of Foundation

Indian Union
Territories
Puducherry 1 November 1954 Achieved union territory status in 1962,
renamed Puducherry in 2007.
Andaman and Nicobar 1 November 1956 States Reorganisation Act, 1956.
Islands
Delhi 1 November 1956 States Reorganisation Act, 1956.
Lakshadweep 1 November 1956 States Reorganisation Act, 1956.
Chandigarh 1 November 1966 Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966.
Jammu and Kashmir 31 October 2019 Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act,
2019.
Ladakh 31 October 2019 Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act,
2019.
Dadra and Nagar Haveli 26 January 2020 Founded by the Dadra and Nagar Haveli and
and Daman and Diu Daman and Diu (Merger of Union Territories)
Act, 2019.