The Reorganization of Indian States since Independence

The reorganization of Indian states since independence has been a complex and ongoing process. The first major reorganization took place in 1956 when the States Reorganization Act was passed. This act reorganized the states along linguistic lines, creating 14 states and 6 union territories.

Historical background

Before India achieved independence in 1947, it was a mix of political units, including British provinces and princely states. The British provinces were directly administered by the British government, while the princely states were ruled by inherited Indian rulers but were subject to the British Crown's supremacy.

After independence in 1947, India inherited a patchwork of princely states and British provinces, which were divided into 27 states and 9 union territories. These boundaries were largely based on historical and political considerations and did not take into account the linguistic diversity of the country. As a result, there was a growing demand for the reorganization of states along linguistic lines. This demand was fuelled by the rise of regional political parties, who argued that linguistic states would be more responsive to the needs of the people.

Figure: Evolution of India's Map since Indepencece in 1947 (Source: Mint)

In 1953, the government of India appointed the States Reorganisation Commission (SRC) to look into the matter. The SRC submitted its report in 1955, recommending that the states be reorganized into 16 states and 3 union territories, based on linguistic, economic, and administrative considerations. The government accepted the SRC's recommendations, and the States Reorganisation Act was passed in 1956. This act created 14 states and 6 union territories and marked the first major reorganization of Indian states.

Why needed the reorganization of states?

Here are some of the key reasons for the reorganization of Indian states:

•         To promote linguistic homogeneity and cultural unity
•         To improve administrative efficiency and facilitate the development
•         To address regional imbalances and ensure equitable distribution of resources
•         To accommodate the demands of regional political parties

Reorganization of States Category

The reorganization of states was a complex and challenging task due to the extreme physical, social, economic, cultural, political, and administrative diversities in India. After India gained independence, it adopted a temporary system of interim federalism, which demarcated four types of states:

When India gets independence in 1947, the princely states were not automatically integrated into the Indian Union. Instead, they were given the option to join India, Pakistan, or remain independent. The majority of princely states chose to join India, but the integration process was not always smooth.

State Reorganization Commissions

The State Reorganization Commissions of India are a series of commissions that have been appointed by the government of India to recommend the reorganization of state boundaries. The first commission was appointed in 1953, and the most recent commission was appointed in 2014.

The commissions have been tasked with considering a variety of factors, including linguistic, economic, and administrative considerations. They have also been asked to balance the demands of different regions and to promote national unity.

Here is a list of the State Reorganization Commissions of India:

1.      State Reorganization Commission (First): Appointed in 1953, headed by Justice Fazal Ali.
2.      States Reorganization Commission (Second): Appointed in 1967, headed by Justice K.S. Hegde.
3.      State Reorganization Commission (Third): Appointed in 2014, headed by Justice A.P. Shah.

States Reorganisation Act 1956

The States Reorganisation Act, 1956 headed by Justice Fazal Ali (Fazl Ali Commission) was an act of the Parliament of India that reorganized the states of India along linguistic lines. The act was passed on 31 August 1956, and it came into effect on 1 November 1956.

The act created 14 states and 6 union territories. The states with some important facts were as follows.

STATES	SEQUENCE AND FACTS
Andhra Pradesh	The State of Andhra Pradesh was created in 1953 by carving out 11 districts from Madras State. The new state was named after the Telugu-speaking region of Andhra, which had been demanding statehood for many years.
Gujarat and Maharashtra	The Bombay State was a complex and diverse region, with a population that spoke a variety of languages, including Marathi, Gujarati, and Konkani. The demands for linguistic reorganization in the Bombay State had been growing for many years, and the Bombay (Reorganization) Act, of 1960 was a landmark piece of legislation that finally addressed these demands.
Kerala	The State of Kerala was created in 1956 by the State Reorganization Act, which merged the princely states of Travancore and Cochin. The new state was named after the Malayalam-speaking region of Kerala, which had been demanding statehood for many years.
Karnataka	The State of Karnataka was created in 1956 by the State Reorganization Act, which merged the princely state of Mysore with the Kannada-speaking regions of the Bombay State and the Madras State. The new state was named after the Kannada language, which is spoken by the majority of the state's population.
Dadra and Nagar Haveli	The Indian territory of Goa was ruled by the Portuguese for over 450 years. In 1954, the Indian Army liberated Goa from Portuguese rule, and the territory was placed under the administration of an Indian administrator. In 1961, the 10th Constitutional Amendment Act was passed, which made Goa a union territory of India.
Pondicherry Now called Puducherry	The Union Territory of Puducherry is a unique region in India, as it was once ruled by the French for over 300 years. In 1954, the French government agreed to hand over the territory to India, and it was initially administered as an "acquired territory." However, in 1962, the 14th Constitutional Amendment Act was passed, which made Puducherry a union territory of India.
Nagaland	The State of Nagaland Act of 1962 was a landmark piece of legislation that separated the Naga Hills district from the State of Assam and created the new state of Nagaland. The act was passed in response to the growing demands of the Naga people for self-determination. The Naga Hills district had been a part of Assam since the British colonial period.
Haryana	The State of Punjab was bifurcated in 1966 to create two new entities: the 17th state of India, Haryana, and the union territory of Chandigarh. The bifurcation was a result of the growing demands of the Hindi-speaking people of Punjab for a separate state.
Himachal Pradesh	The Union Territories of Himachal Pradesh were elevated to the status of a state on 1 November 1970, with the enactment of the State of Himachal Pradesh Act, 1970. The act was passed in response to the growing demands of the people of Himachal Pradesh for statehood. Here are some additional details about the elevation of Himachal Pradesh to the status of a state: The State of Himachal Pradesh Act, 1970 was passed by the Parliament of India on 24 November 1970. The act merged the former union territories of Himachal Pradesh and Bilaspur. The first chief minister of Himachal Pradesh was Yashwant Singh Parmar.
Meghalaya	The State of Meghalaya was created in two stages. In 1969, the 23rd Constitutional Amendment Act created a "State within the State" of Assam, with its own legislature and chief minister. This was done to address the demands of the Khasi, Jaintia, and Garo people for greater autonomy. Here are some additional details about the creation of the state of Meghalaya: The 23rd Constitutional Amendment Act was passed by the Parliament of India on 18 December 1969. The North-Eastern Areas (Reorganization) Act was passed by the Parliament of India on 21 December 1971. The first chief minister of Meghalaya was B.S. Lyngdoh.
Manipur and Tripura	Both the states of Manipur and Tripura were elevated from the status of union territories to that of full-fledged states by the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganization) Act of 1971. Here are some additional details about the elevation of Manipur and Tripura to the status of states: The North-Eastern Areas (Reorganization) Act, 1971 was passed by the Parliament of India on 21 December 1971. The act merged the former union territories of Manipur and Tripura. The first chief minister of Manipur was Yangmasuren Singh. The first chief minister of Tripura was Dasarath Deb.
Sikkim	Sikkim was first granted the status of an “Associate State” by the 35th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1974. This was a significant step in the state’s journey towards full statehood, as it gave Sikkim a greater degree of autonomy and representation in the Indian Parliament. Here are some additional details about the granting of full statehood to Sikkim: The 35th Constitutional Amendment Act was passed by the Parliament of India on 10 May 1974. The 36th Constitutional Amendment Act was passed by the Parliament of India on 20 April 1975. The first chief minister of Sikkim was Lhendup Dorji.
Mizoram	Mizoram was a union territory until 1986, when it was granted full statehood by the State of Mizoram Act, 1986. This was done in recognition of the Mizo people's long struggle for self-determination, and it was also a response to the signing of the Mizoram Peace Accord, which brought an end to the Mizo National Front's insurgency. Here are some additional details about the granting of statehood to Mizoram: The State of Mizoram Act, 1986 was passed by the Parliament of India on 20 December 1986. The first chief minister of Mizoram was Lal Thanhawla. Mizoram is the 23rd state of India.
Arunachal Pradesh	Arunachal Pradesh was a union territory until 1986, when it was granted full statehood by the State of Arunachal Pradesh Act, 1986. This was done in recognition of the state's unique culture and history, and it was also a response to the demands of the people for greater autonomy. Here are some additional details about the granting of statehood to Arunachal Pradesh: The State of Arunachal Pradesh Act, 1986 was passed by the Parliament of India on 20 December 1986. The first chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh was Gegong Apang. Arunachal Pradesh is the 24th state of India.

Here is a complete timeline of the reorganization of states in India:

        1947: India gains independence from British rule. The country is divided into two dominions: India and Pakistan.
         1949: The princely states of India are integrated into the Indian Union.
        1953: The States Reorganization Commission (SRC) is appointed by the government of India to recommend the reorganization of state boundaries.
        1955: The SRC submits its report, recommending the reorganization of states along linguistic lines.
        1956: The States Reorganization Act, of 1956 is passed by the Parliament of India. The act creates 14 states and 6 union territories.
        1960: The Bombay State is divided into two states, Maharashtra and Gujarat.
        1963: The North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA) is reorganized into the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Mizoram.
        1971: The Union Territory of Sikkim is granted statehood.
        1975: The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are reorganized into a union territory.
        1987: The Union Territory of Chandigarh is created.
        1992: The state of Uttar Pradesh is divided into the states of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
        2000: The states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand are created.
        2014: The state of Telangana is created.

Conclusion

The reorganization of Indian states has had a significant impact on the country's political, economic, and social landscape. It has helped to promote national unity and to create a more equitable society. However, it has also led to some challenges, such as increased regionalism and separatism.

Overall, the reorganization of Indian states has been a positive step for the country. It has helped to improve the efficiency of government and to promote regional development. However, there are still some challenges that need to be addressed, such as the need to promote greater national unity and to address regional imbalances.