Which Indian state was the first to be carved out on the basis of language in the year 1956?

Correct option is A

The correct answer is (A) Andhra Pradesh.

Explanation:
Andhra Pradesh was the first Indian state to be carved out on a linguistic basis in 1953, not 1956. However, it played a key role in leading to the formation of other linguistic states under the States Reorganisation Act of 1956. Andhra Pradesh was formed for Telugu-speaking people, following widespread agitation and the martyrdom of Potti Sriramulu, who fasted to demand a separate state.

Information Booster:

• Andhra State was officially formed on 1 October 1953, from the Telugu-speaking areas of the then Madras Presidency.
• The States Reorganisation Act came into effect on 1 November 1956, reorganizing Indian states largely on linguistic lines.
• This led to the formation or reorganization of several states like Kerala (Malayalam), Karnataka (Kannada), and Maharashtra (Marathi).
• Potti Sriramulu's death after a 56-day hunger strike was a critical turning point in India's linguistic reorganization movement.

Additional Information:

• B (Punjab): Reorganized on linguistic lines much later, in 1966, forming Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.
• C (West Bengal): Already existed as a state post-partition and was not reorganized on linguistic grounds in 1956.
• D (Gujarat): Formed later in 1960 when Bombay State was divided into Gujarat (Gujarati-speaking) and Maharashtra (Marathi-speaking).