Formation Day

On 1st November, eight Indian states—Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, and Tamil Nadu—along with five Union Territories—Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Delhi, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry—celebrate their Formation Day. This date marks an important milestone in India’s administrative evolution, shaped primarily by the States Reorganisation Act of 1956 and subsequent state bifurcations.

States Celebrating Formation Day on 1st November

Andhra Pradesh

• Formation Date: 1 November 1953 (Andhra State); 1956 (Andhra Pradesh)

• Formed By: States Reorganisation Act, 1956

• Earlier Status: Part of Andhra State and Hyderabad State

Karnataka

• Formation Date: 1 November 1956 (as Mysore State)

• Formed By: States Reorganisation Act, 1956

• Earlier Status: Parts of Bombay State, Coorg State, Hyderabad State, and Mysore State

Kerala

• Formation Date: 1 November 1956

• Formed By: States Reorganisation Act, 1956

• Earlier Status: Parts of Madras State and Travancore–Cochin

Madhya Pradesh

• Formation Date: 1 November 1956 (reorganisation)

• Formed By: States Reorganisation Act, 1956

• Earlier Status: Central Provinces and Berar, and princely states of the Eastern States Agency

Tamil Nadu

• Formation Date: 1 November 1956 (as Madras State); renamed Tamil Nadu in 1969

• Formed By: States Reorganisation Act, 1956

• Earlier Status: Part of Madras State and Travancore–Cochin

Haryana

• Formation Date: 1 November 1966

• Formed By: Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966

• Earlier Status: Part of East Punjab

Punjab

• Formation Date: 1 November 1966 (current form)

• Formed By: Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966

• Earlier Status: Part of East Punjab

Chhattisgarh

• Formation Date: 1 November 2000

• Formed By: Madhya Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000

• Earlier Status: Part of Madhya Pradesh

Union Territories Celebrating Formation Day on 1st November

Andaman and Nicobar Islands

• Formation Date: 1 November 1956

• Formed By: States Reorganisation Act, 1956

• Earlier Status: Part D State

Delhi

• Formation Date: 1 November 1956

• Formed By: States Reorganisation Act, 1956

• Earlier Status: Part C State

Lakshadweep

• Formation Date: 1 November 1956

• Formed By: States Reorganisation Act, 1956

• Earlier Status: Part of Madras State

Puducherry

• Formation Date: 1 November 1954 (de facto transfer); UT status in 1963

• Formed By: Treaty of Cession with France; Government of Union Territories Act, 1963

• Earlier Status: French India territories

Chandigarh

• Formation Date: 1 November 1966

• Formed By: Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966

• Earlier Status: Part of East Punjab

Constitutional Provisions for Formation of States and UTs

Part I of the Constitution

Part I (Articles 1 to 4) deals with “The Union and Its Territory”. It defines India as a “Union of States,” lists the territories of States and Union Territories, and empowers Parliament to alter state boundaries or create new states.

Article 1

Article 1 declares India as a Union of States, which includes States, Union Territories, and any future acquired territories. This reflects a strong Union with flexible federal units.

Article 2

Article 2 empowers Parliament to admit new States into the Union or establish new States, subject to terms and conditions it deems appropriate.

Article 3

Article 3 authorises Parliament to:

• Form a new State by separation or merger

• Alter the area, boundaries, or name of any State

A Bill under Article 3 requires:

• Prior recommendation of the President

• Referral to the concerned State Legislature for its views (not binding on Parliament)

No such reference is required when altering Union Territories.
This provision has enabled major reorganisations such as the creation of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand (2000) and Telangana (2014).

Article 4

Any law enacted under Articles 2 or 3 is deemed not to be a constitutional amendment, even if it changes the First Schedule (names and boundaries of states) or the Fourth Schedule (Rajya Sabha seats).

Commissions Related to State Reorganisation

1. Linguistic Provinces Commission (Dhar Commission), 1948

The Commission rejected language as a criterion for reorganisation and advised against creating states on linguistic lines.

2. JVP Committee, 1949

Formed by Nehru, Patel, and Pattabhi Sitaramayya, it opposed linguistic reorganisation, citing risks of disintegration and prioritising national unity and security.

3. States Reorganisation Commission (SRC), 1953

Headed by Justice Fazl Ali, with members H.N. Kunzru and K.M. Panikkar, the SRC acknowledged language as an important factor but rejected the idea of “one language, one state.”
It emphasized administrative efficiency, unity, and economic considerations.
Its recommendations led to the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, which reorganised India into 14 States and 6 Union Territories, abolishing the earlier Part A, B, C, and D classifications.

Later reorganisations occurred due to demands for regional identity, administrative efficiency, economic development, and better resource management.