Which of the following option reflects the correct order in which the states were created, starting from the state created last to the first?

The correct answer is Meghalaya → Nagaland → Gujarat.

Key Points

• Meghalaya became a state on 21 January 1972, carved out from Assam, under the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971.
• Nagaland was the first northeastern state to be formed post-independence, attaining statehood on 1 December 1963.
• Gujarat was established as a separate state on 1 May 1960, after being bifurcated from Bombay State.
• The correct order from the last created state to the first is Meghalaya → Nagaland → Gujarat.
• This sequence is reflective of the historical timeline of state formation in independent India, governed by regional and linguistic reorganization.

Additional Information

• State Reorganization in India:
  • The States Reorganisation Act, 1956, was a landmark legislation to reorganize states based on linguistic and administrative convenience.
  • It laid the groundwork for the creation of several states, including Gujarat and Maharashtra in 1960.
• Formation of Meghalaya:
  • Meghalaya was initially an autonomous state within Assam from 1970, before becoming a full-fledged state in 1972.
  • The demand for a separate state emerged due to cultural and ethnic distinctiveness of the Khasi, Jaintia, and Garo tribes.
• Formation of Nagaland:
  • Nagaland's statehood was a result of the 16-Point Agreement signed between the Naga People’s Convention and the Government of India in 1960.
  • It was formed to address the aspirations of the Naga people for political and cultural autonomy.
• Formation of Gujarat:
  • Gujarat was carved out from the bilingual Bombay State as a part of the linguistic reorganization movement.
  • The demand for a separate Gujarati-speaking state was driven by the Mahagujarat Movement.