Question map
Arrange the following states of India on the basis of conferring statehood (starting from the earliest) : 1. Arunachal Pradesh 2. Nagaland 3. Sikkim 4. Meghalaya Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Explanation
The chronological order of statehood for the mentioned states is as follows: Nagaland was the first among these to achieve statehood on December 1, 1963, following years of ethnic demands [5]. Meghalaya was initially an autonomous sub-state within Assam in 1970 but was elevated to a full-fledged state on January 21, 1972, under the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971 [6]. Sikkim, previously an Indian protectorate, became the 22nd state of the Indian Union in 1975 following a referendum and the 36th Constitutional Amendment Act [6]. Finally, Arunachal Pradesh, which was a Union Territory since 1972, was conferred full statehood on February 20, 1987, by the State of Arunachal Pradesh Act, 1986 [4]. Therefore, the correct sequence is Nagaland (1963), Meghalaya (1972), Sikkim (1975), and Arunachal Pradesh (1987), corresponding to the order 2-4-3-1.
Sources
- [5] Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 14: The State Legislature > New States added since 1950 > p. 294
- [1] Politics in India since Independence, Textbook in political science for Class XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 1: Challenges of Nation Building > Fast Forward Creation of new states > p. 23
- [3] Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 6: Union and Its Territory > New States and Union Territories Created After 1956 > p. 59
- [6] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Indian_state_days
- [2] Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 6: Union and Its Territory > New States and Union Territories Created After 1956 > p. 55
- [4] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 39: After Nehru... > Developments in the Political System > p. 682