Arrange the following states as per their year of formation in chronological order:

A. Manipur
B. Sikkim
C. Telangana
D. Jharkhand
E. Arunachal Pradesh

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Correct option is C

The chronological order of the formation of the states is as follows:

1. Manipur: Became a full-fledged state on January 21, 1972. Prior to that, it was a Union Territory.

2. Sikkim: Sikkim was formally merged into India and became the 22nd state on May 16, 1975.

3. Arunachal Pradesh: Arunachal Pradesh became a state on February 20, 1987. It was earlier a Union Territory.

4. Jharkhand: Jharkhand was formed on November 15, 2000, by bifurcating Bihar.

5. Telangana: The most recent state, Telangana, was created on June 2, 2014, after separating from Andhra Pradesh.

   Thus , Option C is the correct chronological order of state formation A (Manipur), B (Sikkim), E (Arunachal Pradesh), D (Jharkhand), C (Telangana).

Information Booster :

The State Reorganisation Committees were established to reorganize the boundaries and structure of Indian states to reflect linguistic, cultural, and administrative realities, as well as to meet the aspirations of various regional communities. The primary goal was to create a more rational and cohesive federal structure for India following its independence. Below is a brief overview of the key committees responsible for state reorganisation in India:

1. The States Reorganization Commission (1953)

The most significant and influential committee for state reorganization in India was the States Reorganization Commission (SRC), which was set up in 1953 under the chairmanship of Fazal Ali. The SRC was tasked with recommending the reorganization of states on a linguistic basis, as it became clear that language was a key factor in the political and cultural identity of the people.

Key Features of the SRC:

• The SRC recommended the reorganization of states based on linguistic considerations.

• It recommended the formation of new states and the redrawing of boundaries to accommodate linguistic groups.

• It recommended the formation of Andhra Pradesh (as the first linguistic state) by merging the Andhra region with the Telugu-speaking areas of the Hyderabad state.

• The SRC's report led to the States Reorganization Act of 1956, which reorganized India into 14 states and 6 Union Territories.

2. The Dhar Commission (1948)

Before the States Reorganization Commission, the Dhar Commission was appointed in 1948 to recommend the reorganization of states in the context of regional diversity. The commission recommended the formation of a unified Punjab and also considered the integration of princely states with existing provinces.

Key Findings of the Dhar Commission:

• It proposed the creation of provinces that could meet the needs of linguistic and cultural groups, but its recommendations were less in-depth compared to the SRC's comprehensive review.

3. The Fazal Ali Commission (1953)

The Fazal Ali Commission was the same commission as the States Reorganization Commission itself, which had Fazal Ali as its head. This commission was a follow-up to the earlier efforts, consolidating the various recommendations into a more systematic and detailed approach for creating new states based on linguistic and regional considerations.

4. The B. N. Srikrishna Committee (2010)

This was a more recent committee formed to address the issue of the creation of Telangana from the state of Andhra Pradesh. The Srikrishna Committee was tasked with studying the demands for the creation of new states, specifically Telangana, and to propose a solution to the ongoing political and social tensions.

Key Findings of the Srikrishna Committee:

• The committee reviewed multiple options for the reorganization of Andhra Pradesh but suggested a package of recommendations for the development of Telangana, including enhanced autonomy.

• The committee’s report led to the eventual creation of the state of Telangana in 2014.

Key Aspects of State Reorganisation in India:

• Linguistic Basis: Most of the reorganization of states post-independence was done on the basis of language, which had a major cultural and emotional appeal for different groups.

• Cultural and Historical Factors: The creation of states also considered the historical, cultural, and economic factors to ensure that states could function effectively and harmoniously.

• Political Integration: Several princely states were integrated into India during the post-independence period, and this also involved reorganizing administrative divisions to make governance more efficient.