Matching Indian State Creation Years with States

This question asks us to match specific years with the creation or significant reorganisation of certain Indian states. Understanding the historical timeline of state formation in India is important for this type of question.

We are given two lists:

• List I: Years (1966, 1963, 1972, 1987)
• List II: Creation of new states (Nagaland, Mizoram, Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya)

Let's examine the history of the states mentioned:

• Nagaland: Achieved statehood in 1963.
• Mizoram: Became a full state in 1987.
• Himachal Pradesh: Became a Union Territory in 1956. In 1966, following the Punjab Reorganisation Act, areas from Punjab were transferred to Himachal Pradesh, increasing its size. It became a full state in 1971. The year 1966 is associated with a significant change in its territory and status as a Union Territory.
• Meghalaya: Was created as an autonomous state within Assam in 1970 and became a full state in 1972.

Now, let's match the years from List I with the events in List II based on this information:

• A. 1966: This year is linked to the reorganisation that significantly affected Himachal Pradesh (III).
• B. 1963: This is the year Nagaland (I) was created as a state.
• C. 1972: This is the year Meghalaya (IV) attained full statehood.
• D. 1987: This is the year Mizoram (II) was granted statehood.

Based on these historical facts, the correct matching is:

• A matches with III (1966 - Himachal Pradesh)
• B matches with I (1963 - Nagaland)
• C matches with IV (1972 - Meghalaya)
• D matches with II (1987 - Mizoram)

This gives us the combination A-III, B-I, C-IV, D-II.

We can summarize the matching in a table:

Therefore, the correct matching option is A-III, B-I, C-IV, D-II.

Revision Table: Key Years in Indian State Formation

Additional Information on Indian State Reorganisation

The process of reorganising states in India has been ongoing since independence. Initially, states were largely based on historical administrative divisions from the British era. The demand for linguistic states led to the formation of the States Reorganisation Commission in 1953, which recommended the redrawing of state boundaries based primarily on language.

Key aspects of state reorganisation:

• The States Reorganisation Act, 1956, was a major step, leading to the creation of 14 states and 6 union territories based on linguistic lines.
• Further reorganisation occurred over the decades due to various demands, including linguistic, ethnic, and regional considerations.
• States like Gujarat (1960 from Bombay), Nagaland (1963), Haryana (1966 from Punjab), Himachal Pradesh (full statehood in 1971), Meghalaya (1972), Manipur (1972), Tripura (1972), Sikkim (1975), Mizoram (1987), Arunachal Pradesh (1987), Goa (1987), Chhattisgarh (2000 from Madhya Pradesh), Uttarakhand (2000 from Uttar Pradesh), Jharkhand (2000 from Bihar), and Telangana (2014 from Andhra Pradesh) were created or attained full statehood at different times.
• The power to create new states or alter the boundaries of existing ones lies with the Parliament of India.

Understanding the timeline of these events provides insight into India's political and administrative evolution.