India’s federal system, in which every state has a distinct identity based on its culture, language, customs, and history, is a monument to the country’s variety. States celebrate founding days to remember their history, heritage, challenges, and aspirations. The Foundation Day of States in India commemorates the formation of various states within the Indian Union. Not only do these days commemorate the founding of states, but they also represent solidarity and local pride.
The first major step towards state reorganization came with the formation of Andhra Pradesh in 1953, which was created based on linguistic lines. This set the precedent for the 1956 States Reorganization Act, reorganizing India’s states primarily on linguistic and cultural lines.
List of foundation days of all Indian states
| State | Foundation Day | Year of Formation | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | 1 November | 1956 | 1956 – Merged with State of Hyderabad to form the State of Andhra Pradesh by States Reorganisation Act, 1956 |
| Arunachal Pradesh | 20 February | 1987 | 1987 – Converted to a state by State of Arunachal Pradesh Act, 1986 |
| Assam | 2 December | 1950 | Firstly, it was formed as Ahom Kingdom. Achieved statehood in 1950. |
| Bihar | 22 March | 1912 | 1950 – Achieved statehood as State of Bihar |
| Chhattisgarh | 1 November | 2000 | 2000 – Divided from Madhya Pradesh by Madhya Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000 |
| Goa | 30 May | 1987 | 1987 – Made a State by State of Goa Act, 1986 |
| Gujarat | 1 May | 1960 | 1960 – State of Bombay bifurcated to form State of Gujarat |
| Haryana | 1 November | 1966 | 1966 – Carved out from the State of Punjab by Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966 |
| Himachal Pradesh | 25 January | 1971 | 1971 – Achieved statehood by State of Himachal Pradesh Act, 1970 |
| Jharkhand | 15 November | 2000 | 2000 – Divided from Bihar by Bihar Reorganisation Act, 2000 |
| Karnataka | 1 November (Karnataka Rajyotsava) | 1956 | 1956 – Southern Kannada-speaking parts of Bombay State added to Mysore State per States Reorganisation Act, 1956 |
| Kerala | 1 November | 1956 | 1956 – Merged with parts of Madras State to form State of Kerala by States Reorganisation Act, 1956 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 1 November | 1956 | 1956 – Created by merging Madhya Bharat, Vindhya Pradesh, Central Provinces and Berar and Bhopal State by States Reorganisation Act, 1956 |
| Maharashtra | 1 May (Maharashtra Day) | 1960 | 1960 – Bifurcation of State of Bombay to form State of Maharashtra by Bombay Reorganisation Act, 1960 |
| Manipur | 21 January | 1972 | 1972 – Achieved statehood by State of Manipur Act, 1971 |
| Meghalaya | 21 January | 1972 | 1972 – Achieved statehood by North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971 |
| Mizoram | 20 February | 1987 | 1987 – Established as Mizoram state by State of Mizoram Act, 1986 |
| Nagaland | 1 December | 1963 | 1963 – Founded by State of Nagaland Act, 1962 |
| Odisha | 1 April (Utkal Divas) | 1936 | 1936 – Divided to form Province of Orissa by Government of India Act 1935 |
| Punjab | 1 November | 1966 | 1966 – Reorganised by Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966 |
| Rajasthan | 30 March | 1949 | 1956 – Reorganized by States Reorganisation Act, 1956 |
| Sikkim | 16 May | 1975 | 1975 – Accession and establishment by the 35th amendment to the Constitution of India |
| Tamil Nadu | 1 November | 1956 | 1956 – Reorganized by States Reorganisation Act, 1956 |
| Telangana | 2 June | 2014 | 2014 – Divided from Andhra Pradesh by Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 |
| Tripura | 21 January | 1972 | 1972 – Achieved statehood by North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 24 January | 1950 | 1950 – Reorganized as state of Uttar Pradesh with addition of parts of Delhi Territory |
| Uttarakhand | 9 November | 2000 | 2000 – Divided from Uttar Pradesh by Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000 |
| West Bengal | 26 January | 1950 | 1950 – Gained statehood as State of West Bengal |
List of Indian Union Territories Foundation Day
Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir: These Union Territories were created on October 31, 2019, following the bifurcation of the former state of Jammu & Kashmir.
Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu: These two territories were merged into a single Union Territory on January 26, 2020.
| Union Territory | Foundation Day | Year of Formation | Timeline | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andaman and Nicobar Islands | 1 November | 1956 | 1956 – Established as union territory by the States Reorganisation Act, 1956 | |
| Chandigarh | 1 November | 1966 | 1966 – Reorganized as union territory Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966 | |
| Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu | 26 January | 2020 (Merged) | 2020 – Reorganized by merging by Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (Merger of Union Territories) Act, 2019 | |
| Lakshadweep | 1 November | 1956 | 1956 – Split from Madras state to create union territory by States Reorganisation Act, 1956 | |
| Delhi (National Capital Territory) | 1 November | 1956 | 1956 – Reorganized as union territory by States Reorganisation Act, 1956 | |
| Puducherry | 1 November | 1954 (Integrated) | 1962 – De jure transfer to India 1963 – Organized as union territory | |
| Ladakh | 31 October | 2019 | 2019 – Formed as union territory by Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 | |
| Jammu and Kashmir | 31 October | 2019 | 2019 – Reorganized as union territory by Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 |
List of Common Foundation Day of States and Union Territories
1 November is the most common foundation day for multiple states and Union Territories due to the linguistic reorganization and administrative changes made in 1956.
31 October marks the formation of the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh in 2019.
| States/Union Territories | Common Foundation Day | Year of Formation |
|---|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Lakshadweep, Delhi, Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands | 1 November | 1956 |
| Haryana, Punjab, Chandigarh | 1 November | 1966 |
| Gujarat, Maharashtra | 1 May | 1960 |
| Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura | 21 January | 1972 |
| Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram | 20 February | 1987 |
| Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh | 31 October | 2019 |
List of Autonomous Administrative Division Day
An autonomous administrative division is a region that is a subnational area or an internal territory under a sovereign state and has a degree of autonomy or self-governance under the national government. They formed these autonomous administrative divisions to grant special powers and autonomy to certain regions, especially those with unique ethnic and cultural identities. Most of these regions have their own councils that manage local governance, land, resources, and cultural preservation.
| Autonomous Administrative Division | Foundation Day | State/Region | Year of Formation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) | 10 February | Assam | 2003 |
| Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) | 18 June | Meghalaya | 1952 |
| Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) | 27 June | Meghalaya | 1952 |
| Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) | 23 November | Meghalaya | 1964 |
| Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) | 22 August | West Bengal | 1988 (Now GTA) |
| Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh | 10 August | Ladakh | 1995 |
| Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil | 1 July | Ladakh | 2003 |
| Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) | 18 January | Tripura | 1982 |
| Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC) | 29 April | Mizoram | 1972 |
| Mara Autonomous District Council (MADC) | 29 April | Mizoram | 1972 |
| Lai Autonomous District Council (LADC) | 29 April | Mizoram | 1972 |
Foundation days are marked by various cultural events, parades, and official ceremonies. These celebrations not only honor the historical significance of the state’s formation but also promote regional culture and heritage. They serve as a reminder of the unity in diversity that defines India.
States’ founding days in India represent more than just dates on a calendar, they are a symbol of the people’s ambitions as a collective and of their sense of place. These days enhance the ties of unity within India’s federal structure, honor state journeys, and promote cultural variety. The people ingrained the significance of these founding days, which stand for their history, legacy, and aspirations for the future, in their hearts even as the nation continues to change.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Foundation Day marks the anniversary of the formation or reorganization of a state or Union Territory. They celebrate it to commemorate the region’s history, cultural heritage, and journey towards achieving statehood or special administrative status.
Several states, including Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, and Tamil Nadu, along with Union Territories like Delhi and Lakshadweep, share the Foundation Day of November 1 because of the States Reorganization Act of 1956. This act reorganized Indian states largely based on linguistic lines.
Maharashtra and Gujarat celebrate their Foundation Day on May 1, marking the bifurcation of the Bombay State into these two states in 1960.
Utkal Divas, celebrated on April 1, marks the formation of the state of Odisha in 1936. They formed one of the earliest states in India based on linguistic identity.
India formed Manipur, Meghalaya, and Tripura on January 21, 1972. People celebrate this day as Foundation Day in these states to commemorate their creation.
The people of Telangana demanded a separate state from Andhra Pradesh for years, primarily due to their distinct cultural identity and developmental concerns in the region. People celebrate Telangana’s Foundation Day on June 2.
Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh celebrate their Foundation Day on January 25 and January 24, respectively. These dates mark significant milestones in their statehood journey.