Previous Year Question
The following States were created after 1960. Arrange them in ascending chronological order of their formation and choose your answer from the given code:
Haryana
Sikkim
Nagaland
Meghalaya
Codes:
1, 2, 3, 4
2, 3, 4, 1
3, 1, 4, 2
2, 4, 1, 3
Correct Answer: C
Detailed Solution
The States have to be arranged from the earliest formed State to the latest formed State.
Nagaland — 1 December 1963: Among the four States given, Nagaland was created first. It became the 16th State of India. Its territory was earlier associated with the Naga Hills and Tuensang areas. Therefore, 3 comes first in the sequence.
Haryana — 1 November 1966: Haryana emerged as a separate State following the reorganisation of Punjab. Hence, after Nagaland in 1963 comes Haryana in 1966.
Meghalaya — 21 January 1972: Meghalaya had earlier emerged as an Autonomous State within Assam and subsequently became a full-fledged State on 21 January 1972. It therefore comes after Haryana and before Sikkim.
Sikkim — 16 May 1975: Following the Constitution (Thirty-sixth Amendment) Act, 1975, Sikkim became the 22nd State of India. According to the Government of Sikkim, it joined the Indian Union as a full State on 16 May 1975. Hence, it is the latest among the four States given.
Thus, the chronological order is—
Nagaland (1963) → Haryana (1966) → Meghalaya (1972) → Sikkim (1975)
That is—
3 → 1 → 4 → 2
Meghalaya became an Autonomous State in 1970 but acquired full Statehood only in 1972. Similarly, Sikkim's earlier protectorate status should not be treated as its Statehood year; its Statehood belongs to 1975.