Question

What was the key outcome of the States Reorganization Act of 1956 ?

• A. It created a single national language.
• B. It divided India into 14 states and 6 union territories based on linguistic and other factors.
• C. It abolished all state governments.
• D. It established Hindi as the sole official language of India.

Answer 1

Answer:

B. It divided India into 14 states and 6 union territories based on linguistic and other factors.

Federalism practiced in India 

Linguistic states

In 1947, the boundaries of several old States of India were changed in order to create new States :

• On the basis of language.

• On the basis of culture.

Fazl Ali Commission (1953)

• Members : Justice Fazl Ali, K.M. Panikkar, H.N. Kunzru.
  

• Purpose : Also known as the States Reorganisation Commission (SRC), it was tasked with studying state boundary reorganization, considering linguistic and other factors.
  

• Key Outcome : Recommended reorganizing states along linguistic lines, leading to the States Re organization Act of 1956, which created 14 states and 6 union territories.

• Rejected strict “one language, one state” but accepted language as a key factor