Question

Describe the process of reorganisation of States in India after independence.

Answer 1

The leaders of the newly independent India worked tirelessly to reorganize and construct states.

1. Initially, organising state boundaries based on language appeared detrimental to national peace. It was feared that it might spark state-level secession. However, state boundaries were eventually determined based on language, which was not a bad idea.
2. The State Reorganisation Commission was created in 1953 to redraw state boundaries.
3. The main suggestions of this commission were to arrange states based on language, with boundaries reflecting linguistic features.
4. The State Reorganisation Act, passed in 1956, established 14 states and six union territories.
5. These linguistic states promoted democratic practices.
6. The states did not adopt a separatist stance and acknowledged the regional status of the other/states.