Dhar Commission, also known as the Linguistic Provinces Commission was set up to provide recommendations regarding whether or not the states should be reorganized on a linguistic basis. The Dhar Commission was chaired by S.K.Dhar, to investigate the feasibility of organizing states on a linguistic basis and was established on June 17, 1948. Dhar Commission is important for studying the formation of Indian states and is an integral part of the UPSC General Studies Syllabus.

Historical Background

• There has been a call from various regions, particularly South India, for state reorganization based on linguistic criteria.
• As a result, in June 1948, the Government of India established the Linguistic Provinces Commission, chaired by S.K.Dhar, to investigate the feasibility of this.
• In December 1948, the commission issued its report.
• The recommendations submitted by the Dhar Commission created much resentment and led to the appointment of another Linguistic Provinces Committee by Congress in December 1948.
• This new committee consisted of Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel, and Pattabhi Sitaramayya and was popularly known as JVP Committee.

Dhar Commission – Recommendations

• It advocated for state reorganization based on administrative convenience rather than linguistic considerations.
• The Commission recommended the reorganization of States on the basis of the following criteria:
  • Geographical contiguity
  • Financial self-reliance
  • Administrative viability
  • Potential for development

Dhar Commission - Significance

• The Dhar Commission in its report came out strongly against the formation of provinces exclusively or even mainly along linguistic considerations.
• It emphasized that the country faced larger, more pressing national challenges.
• The Dhar Commission was echoing the strong opinions of every single key figure in the Constituent Assembly.

Conclusion

The Dhar Commission advised against the concept of linguistic provinces at that time as it might threaten national unity and would also be administratively inconvenient.

FAQs

MCQs

1. When was the Dhar Commission appointed?

A) 1946
B) 1947
C) 1948
D) 1949

2. Who headed the Dhar Commission?

A) Jawaharlal Nehru
B) S.K. Dhar
C) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
D) Pattabhi Sitaramayya

3. What was the main recommendation of the Dhar Commission regarding state reorganization?

A) Reorganize states on linguistic lines
B) Maintain the status quo
C) Reorganize states based on administrative convenience
D) Divide states based on population size

4. What was the JVP Committee’s stance on linguistic states?

A) Completely opposed linguistic states
B) Supported the creation of linguistic states in some cases
C) Supported the Dhar Commission's report
D) Favored the division of all states along linguistic lines

5. Which commission was formed to examine the reorganization of states after the Dhar Commission?

A) JVP Committee
B) Sarkaria Commission
C) Simon Commission
D) Rajamannar Commission

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Analyze the recommendations of the Dhar Commission and its significance in the context of the reorganization of states in post-independence India.

Answer: The Dhar Commission was appointed in 1948 to address the growing demand for the reorganization of Indian states based on linguistic lines. However, the commission’s recommendations emphasized administrative convenience and economic efficiency over linguistic considerations. It opposed the creation of linguistic states, fearing that such reorganization could encourage regionalism and compromise national unity. The Dhar Commission’s report was significant because it highlighted the challenges of reorganizing a newly independent and diverse country like India. Although its recommendations were rejected, the commission laid the groundwork for subsequent discussions on state reorganization, eventually leading to the formation of the JVP Committee and the States Reorganisation Commission in 1953.

Q2: Discuss the role of the Dhar Commission in shaping the debate on linguistic states in India.

Answer: The Dhar Commission played a pivotal role in shaping the early debate on the creation of linguistic states in post-independence India. While the commission opposed the idea of linguistic reorganization, it brought the issue to the forefront of national discourse. Its recommendation for reorganizing states based on administrative efficiency rather than language was a key point of contention, as many sections of the Indian public, particularly in southern India, were advocating for linguistic states. The rejection of the Dhar Commission’s recommendations eventually led to the formation of the JVP Committee and later the States Reorganisation Commission, which ultimately recommended the creation of linguistic states in 1956.

Q3: Evaluate the impact of the Dhar Commission’s report on the future reorganization of states in India.

Answer: The Dhar Commission’s report had a significant impact on the future reorganization of states in India, even though its recommendations were not fully implemented. The commission’s opposition to linguistic states delayed the immediate reorganization of states on linguistic lines, but it also sparked widespread public debate on the issue. The rejection of its report led to the formation of the JVP Committee, which acknowledged the possibility of linguistic states in certain cases. Ultimately, the States Reorganisation Commission in 1953 adopted a more balanced approach, leading to the creation of linguistic states in 1956. The Dhar Commission's legacy lies in its role in initiating a national conversation on state reorganization.

Previous Year Questions on Dhar Commission

1. UPSC CSE Mains 2018 (GS Paper 2)

Question: Examine the role of the Dhar Commission in the reorganization of Indian states and its relevance to the linguistic states’ debate.

Answer: The Dhar Commission was appointed in 1948 to examine the demand for linguistic states in post-independence India. The commission recommended reorganizing states based on administrative convenience rather than language, arguing that linguistic states could foster regionalism and undermine national unity. However, this stance was met with widespread criticism, particularly from regions like Madras and Bombay, where demands for linguistic states were strong. The Dhar Commission’s report set the stage for further discussions on the issue, leading to the formation of the JVP Committee and later the States Reorganisation Commission in 1953, which ultimately endorsed the creation of linguistic states.

2. UPSC CSE Mains 2019 (GS Paper 2)

Question: Discuss the significance of the Dhar Commission’s recommendations in the context of India’s state reorganization.

Answer: The Dhar Commission's recommendations were significant because they initiated the first formal discourse on the reorganization of states in independent India. While the commission recommended that administrative convenience and economic viability should be the primary criteria for reorganizing states, rather than language, its report was widely criticized for ignoring the strong linguistic sentiments prevalent in several regions. The rejection of the report led to the formation of the JVP Committee and ultimately paved the way for the creation of linguistic states through the States Reorganisation Commission (1953). The Dhar Commission's report highlighted the complexities of maintaining national unity while addressing regional aspirations, making it a crucial step in India's state reorganization process.

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