The demand for smaller states is a complex issue in India. The first state reorganisation commission, led to the single largest realignment of states along linguistic lines in State Reorganisation Act, 1956. This idea of splitting states based on a common language/community has stood the test of time. Article 3 of the Indian Constitution provides for the creation of a new state through a bill tabled in Parliament on the President's recommendation
after consultations with the legislatures of the affected states.

India has gone through several more independent exercises to carve out smaller states from larger states, and it has also involved conversion of union territories into states leading to rise in number of states to 29 from 14 in 1956. Various regions including Gorkhaland in West Bengal, Bodoland in Assam, Saurashtra in Gujarat; Vidarbha in Maharashtra, Maru Pradesh in Rajasthan, Nagalim in Nagaland, are demanding separate states.

Reasons for demands

• Historical: For instance: demand for the bifurcation of Tamil Nadu was based on the fact that Tamil-speaking region in the past comprised kingdoms centred around Kanchipuram and Tanjore/Madurai.
• Administrative: Much of the new demands are a result of uneven growth within states and a perception that splitting large states into smaller chunks will improve administration by bringing power centres closer to the people. For instance, developmental backlog in Vidarbha region due to large size of Maharashtra. Even without Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh is larger than Brazil, Japan or Bangladesh in terms of population.                                                   • Economic: The sentiment of being deprived even after being rich in natural resources are grounds for the demand of a separate state.
• Socio-Cultural: Even after linguistic divisions, states have a vast diversity which often leads to a feeling of ‘culturally subjugated and victimized’ by some ethnic groups. So, for preserving ethnic identity demands for a new state are made. For instance, Gorkhaland out of West Bengal, Nagalim demand in North East, Bhojpuri speaking Purvanchal region from Uttar Pradesh, etc.
• Political: Jat dominated western UP region is demanding Harit Pradesh for more political clout which presently rests with Yadavs.

Arguments for Creation of Smaller States

• Decentralisation of Power: Smaller administrative units would bring distant provincial governments and administration in remote capitals closer to the people. It will accelerate the pace of modernisation by increase in administrative efficiency, fulfil the political aspirations of the people of the backward regions and help the states create separate policy based on local realities.
• Resolve the problem of identity crisis among the ethnic groups and enable them to develop their own language and culture thus helping them in getting rid of the ‘feelings of internal colonialism’.
• Make the federation more balanced by making the representation of the present-day large-sized States, like UP, MP and Maharashtra, and the small States, like Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, more proportionate.
• Better management, implementation and allocation of public resources: A relatively homogeneous smaller state allows for easy communicability, enabling marginal social groups to articulate and raise their voices.
• No more fear of balkanization: Earlier, demands were opposed for the fear of balkanization, however, after 70 years of independence such fear is no more there.

Arguments against creation of smaller states:

• Statehood cannot guarantee rapid economic development of those backward regions which do not have the required material and human resources. Besides, some of the small States may not be having the potential for economic viability.
• Small States could also lead to the hegemony of the dominant community/caste/tribe over their power structures. There could develop aggressive regionalism too in such States leading to the growth of the sonsof-the-soil phenomenon and the consequent intimidation of the migrants.
• It may also lead to certain negative political consequences as because of the small strength of state legislature, the majority of the ruling party or ruling coalition would remain fragile. The case of Jharkhand where even an Independent MLA has manipulated to become the CM may be seen.
• Risk of centralisation of powers in the hands of the Chief Minister and the Chief Minister’s Secretariat would be greater and the State might become a fiefdom of the Chief Minister.
• It may lead to increase in inter-State-water-power-and-boundary disputes as seen in the case of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
• It would be a strain on their limited financial resources as huge funds would be required for building new capitals and maintaining the growing number of Governors, Chief Ministers, Ministers and administrators.
• Past experiment of smaller states show that mere formation of a smaller State is no guarantee for better development. For e.g.: Uttarakhand continues to be at the lower end in the Human Development Index, Chhattisgarh has witnessed the largest displacement of tribals, Jharkhand was mired in corruption and maladministration

Suggestions and way forward

• Better governance: Use of technology to reach remote regions for better public service delivery and addressing the problems of displacement and discontent among people.
• Smaller districts to bring government and administration closer to the people. The office of District Collector and zila parishad can be empowered further to make administration more efficient and fix accountability for under development.
• Decentralising administration and strengthening local self-governments: It would be far more efficient, healthy and beneficial if the local self governments have a greater hand and say in the local development. Power should be decentralised based on the principle of subsidiarity.
• Political stability which lends continuity of policies matters the most and not ‘largeness’ of states. An efficient and willing administrator can manage even a large state fairly satisfactorily.
• A Second States Re-organisation Commission to look into this and carve out provinces in a more objective and scientific manner might be the way to address the issue.