The political and administrative reorganization of states in India has evolved continuously since the mid-nineteenth century, reflecting the nation’s changing socio-political landscape.

Q.11 The political and administrative reorganisation of states and territories has been a continuous ongoing process since the mid-nineteenth century. Discuss with examples.

Model Answer:

Introduction

The political and administrative reorganisation of states and territories has indeed been a continuous process in India since the mid-nineteenth century. This process has been driven by various factors including linguistic, cultural, ethnic, and economic considerations.

Body

British Colonial Era (Mid-19th century to 1947)- During this period, the British made several administrative changes

  • 1858: The Government of India Act transferred power from the East India Company to the British Crown.
  • 1861: Indian Councils Act introduced legislative councils in the provinces.
  • 1935: Government of India Act provided for provincial autonomy and the concept of federation.

Post-Independence Period (1947-1956) - After gaining independence, India faced the challenge of integrating numerous princely states

  • 1948-1949: Integration of princely states into the Indian Union.
  • 1950: Adoption of the Constitution, which provided for a federal structure with a strong centre.
  • 1953: Creation of Andhra State, the first linguistic state, carved out from Madras State for Telugu-speaking people.

Several new states were created in the following decades:

  • 1960: Bombay State split into Maharashtra and Gujarat.
  • 1963: Nagaland carved out of Assam.
  • 1966: Haryana and Himachal Pradesh created Punjab.
  • 1971: Manipur, Tripura, and Meghalaya became full-fledged states.
  • 1975: Sikkim joined the Indian Union as a state.

Recent Reorganisations

The process of creating new states has continued into the 21st century

  • 2000: Creation of Chhattisgarh (from Madhya Pradesh), Uttarakhand (from Uttar Pradesh), and Jharkhand (from Bihar).
  • 2014: Formation of Telangana by bifurcating Andhra Pradesh.

Changes have also occurred in the status of Union Territories

  • 1962: Goa, Daman, and Diu became a Union Territory after liberation from Portuguese rule.
  • 1975: Sikkim's status changed from a protectorate to a state.
  • 2019: Jammu and Kashmir reorganised into two Union Territories - Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
  • 2020: Daman and Diu merged with Dadra and Nagar Haveli to form a single Union Territory.

Conclusion

This ongoing process of reorganisation reflects India's diverse and evolving socio-political landscape. It demonstrates the country's efforts to balance regional aspirations with national unity, and to create more effective administrative units. The process has helped in addressing linguistic and cultural demands, but has also sometimes led to new challenges in terms of resource allocation and inter-state disputes.

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