Context: Recently, the 12-hour shutdown observed by Koshal Rajya Milita Karjyanushtan Committee demanding a separate ‘Koshal’ state partially affected normal life in 11 districts in the western part of Odisha.

• The activists have been pressing for a separate Koshal state alleging neglect of the region by the Odisha government in various fields.

Historical Background of Koshala

• Dakshinkoshalis part of kingdom of lord Raama, Later on it was given to his son Kush.

• Samudragupta in the 4th century defeated King Mahendra of Koshala, the kingdom that included Sambalpur.

• During the 5th and 6th centuries Sambalpur came under the rule of Sarbhapuriyas.

• Towards the 7th century it passed in to the hands of Panduvansi king Trivaradeva.

• Towards the close of 9th century king Janmajaya I Mahabhavagupta extended his empire which comprised the modern districts of Sambalpur and Bolangir.

• After the British occupied Orissa and bitterness between the British and Marathas ripened, the former found a convenient route via Sambalpur and annihilated the

• Sambalpur was occupied by the British on 2nd January, 1804. Finally it passed on to the British in 1817.

Causes for demand

• The modern orissa is consisting of three major area kalinga, utkal and koshal.

• The Kosal state movementis an effort by people of the Western Odisha region of India to secede from the state of Odisha.

• Prolonged underdevelopment and backwardness of this region.

• In the backward districts of Kosal region—Boudh, Sonepur, Balangir and Nuapada more than 60% of people live below the poverty line.

• Recurrent droughts, inadequate irrigation and uneven land distribution have made Kosal a "hunger belt" in Odisha since Independence. 

• The region also experiences mining and environmental degradation and tribal displacement. 

• The major language of the area is Sambalpuri. It is variously seen either as a dialect of Odiaor as a language in its own right.

Names of Odisha

• Utkala: According to Mahabharata Utkala was a part of Kalinga.

• Mahakantara: This name was found during Gupta period.

• Udra: It was the kingdom which included coastal region of Odisha.

• Odra: This name was given after Odra tribe.

• Oddiyana: This name was mentioned in Buddhist texts.

Constitutional Provisions for States provision

• Article 2 is titled as: Admission and establishment of new states.

• Article 3 is titles as: Formation of new states and alteration of areas, boundaries or names of existing states.

• Article 4 is titled as: Laws made under Articles 2 and 3 to provide for the amendment of the First and the Fourth Schedules and supplemental, incidents and consequential matters. I.e. a number of seats allotted in the RajyaSabha for each state.

• Constitution will not treat any such law altering existing States or creating a new State, as the amendment.