UPSC Mains 2022 GS Paper 1 Q11: model answer
The political and administrative reorganization of states and territories has been a continuous ongoing process since the mid-nineteenth century. Discuss with examples.
What the question wants
Continuity from the 1850s to 2019, with examples.
How to structure it
Discuss with examples: show continuity across eras with concrete examples.
- Colonial phase from the mid-19th century
- 1947–1956: integration and reorganisation
- 1960–1987: further reorganisation
- 2000 onwards
- Why the process continues
How to think it through
The trap is to start in 1947. Instead, see the map as a living thing. The British redrew it for revenue and control (Bengal, 1905); nationalists demanded it for language (Orissa, 1936); the Republic redrew it for democracy (1956) and development (2000). Write the answer as a timeline with reasons attached to each phase, and close on why the process will continue. If your timeline starts in 1947, the British would like a word about 1905.
Model answer
India's political map has been redrawn continuously, first for imperial administration, later for democratic accommodation and development.
Colonial phase
- Annexations such as Punjab (1849) and Awadh (1856), and new provinces such as the Central Provinces (1861).
- Partition of Bengal (1905), annulled in 1911, when the capital moved to Delhi.
- Bihar and Orissa separated from Bengal (1912); Orissa and Sind became separate provinces (1936); Burma was separated (1937).
1947–1956
- Integration of princely states; Part A, B, C and D states under the Constitution (1950).
- Andhra State (1953) and the States Reorganisation Act, 1956 (14 states, 6 Union Territories).
1960–1987
- Bombay split into Maharashtra and Gujarat (1960); Nagaland (1963); Punjab and Haryana (1966).
- North-eastern reorganisation (1971–72): Manipur, Tripura and Meghalaya became states; Sikkim joined in 1975.
- Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Goa became states in 1987.
2000 onwards
- Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand (2000); Telangana (2014).
- Jammu and Kashmir reorganised into two Union Territories (2019); Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu merged (2020).
Why it continues
Language, identity, administrative efficiency, development and security all drive change. Article 3 gives Parliament the power, making Indian federalism flexible.
Way forward
Future changes should rest on consultation, objective criteria and fiscal viability.
Recent proposals
- Demands for Vidarbha, Gorkhaland, Bodoland and Harit Pradesh show the process is not finished.
- The Bodo Accord (2020) addressed demands through a territorial council rather than statehood, an alternative model of autonomy without new borders, also seen in the Sixth Schedule councils.
Conclusion
Reorganisation is not a break from India's history but a constant feature of it, the way Indian federalism adapts to changing aspirations.
Draw: Timeline 1905 → 2019.
Keywords, cases and data to drop in
J&K Reorganisation Act 2019.
Where most answers lose marks
- Starting at 1947. The question says mid-nineteenth century.
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Fresh examples from current affairs
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Question text as printed in the official UPSC Civil Services (Main) question paper. The model answer is original Battle IAS work; use it to learn structure, not to memorise.
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