B. Reorganisation Of States: Background, Rationale, Debate
The Reorganisation of States in India was an important reform that took place after the country gained independence. It was marked by the State Reorganisation Act of 1956 which was a response to a major reform of state boundaries along linguistic lines. This act followed the Linguistic Provinces Commission (Dhar Commission), which had earlier rejected language as a basis for dividing states. However, public demands, particularly in South India, led to the appointment of the States Reorganisation Commission in 1953. The Act, enacted on 31 August 1956, created new states like Andhra Pradesh, Bombay, Kerala, and others.
The State Reorganisation Act of 1956 was a pivotal moment in India’s history, but it didn’t signal the end of the reorganisation process. Later, several new states and Union Territories were established to accommodate regional identities and administrative requirements