Why this matters now
The 7th Amendment is the single most consequential reorganisation of India’s federation. It implemented the Fazl Ali Commission’s report and ended the Princely-States-derived A/B/C/D classification inherited from the 1950 Constitution.
Background: Fazl Ali Commission (1953-55)
Following the death of Potti Sriramulu (15 Dec 1952) after a 58-day fast for a separate Andhra State, the Government created Andhra by the Andhra State Act 1953 and then appointed the States Reorganisation Commission (SRC) under Justice Fazl Ali (with K.M. Panikkar and H.N. Kunzru) on 22 Dec 1953. The SRC reported on 30 Sept 1955 recommending reorganisation on broadly linguistic lines.
Key changes
- Abolished the Part A/B/C/D classification (Part A = ex-Provinces; Part B = ex-Princely States; Part C = Chief Commissioner’s Provinces; Part D = Andaman & Nicobar).
- Created 14 states: Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Bombay (later bifurcated), J&K, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Madras (later Tamil Nadu), Mysore (later Karnataka), Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, UP, West Bengal.
- Created 6 Union Territories: Andaman & Nicobar, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Laccadive Minicoy & Amindivi (Lakshadweep), Manipur, Tripura.
- Reorganised Article 1, the First Schedule, and the Fourth Schedule (Council of States seat allocation).
- Reorganised the High Court jurisdictions via Article 230 amendments.
After 1956: further changes
The 7th Amendment did NOT end linguistic agitation. Subsequent splits: Maharashtra & Gujarat from Bombay (1960), Nagaland (1963), Punjab & Haryana split (1966), Himachal Pradesh full statehood (1971), North-East states (1972), Sikkim (1975), Mizoram & Arunachal (1987), Goa (1987), Chhattisgarh/Jharkhand/Uttarakhand (2000), Telangana (2014), J&K bifurcated into J&K + Ladakh UTs (2019).
UPSC angle
Know 7th Amendment 1956 — implemented SRC (Fazl Ali + Panikkar + Kunzru) report (Sept 1955) and States Reorganisation Act 1956 (effective 1 Nov 1956), abolished Part A/B/C/D classification, created 14 states + 6 UTs on linguistic lines; trigger = Potti Sriramulu fast/death for separate Andhra State (15 Dec 1952).
Frequently asked questions
What did the 7th Amendment do?
It implemented the States Reorganisation Act 1956, abolished the Part A/B/C/D state classification, and created 14 states and 6 Union Territories.
Who chaired the States Reorganisation Commission?
Justice Fazl Ali, with K.M. Panikkar and H.N. Kunzru as members.
What triggered the reorganisation?
The death of Potti Sriramulu after a 58-day fast for a separate Andhra State in December 1952.
When did the 7th Amendment come into force?
1 November 1956 — observed as the foundation day of several states.