The political and administrative reorganization of states and territories has been a continuous ongoing process in India since the mid-nineteenth century. This process has involved the creation of new states, the merging of existing states, and the reorganization of administrative units within states. Some examples of this process are:
The partition of Bengal in 1905
which was aimed at forestalling the emergent spirit of Indian nationalism in the English-educated new middle class in Bengal. This partition forced the British, in face of a strong popular protest in the form of the swadeshi movement, to order the annulment of the partition of Bengal in 1911.
The Montagu-Chelmsford reforms of 1919,
which introduced provincial autonomy and diarchy (division of subjects into reserved and transferred) in the provinces. The reforms also created new provinces of Bihar and Orissa (separated from Bengal), and Sind (separated from Bombay).
The Government of India Act of 1935,
which abolished diarchy and introduced provincial autonomy and federation at the centre. The act also created new provinces of Burma (separated from India), Aden (separated from Bombay), and Orissa (separated from Bihar). The act also provided for the establishment of new provinces of Sind and NWFP.
The Indian Independence Act of 1947,
which partitioned India into two dominions: India and Pakistan. The act also gave the princely states the option to accede to either dominion or remain independent. The act also abolished the office of the viceroy and transferred all powers to the dominions and the provinces.
The States Reorganisation Act of 1956,
which reformed the boundaries of Indian states and territories, systematizing them on linguistic basis. The act abolished the four types of states (Part A, Part B, Part C, and Part D) and created 14 states and 6 union territories.
The creation of Andhra Pradesh in 1953,
which was the first state to be formed on linguistic grounds after a prolonged agitation by Telugu-speaking people who wanted to separate from the Madras state.
The merger of Sikkim with India in 1975,
which was preceded by a referendum in which the majority of Sikkim's people voted to join India as its 22nd state.
The creation of three new states in 2000,
namely Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Uttarakhand, which were carved out of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh respectively. The main reasons for creating these states were to address the regional aspirations, developmental disparities, and administrative challenges of these regions.
The reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019,
which involved the abrogation of Article 370 that granted special status to the state and its bifurcation into two union territories: Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. The government claimed that this move was aimed at ensuring better governance, security, and development in the region.
These are some examples of the political and administrative reorganization of states and territories in India since the mid-nineteenth century. This process has been influenced by various factors such as historical legacy, linguistic identity, cultural diversity, regional demands, economic development, administrative efficiency, security concerns, and constitutional provisions.