Evolution of States and Union Territories in India

Introduction

For now, in April 2023, we can see that India has 28 states and 8 Union territories. But, this number was not same as the previous dates till September 1955. Indian states have been gone through a complete evolution for becoming what they are now. That process is known as Evolution of States and Union Territories in India.

This evolution is not only important as per point of view of History, but also as per competitive examination of India. If you are also here to know more about Evolution of States and Union Territories in India, then please be with us till the end of this article.

So, let’s start-

Evolution of States and Union Territories in India

Before November 1956 [when, on Fazal Ali Commission recommendations, 14 states and 6 UT’s were created], there were 11 British provinces and 552 Princely states were situated in India.

During the British Raj (1858-1947), India was divided into provinces, princely states, and territories. Here is a list of the all British provinces and some important princely provinces of India:

British Provinces	Bombay Presidency.	Madras Presidency.	Bengal Presidency.
	United Provinces of Agra and Oudh.	Punjab Province.	North-West Frontier Province.
	Bihar and Orissa Province.	Assam Province.	Central Provinces and Berar.
	Hyderabad State.	Mysore State(added later in 1881).
Important Princely States	Kashmir and Jammu.	Mysore.	Baroda.
	Travancore.	Gwalior.	Indore.
	Hyderabad.	Bhopal.	Cochin.
	Rewa.	Patiala.	Kolhapur.
	Jaipur.	Jodhpur.	Udaipur.
	Nabha.	Pudukkottai.	Tonk.
	Dhar.	Dewas-Junior.	Dewas-Senior.
	Bastar.	Kutch.	Manipur.
	Tripura.	Bikaner.	Nizam of Hyderabad.
	Sarawak (in present-day Malaysia).

Although, in 1950, the Indian constitution contained the four-fold structure of all states in Indian Union and their numbers were 29. During the British rule, the Indian states were classified into these four categories:

Classification of Indian States in Part-A, B, C & D
Category	Name of States
Part-A	Madras Bombay Uttar Pradesh Bihar Central Provinces and Berar Assam Orissa Punjab Delhi
Part-B	Hyderabad Mysore Travancore-Cochin Madhya Bharat Vindhya Pradesh Patiala and East Punjab States Union Rajasthan Saurashtra
Part-C	Ajmer Bhopal Coorg Bilaspur Kutch Manipur Tripura Vindhya Pradesh
Part-D	Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindivi Islands. Delhi (Chief Commissioner's Province). Himachal Pradesh (formerly known as Union Territory of Himachal Pradesh) Chandigarh (Union Territory).

Integration of Princely States

With India Independence act 1947, there were two dominions of India and Pakistan was created and three options left to the princely states for it-

• Join the India.
• Join Pakistan.
• Remain Dependent

The numbers of princely states in India was 552 and out of them 549 join India with peace. Remaining three named as Hyderabad, Junagarh, and Kashmir refuses the offer to join India but ended with joining India by police action, referendum, & with Instrument of Access relatively.

Commissions for Reorganization of States

There were mainly two important commissions appointed by the Government of India in the 20th century to look into issues of regionalism and linguistic states.

• Dhar Commission
• Fazal Ali Commission

The numbers of princely states in India was 552 and out of them 549 join India with peace. Remaining three named as Hyderabad, Junagarh, and Kashmir refuses the offer to join India but ended with joining India by police action, referendum, & with Instrument of Access relatively.

Commissions for Reorganization of States

There were mainly two important commissions appointed by the Government of India in the 20th century to look into issues of regionalism and linguistic states.

• Dhar Commission
• Fazal Ali Commission

The Dhar Commission

The Dhar Commission, officially known as the Linguistic Provinces Commission, was appointed in 1947 by the Constituent Assembly of India to recommend the reorganization of India's provinces along linguistic lines. The commission was headed by S.K. Dhar, a civil servant, and included four other members.

The commission submitted its report in December 1948, recommending the creation of provinces on the basis of linguistic homogeneity. The recommendations were not immediately implemented, but they provided the basis for the reorganization of Indian states in the 1950s and 1960s.

Fazal Ali Commission

The Fazal Ali Commission, officially known as the States Reorganization Commission, was appointed in 1953 by the Government of India to look into issues of state reorganization. The commission was headed by Justice Fazal Ali, a former judge of the Supreme Court of India, and included two other members. The commission submitted its report in 1955, recommending the creation of states on the basis of linguistic and administrative factors.

The recommendations were largely implemented, and led to the creation of new states such as Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Gujarat, as well as the formation of the Union Territory of Delhi.

Territory of India in 1956

Here we have listed the territories of India in 1956:

States

UT's

Andhra Pradesh Assam Bihar Bombay (which included present-day Maharashtra and Gujarat) Jammu and Kashmir Kerala Madhya Pradesh (which included present-day Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh) Madras (which included present-day Tamil Nadu and parts of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Kerala) Mysore (which included present-day Karnataka and parts of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu) Orissa Punjab Rajasthan Uttar Pradesh West Bengal

Andaman and Nicobar Islands Delhi Himachal Pradesh Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindivi Islands (present-day Lakshadweep) Manipur Tripura

FAQ’s

Q1. When did the process of reorganizing Indian states begin?

Ans: The process of reorganizing Indian states began in 1947, after India gained independence from British colonial rule.

Q2. What was the main reason for reorganizing Indian states?

Ans: The main reason for reorganizing Indian states was to create linguistic and cultural homogeneity within state boundaries. This was seen as a way to promote greater unity and improve governance by bringing administration closer to the people.

Q3. What was the first major step towards state reorganization in India?

Ans: The first major step to the state reorganization in India was the appointment of the Linguistic Provinces Commission, also known as the Dhar Commission, in 1947. The commission recommended the creation of provinces on the basis of linguistic homogeneity.

Q4. Which commission recommended the creation of states on the basis of linguistic and administrative factors?

Ans: The States Reorganization Commission, also known as the Fazal Ali Commission, recommended the creation of states on the basis of linguistic and administrative factors in 1955.