Which one of the following was the mandate of the Dhar Commission (1948) ?

In June 1948, the Government of India appointed the Linguistic Provinces Commission, popularly known as the Dhar Commission, under the chairmanship of S.K. Dhar [1]. Its primary mandate was to examine the feasibility and desirability of reorganizing states on a linguistic basis, particularly in response to demands from South India [2]. The commission was specifically tasked with reporting on the formation of new provinces such as Andhra, Kerala, Karnataka, and Maharashtra [2]. In its report submitted in December 1948, the commission recommended against reorganization based solely on language, instead advocating for administrative convenience as the primary criterion for state boundaries [2]. This cautious approach was driven by concerns regarding national unity and stability in the immediate post-independence period [2]. Consequently, the commission's mandate was centered on evaluating the linguistic principle for state formation.

Sources

1. [1] Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 6: Union and Its Territory > Table 6 .1 Territory of India In 1950 > p. 53
2. [2] History , class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 8: Reconstruction of Post-colonial India > 8.4 Linguistic Reorganization of States > p. 107