The political and administrative reorganization of states and territories has been a continuous ongoing process since the mid-nineteenth century. Discuss with examples.

Prior to 1850s, India was divided into self-rule states along with some states which were under the control of the British East India Company’s policies such as Subsidiary alliance or Doctrine of Lapse. After the revolt of 1857, there was a reorganisation of states and territories under the British Crown directly and later under the Independent government.

PHASES OF REORGANIZATION

1857-1935

• Non-interference of British as no new territories were occupied. India was divided into political provinces and princely states. 
• Bengal was divided on communal lines and the capital was shifted to Delhi.

1935-1947

• Princely states became part of the Indian federation with equal political participation under the Government of India Act, 1935.
• Under the Cabinet mission, the Indian states and territories are organised into three categories (A, B and C) for administrative convenience.

1947-1956

• Post-Independence reorganisation started with the Reorganisation act of 1956 (Fazal Ali Committee recommendation) where 14 new states were created.

1960-2000

• For administrative convenience, the states of Maharshtra and Gujarat were created.
• On linguistic and developmental reasons, the states of Punjab, Haryana and HP were created.
• For integrating foreign territories, Sikkim and Goa were given statehood.
• In the 1970s three new states in the northeast were carved out to give reflection to ethnic diversity.

2000 onwards

• For administrative and developmental concerns three new states Uttarakhand, Jharkhand and Chhatisgarh (in 2000) were carved out. 
• Statehood of J&K was withdrawn and reorganised it into the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir and UT of Laddakh.

The process of reorganization is yet not completed and there are demands for the creation of new states such as Saurashtra, Harit Pradesh, Bodoland, Purvanchal etc.