Why this matters now
Linguistic Reorganisation is tested for: Congress’s pre-1947 commitment to linguistic states (Nagpur 1920); post-Partition reluctance under Nehru-Patel; Dhar Commission June 1948 + JVP Committee December 1948 (Jawaharlal-Vallabhbhai-Pattabhi) recommending against; Potti Sriramulu fast at Madras began 19 October 1952; died 15 December 1952; Andhra State 1 October 1953 (1st linguistic state); Fazl Ali States Reorganisation Commission 22 December 1953 with K.M. Panikkar + H.N. Kunzru; States Reorganisation Act passed Aug 1956 in force 1 November 1956.
Background
The Indian National Congress committed to linguistic states at its Nagpur Session 1920 — Mahatma Gandhi as President; Pattabhi Sitaramayya drafted the resolution. The 21 Pradesh Congress Committees (PCCs) were already linguistically organised. However after Partition 1947, Nehru + Patel feared linguistic states would fan sub-national divisions and threaten national unity.
Three Commissions (1948-53)
| Commission | Date | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| S.K. Dhar Commission | June-Dec 1948 (former Allahabad HC judge) | Recommended state reorganisation based on administrative convenience + geographical contiguity + economic self-sufficiency — NOT primarily on language. |
| JVP Committee (Jawaharlal Nehru + Vallabhbhai Patel + Pattabhi Sitaramayya) | Dec 1948 - April 1949 | Endorsed Dhar Commission. Postponed linguistic reorganisation; permitted only if “public sentiment is insistent and overwhelming”. |
| Fazl Ali States Reorganisation Commission (SRC) | 22 Dec 1953 - Sept 1955 | Justice Fazl Ali (chair) + K.M. Panikkar + H.N. Kunzru. Recommended linguistic reorganisation with safeguards: 16 States + 3 UTs; recognized Hindi linguistic divisions but rejected division of Hindi belt. |
Trigger: Potti Sriramulu (1901-1952)
Potti Sriramulu, a Telugu Gandhian, began an indefinite fast at Madras on 19 October 1952 demanding a separate Andhra State for Telugu speakers (then part of Madras Presidency, where Tamil dominated). Madras CM Rajaji refused to negotiate. Sriramulu fasted for 58 days and died on the night of 15 December 1952 at Bulusu Sambamurthy’s home, Madras.
Massive riots erupted across Telugu districts. PM Nehru announced creation of a Telugu state on 19 December 1952. Andhra State was formed on 1 October 1953 from the Telugu-speaking districts of Madras (Madras + Rayalaseema, NOT yet Telangana). Kurnool was the temporary capital; T. Prakasam was 1st CM.
States Reorganisation Act 1 November 1956
Based on Fazl Ali SRC report, Parliament passed the States Reorganisation Act 1956 + the 7th Constitutional Amendment 1956 abolished the Part-A/B/C/D categories of States. Came into force 1 November 1956.
Outcome: 14 States + 6 Union Territories.
Key state formations:
- Kerala — from Travancore-Cochin + Malabar district of Madras (Malayalam).
- Karnataka (then Mysore) — from Mysore + Kannada-speaking districts of Madras, Hyderabad, Bombay.
- Andhra Pradesh — Andhra + Telugu-speaking Telangana districts of Hyderabad merged 1 Nov 1956.
- Madras (now Tamil Nadu 1969) — Tamil districts.
- Bombay state retained bilingual until 1960 when split into Maharashtra + Gujarat (Bombay Reorganisation Act 1 May 1960).
- Punjab retained until Punjab Reorganisation Act 1 November 1966 split into Punjab + Haryana + Himachal Pradesh + Chandigarh UT (Shah Commission 1966).
Subsequent reorganisations
- 1960: Maharashtra + Gujarat from Bombay State.
- 1962: Nagaland (16th state).
- 1966: Punjab + Haryana + Himachal + Chandigarh UT.
- 1969: Madras renamed Tamil Nadu.
- 1972: Meghalaya + Manipur + Tripura (full statehood).
- 1975: Sikkim (22nd state, 36th Amendment).
- 1987: Arunachal Pradesh + Mizoram + Goa.
- 2000: Chhattisgarh + Uttarakhand + Jharkhand (Vajpayee).
- 2014: Telangana (29th state, 2 June 2014).
- 2019: J&K + Ladakh UTs (Aug 2019, 5 Aug Abrogation of Art 370; J&K Reorganisation Act 9 Aug).
India today: 28 States + 8 Union Territories.
UPSC angle
Know LINGUISTIC REORGANISATION OF STATES — Congress committed at Nagpur 1920 (Gandhi Pres+Pattabhi Sitaramayya); 21 linguistically-organised PCCs; post-1947 Nehru-Patel reluctant; DHAR COMMISSION June-Dec 1948 (S.K. Dhar ex-Allahabad HC) recommended admin convenience+geographic+economic NOT language; JVP COMMITTEE Dec 1948-April 1949 (Jawaharlal+Vallabhbhai+Pattabhi) endorsed Dhar postponed linguistic; POTTI SRIRAMULU fast Madras began 19 Oct 1952, DIED 15 DECEMBER 1952 (58 days) at Bulusu Sambamurthy home; Nehru announced Telugu state 19 Dec 1952; ANDHRA STATE 1 OCTOBER 1953 (Madras+Rayalaseema, Kurnool capital, T. Prakasam 1st CM, NOT Telangana yet); FAZL ALI SRC 22 Dec 1953-Sept 1955 (Fazl Ali+K.M. Panikkar+H.N. Kunzru) recommended LINGUISTIC reorganisation 16 States+3 UTs rejected division of Hindi belt; STATES REORGANISATION ACT 1956 + 7TH CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 1956 abolished Part A/B/C/D, IN FORCE 1 NOVEMBER 1956 = 14 STATES + 6 UTs; KEY: Kerala (Travancore-Cochin+Malabar Malayalam), Karnataka/Mysore (Mysore+Kannada districts), AP (Andhra+Telangana from Hyderabad 1 Nov 1956), Madras (TN from 1969), Bombay retained until BOMBAY REORG ACT 1 MAY 1960 = Maharashtra+Gujarat; PUNJAB REORG ACT 1 NOV 1966 Shah Commission = Punjab+Haryana+Himachal+Chandigarh UT; SUBSEQUENT: Nagaland 1962 (16th), 1972 Meghalaya+Manipur+Tripura full state, SIKKIM 22nd state 1975 (36th Amend), 1987 Arunachal+Mizoram+Goa, 2000 Vajpayee Chhattisgarh+Uttarakhand+Jharkhand, TELANGANA 29TH STATE 2 JUNE 2014, J&K+Ladakh UTs 5+9 Aug 2019 (Art 370 abrogation); TODAY 28 STATES + 8 UTs.
Frequently asked questions
When was the States Reorganisation Act?
Passed in August 1956 and came into force on 1 November 1956 — created 14 States + 6 Union Territories on linguistic lines.
Who was Potti Sriramulu?
A Telugu Gandhian whose 58-day fast (19 October - 15 December 1952) demanding a separate Andhra State triggered the wave of linguistic reorganisation.
What were the Dhar + JVP Committees?
Dhar Commission (1948) and JVP Committee (1948-49, Nehru + Patel + Pattabhi) both recommended POSTPONING linguistic reorganisation — preferring administrative criteria.
How many States does India have today?
28 States + 8 Union Territories — after the Telangana creation 2 June 2014 and the J&K + Ladakh UT reorganisation on 5 + 9 August 2019.