Question map
Consider the following States: 1. Arunachal Pradesh 2. Goa 3. Meghalaya 4. Nagaland Which of these States were given the full status ofStatehood in the Indian Union in 1987?
Explanation
In 1987, three Indian territories were elevated to full statehood: Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, and Goa. Arunachal Pradesh was granted statehood on February 20, 1987, following the State of Arunachal Pradesh Act, 1986 [c1][t2]. Goa was separated from the Union Territory of Goa, Daman and Diu and became the 25th state of the Indian Union on May 30, 1987, under the Goa, Daman and Diu Reorganisation Act, 1987 [c1][t1][t6]. In contrast, Meghalaya attained full statehood earlier in 1972 through the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971, having previously been an autonomous sub-state within Assam [c2][c4]. Nagaland was granted statehood much earlier, in 1963, following an agreement with the Naga People's Convention [c4][t7]. Therefore, only Arunachal Pradesh and Goa (1 and 2) meet the 1987 criteria.
Sources
- [1] Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 14: The State Legislature > New States added since 1950 > p. 294
- [2] Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 6: Union and Its Territory > New States and Union Territories Created After 1956 > p. 59
- [3] 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
- [4] https://www.britannica.com/topic/union-territory