Question

The states reorganization act of 1956 reduced the number of states in the country from 27 to ________.
A.14
B.15
C.18
D.19

Answer 1

Hint: In 1955, the first report for the enactment of the state reorganization commission was submitted and on 1st November 1956, the reports of the state reorganization commission were implemented.

Complete answer:
One of the major reforms of the boundaries of the states and territories of India that organized them along the linguistic lines was the states reorganization act of 1956. This organization act reduced the states in the country from 27 to 14 and resulted in the formation of a new type of entity called the union territory. Since 1947 when India became independent, the states reorganization act of 1956 is the single most extensive change in the boundaries of the states of India. There was a linguistic provinces commission before the state reorganization commission which, for the division of states, rejected language as a parameter. The state reorganization commission was set up by the prime minister of India Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in December 1953. This commission was headed by the retired chief justice of the supreme court Fazal Ali and was overseen by Govind Ballabh Pant who was the Home minister. The state reorganization commission submitted a report with recommendations on reorganizing the states of India on 30th September 1955. The state reorganization act was finally enacted on 31st August after it was debated in the parliament and was made a law. On 1st November 1956, the state reorganization commission came into effect.The states reorganization act of 1956 reduced the number of states in the country from 27 to 14.

Hence, the correct answer is option (A).

Note: Two States Andhra Pradesh and Kerala were formed after the implementation of the act. Himachal Pradesh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Manipur, Delhi, Laccadive, Tripura, Minicoy, and Amindivi islands were the six union territories formed.