How many states we had at the time of Independence
The Constitution, which came into force on 26 January 1950, declared India to be a "Union of States", which were classified into three parts:
Nine Part A states: The former Governors' provinces of British India, which were ruled by an elected governor and state legislature. Assam, Bihar, Bombay, Madhya Pradesh (formerly Central Provinces and Berar), Madras, Orissa (subsequently renamed Odisha in 2011), Punjab (formerly East Punjab), Uttar Pradesh (formerly the United Provinces), and West Bengal.
Eight Part B states: Former princely states or groups of princely states, governed by a rajpramukh, who was appointed by the President. Hyderabad, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Bharat, Mysore, Patiala and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU), Rajasthan, Saurashtra and Travancore-Cochin.
Ten Part C states: Former chief commissioners' provinces and some princely states, each governed by a chief commissioner appointed by the President. Ajmer, Bhopal, Bilaspur, Coorg, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Kutch, Manipur, Tripura, and Vindhya Pradesh.
What States Reorganisation Act, 1956, did
Soon after the Constituion came into force, a need was felt to reorganise states. In December 1953, then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru appointed the States Reorganisation Commission to be headed by the retired chief Justice of supreme court Fazal Ali.
The three-member panel submitted a report on September 30, 1955, recommending the reorganisation of states.
The States Reorganisation Act was passed in Parliament and implemented from November 1, 1956.
As a result of the Act, the country was reorganised into 14 states and 6 Union Territories.
14 states - Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Bombay State, Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Madras State, Mysore State, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
6 Union Territories - Himachal Pradesh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Delhi, Laccadive, Minicoy and Amindivi Islands, Manipur and Tripura.
When other members were added to the family
Several changes have been effected into this list to make the present set of 29 states, six UTs and one National Capital Territory of Delhi that make the Schedule 1 of our Constitution
Gujarat
On May 1, 1960, Gujarat was separated from Bombay State and given the status of state.
Dadra and Nagar Haveli
After the end of Portuguese dominion in Dadra and Nagar Haveli on August 2, 1954, it was given the status of UT on August 11, 1961.
Haryana
On November 1, 1966, Haryana was separated from Punjab and given the status of state.
Karnataka
Called Mysore at the time of Independence and reorganized as Mysore State by States Reorganisation Act, 1956, this state was renamed Karnataka on November 1, 1973.
Arunachal Pradesh
On January 21, 1972, Arunachal Pradesh was separated from Assam and given the status of UT. On February 20, 1987, it became a state.
Daman and Diu
Earlier part of Goa which itself was UT, Daman and Diu beame a separate UT on May 30, 1987.
Goa
Liberated from the Portuguese on March 20, 1962 and clubbed with Daman and Diu to become a UT, it became a state on May 30, 1987.
Lakshadweep
Separated from Madras as Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindivi Islands UT on November 1, 1956, this UT was renamed as Lakshadweep on November 1, 1973.
Himachal Pradesh
Reorganised as a UT in 1956, it became a state on January 25, 1971.
North-East reorganisation
Nagaland was created in 1964. The North-Eastern Areas Reorganisation Act, 1971, reconstituted this part of the country into a number of distinct tribal homelands, which were made into seven states by 1986.
Birth of three states
On November 1, 10 and 15, 2000, three new states, India's 26th, 27th and 28th, came into being. Chhattisgarh which came first was carved out of Madhya Pradesh. Uttarakhand was separated from Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand, the last one, was carved out of Bihar.
Odisha
On November 4, 2011, Orissa was renamed Odisha.
Telangana, the 29th state, is the latest entrant on June 02,2014
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