What is state, What is a state in government/country
What is state, What is state in nation: States are areas that have their own constitution, government, and legislature, A state is a system that offers security and facilities to the people living in a particular area. It has four main elements-population (people), territory, government, and sovereignty (the independence and power to make its own decisions). The main job of a state is to maintain law and order, ensure security, manage administration, and work for the welfare of its citizens, What is state, What is state in nation.
The responsibilities of a state increased by time. In the early time, it had only the role of maintaining security and law and order. Now, it consists of education, health, economy, and social services. According to today’s world, the state is obligated for citizens’ safety, giving employment along with its facilities, and making and enforcing laws. Based on the system of governance, states are mainly divided into four types—authoritarian states (where the government has complete control, like North Korea) and democratic states (where people elect their leaders, like India and the USA), What is state, What is state in nation.
India was divided into states in the past. This transformation occurred gradually and through several key events. It was the year 1757 when the Battle of Plassey took place, which later became one of the most prominent reasons for British rule in India. In this battle, the Nawab of Bengal, Siraj-ud-Daulah, encountered the army of the British East India Company.
The British army was headed by Robert Clive. Mir Jafar betrayed the Nawab, which was a factor behind the victory of the British. The victory let the British install their regime in India. Following this victory, they gradually gained control over various Indian states one by one. In 1857, the first war of independence occurred against British rule. The British called it the “Sepoy Mutiny,” but for Indians, it was the first fight for freedom. This rebellion spread across places like Meerut, Kanpur, Jhansi, Delhi, and Awadh. However, the British brutally suppressed it and defeated the Indian leaders, What is state, What is state in nation.
After this, in 1858, the British government abolished the rule of the East India Company and made India directly come under the British Crown. A Viceroy was appointed to govern India. At that time India was divided into two parts; British India, which was directly under the British rule and Princely States which were ruled by Indian kings but had to follow British orders.
On 15 August 1947, India was given independence, but the country still had to face a big problem—565 princely states. A few of them refused to join India. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and his colleague V.P. Menon tried their best to solve this problem.
Most princely states joined India, but Hyderabad, Junagadh, and Kashmir initially refused. Hyderabad was integrated into India through Operation Polo in 1948. In Junagadh, a public vote was conducted, and people chose to join India. Kashmir’s ruler, Maharaja Hari Singh, decided to join India after Pakistan’s attack. Thus, soon after independence, India worked towards unification, What is state, What is state in nation.
On 26 January 1950, the Indian Constitution came into being and India became a republic. At that time, there were 27 states and 9 union territories. But this system didn’t last for long because many of the states began demanding reorganization on language grounds.
In 1956, the SRC was formed. The commission recommended reorganization of states on a linguistic basis. Thus, the States Reorganization Act of 1956 was enacted that created new states. India was now divided into 14 states and 6 union territories. The old provinces and princely states were totally abolished, and a new state structure was established.
Marathis and Gujaratis both comprised the Bombay State in the 1950s.
Tension between the communities increased, causing the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement. Thereby, from 1st May 1960, the Bombay State got divided into the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat. Likewise, Hindi and Punjabi speakers comprised the Punjab state also, which used to cause some administrative problems as well. Thus, in 1966, Punjab was bifurcated into three sections: Haryana (Hindi-speaking region), Punjab (Punjabi-speaking region), and Himachal Pradesh (Hilly region).
Himachal Pradesh was a union territory at first but became a full-fledged state later. Himachal Pradesh, which was a union territory earlier, became India’s 18th state on 25 January 1971. It was the first state to get full statehood after independence. Goa was freed from Portuguese rule in 1961, but it remained a union territory. On 30 May 1987, Goa became India’s 25th state. In the 1990s, demands for smaller states increased. As a result, Chhattisgarh was created on 1 November 2000 from Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand was created on 9 November 2000 from Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand was created on 15 November 2000 from Bihar, What is state, What is state in nation.
For a long time, Telugu-speaking people demanded a separate state from Andhra Pradesh. Because of this, on 2 June 2014, Telangana was formed. Now, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are two separate states, What is state, What is state in nation.
Today, India consists of 28 states and 8 union territories. In the year 2019, Jammu & Kashmir was declared as a union territory, thus decreasing the number of states to 28. Some regions are demanding new states, such as Bundelkhand, Gorkhaland, Vidarbha, and Purvanchal. If there is a requirement, the central government may introduce new states in the future also.
How states are formed
Forming a state is a long and quite complex development process over time. A state is a political system with a defined territory, permanent population, government, and sovereignty (independence). States are formed for various reasons, primarily owing to natural development, wars, agreements, nationalism, economic conditions, and political struggles.
Following the theory of natural development, it is observed that states emerged when societies grew with time. During the initial times, people dwelled in the smallest family-based groups. Many families gradually clubbed together and formed tribes. With an increase in population, and complexity within societies, an organized form of governance was in demand, so states came into existence. No particular plan has been seen regarding this process.
Some states are formed through war and force. For ages, strong kings and armies conquered weaker communities and got their empires in place. For instance, the Roman Empire, Maurya Empire, and Mughal Empire all were formed through wars. Likewise, in the colonial period, European countries took on some part of Asia and Africa and made their states.
Some states came into existence through agreements among the people. Under this theory, the people submitted themselves to a government for security and better governance. Some political thinkers, such as Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Rousseau, have posited that humans, on their own, make a government to keep society peacefully ruled and orderly. In modern democracies, it is a practice that elects a representative.
History and culture are also integral parts of building states. Various countries were shaped due to mutual language, faith, customs, and common culture and history. The unification of Italy and Germany in the 19th century was actually because of nationalization. Indian and Pakistan became separate due to differences in both cultural and religions. In the year 1991, USSR disintegrated, and due to this result, many other new countries took birth, What is state, What is state in nation.
Economic and political factors are also responsible for state formation. When a region becomes economically strong, the people often ask for independence. Political movements and revolutions also give birth to new nations like the United States in 1776 and India in 1947.
The boundaries and structures of states keep changing with time. Indeed, newly in 2011, South Sudan emerged as a new country; thus, showing that the process of state formation is going on even today. On the whole, states are formed through natural development, wars, agreements, history, economy, and political struggles. It is a process which keeps unfolding by human civilization.
What are the 20 Major Departments of State Government in India
Chief Minister’s Office (CMO)
Chief Minister‘s Office is the administrative head of the state government. It supervises every policy and scheme of the state. All the decisions on the matters of development, security, and administration are taken from this office by the Chief Minister along with his advisors. It collaborates with all other departments of the government and is responsible for public matters.
Home Department
The Home Department is responsible for maintaining law and order in the state. It supervises police administration, prison management, fire services, and civil security. It also deals with terrorism, cybercrime, and other serious crimes.
Finance Department
This department manages the state budget, taxation, and financial matters. It provides funds for government schemes and development projects. It maintains a proper balance between state income and expenditure, What is state, What is state in nation.
Education Department
The Education Department supervises state-run schools, colleges, and universities. This department decides regarding the government school as well as recruit teachers and manages scholarship schemes and education reformation.
Health & Family Welfare Department
Government hospitals, health centers, as well as all vaccination programs come under this category. It deals with free medicine supply to poor, maternal & child health and also medicine distribution.
Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Department
This department prepares plans for farmers, including better seeds, fertilizers, irrigation facilities, and crop insurance. It promotes organic farming and modern techniques to enhance the income of farmers.
Rural Development Department
This department works for village development by providing roads, water, employment, and other essential facilities. It also increases job opportunities in villages through schemes like MGNREGA.
Urban Development Department
The Urban Development Department governs cleanliness, water supply, road construction, traffic management, and other basic city facilities. It implements Smart City projects and municipal programs.
Industry & Commerce Department
This department promotes industries, encourages businesses, and supports small traders. It also formulates policies to attract new startups and investments in the state, What is state, What is state in nation.
Public Works Department (PWD)
PWD is responsible for the construction and maintenance of roads, bridges, and government buildings. It helps improve road and transport infrastructure in the state.
Transport Department
This department regulates buses, trains, and public transportation. It issues driving licenses, registers vehicles, and enforces traffic rules.
Energy Department
The Energy Department manages electricity production, distribution, and supply. It also promotes renewable energy sources like solar and wind energy.
Water Resources Department
This department supervises rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and irrigation projects. It also focuses on water conservation and groundwater management.
Revenue & Land Reforms Department
The Revenue Department updates land records, registers properties, and collects government revenue. It also provides relief during floods, droughts, and other natural disasters.
Social Welfare Department
This department implements welfare schemes for the poor, elderly, differently-abled, and backward communities. It also runs programs for women and child development.
Labour & Employment Department
The department safeguards workers’ rights and protects minimum wages with employment opportunity generation for unemployed citizens.
Forest & Environment Department
The department helps in preserving the forests and conservation of wildlife for ecological balance while promoting the initiative of pollution control and green issues, What is state, What is state in nation.
Tourism & Culture Department
It involves the development of tourist destination points and also retains historical heritage sites. Besides that, cultural activities and arts can be encouraged under this department.
Information & Public Relations Department
This department promotes government schemes and achievements. It coordinates between the media and the public and releases official advertisements.
Food & Civil Supplies Department
The Food Department manages ration cards, the Public Distribution System (PDS), and food grain supply. It ensures that essential items are available to the poor at reasonable prices.
All these departments work together for public welfare and state development. Each department has its own responsibility to ensure smooth governance and better services for the people.
How many types of states are there in india
In India, administration is broadly classified into two categories – Full-Fledged States (States) and Union Territories. Full-fledged states are those states having their own state government, but Union Territories have no state governments. They come directly under Central Government, How many types of states are there in india.
Administration of Full-Fledged States
India has 28 states, and every state has its government. The administration of these states is managed by the State Government, headed by a Chief Minister (CM). Every state, to boot, has a Governor appointed by the President of India. The administrative decisions are taken by the CM assisted by the Council of Ministers.
Every state has a Legislature, which makes laws. Some states have one house (Legislative Assembly), while others have two houses (Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council). State governments can make laws on subjects like health, agriculture, police, transport, etc. Some subjects on which both the State and Central Government can make laws are included in the Concurrent List, How many types of states are there in india.
Union Territories and Their Administration
India has 8 Union Territories, and their administration is directly under the Central Government. A few Union Territories, including Delhi, Puducherry, and Jammu & Kashmir, have an elected government, while others are Lt. Governor/ Administrators appointed by the Central Government.
The Chief Minister and Council of Ministers have the role in Union Territories that have a government of their own, although they are lesser than states in powers. In other Union Territories, the administration is completely looked after by the Central Government. The President and the Central Cabinet directly take several key decisions related to Union Territories, What is state, What is state in nation.
How many states are there in India
There are a total of 28 states and 8 union territories in India
| State Name | Formation Date | Formation Method |
|---|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | 1 October 1953 | Formed by separating from Madras State |
| Arunachal Pradesh | 20 February 1987 | Became a state from a Union Territory |
| Assam | 26 January 1950 | Original state of India |
| Bihar | 26 January 1950 | Original state of India |
| Chhattisgarh | 1 November 2000 | Formed by separating from Madhya Pradesh |
| Goa | 30 May 1987 | Became a state from a Union Territory |
| Gujarat | 1 May 1960 | Formed by separating from Bombay State |
| Haryana | 1 November 1966 | Formed by separating from Punjab |
| Himachal Pradesh | 25 January 1971 | Became a state from a Union Territory |
| Jharkhand | 15 November 2000 | Formed by separating from Bihar |
| Karnataka | 1 November 1956 | Formed under the States Reorganization Act |
| Kerala | 1 November 1956 | Formed under the States Reorganization Act |
| Madhya Pradesh | 1 November 1956 | Formed under the States Reorganization Act |
| Maharashtra | 1 May 1960 | Formed by separating from Bombay State |
| Manipur | 21 January 1972 | Became a state from a Union Territory |
| Meghalaya | 21 January 1972 | Formed by separating from Assam |
| Mizoram | 20 February 1987 | Became a state from a Union Territory |
| Nagaland | 1 December 1963 | Formed by separating from Assam |
| Odisha | 26 January 1950 | Original state of India |
| Punjab | 1 November 1956 | Formed under the States Reorganization Act |
| Rajasthan | 26 January 1950 | Original state of India |
| Sikkim | 16 May 1975 | Became a state after merging with India |
| Tamil Nadu | 26 January 1950 | Original state of India (formerly Madras) |
| Telangana | 2 June 2014 | Formed by separating from Andhra Pradesh |
| Tripura | 21 January 1972 | Became a state from a Union Territory |
| Uttar Pradesh | 26 January 1950 | Original state of India |
| Uttarakhand | 9 November 2000 | Formed by separating from Uttar Pradesh |
| West Bengal | 26 January 1950 | Original state of India |
How many Union Territories are there in india
| Union Territory | Formation Date |
|---|---|
| Andaman and Nicobar Islands | 1 November 1956 |
| Chandigarh | 1 November 1966 |
| Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu | 26 January 2020 (Merger of both) |
| Lakshadweep | 1 November 1956 |
| Delhi | 1 November 1956 (Declared NCT in 1991) |
| Puducherry | 1 November 1954 (Merged with India in 1962) |
| Jammu and Kashmir | 31 October 2019 |
| Ladakh | 31 October 2019 |
Which is the largest state of India
India’s largest state can be decided in two ways – by population and by area.
If we talk about population, Uttar Pradesh is the largest state. As of 2021, around 23 crore (230 million) people live here. In terms of area, it is the fourth largest state, covering 2,43,286 square kilometers. Its capital is Lucknow, and the main language spoken here is Hindi.
Uttar Pradesh is important in Indian politics because it carries the maximum of 80 Lok Sabha and 403 Vidhan Sabha seats. It is equally famous for places of religion as well as of history such as Ayodhya, Varanasi, Mathura, and Prayagraj. Main tourist destinations present here are Taj Mahal, Kashi Vishwanath Temple, and Sangam. Agricultural sectors, manufacturing industries, as well as tourist industries form this state’s economies. Uttar Pradesh is the single largest sugarcane as well as wheat producers in India, Which is the largest state of India.
The largest state in terms of area is Rajasthan, which covers 3,42,239 square kilometers. But it is only the seventh-largest in terms of population, having around 8 crore (80 million) people as of 2021. Its capital is Jaipur and the principal language is Hindi with Rajasthani, Which is the largest state of India.
Rajasthan is known for its forts and palaces. Some of the famous ones are Amer Fort (Jaipur), Mehrangarh Fort (Jodhpur), City Palace (Udaipur), and Sonar Fort (Jaisalmer). A large part of Rajasthan is covered by the Thar Desert, so it is also called the “Desert State.” Many colorful festivals like the Pushkar Fair, Camel Festival, and Desert Festival are celebrated here, making it a popular tourist place, What is state, What is state in nation.
Agriculture, mining, and tourism are the major sources of economy in Rajasthan. The state produces a great amount of marble, limestone, and other minerals. It is also home to renowned wildlife sanctuaries, such as Ranthambore and Sariska, where one can spot tigers and other wild animals.
Which is India’s smallest state
India’s smallest state may be conceived both by area as well as population.
Goa is the smallest state of India by area covering 3,702 square kilometers. The capital of this region is Panaji and the largest city is Vasco da Gama. The major language spoken here is Konkani. Goa became a full-fledged state on May 30, 1987. At the 2011 census, the total population of this region was 1.458 million.
This is a state well-known for its beautiful beaches, tourism, and Portuguese culture. The notable beaches in Goa are Baga Beach, Anjuna Beach, and Calangute Beach, which attract tourists worldwide. Goa has two districts—North Goa and South Goa. Tourism, fishing, and mining are the main sources of economy in the state. Historic churches in the state include the famous Basilica of Bom Jesus, Which is India’s smallest state.
Sikkim is the smallest state of India by population. The total population of this state is 610,577 according to the 2011 Census. Gangtok is its capital, and its total area is 7,096 square kilometers. Sikkim was made a part of India on May 16, 1975. Mainly Nepali, Lepcha, Bhutia, Limbu, and English are the main languages here. This place is famous for snow-capped mountains, beautiful lakes, and Buddhist monasteries, What is state, What is state in nation.
The highest peak is Kanchenjunga, 8,586 meters, which happens to be the third-highest peak in the world. Sikkim is India’s first fully organic state, meaning only organic farming is practiced here, and no chemical fertilizers or pesticides are used. Nathu La Pass, Tsomgo Lake, and Yuksom are the chief attractions of Sikkim. Sikkim is also the state with the lowest population density in India.
Who is the head of state
A head of a state is the highest constitutional and administrative person in a state. The head of every state in India is the Governor, who is appointed by the President of India. Articles 153 to 167 of the Indian Constitution refer to the provisions about the Governor. Generally, the term of a Governor is 5 years; however, he or she can be dismissed by the President anytime.
The head of the state government is the Governor, but only nominally. All the actions of the government in the state are carried out in the name of the Governor, and they appoint the Chief Minister and the Council of Ministers. However, the Governor acts on the advice of the Council of Ministers except in some special situations where they can take independent decisions, Who is the head of state.
There are various kinds of powers of the Governor, namely, executive, legislative, judicial, financial, and emergency powers. The Chief Minister and ministers are appointed under executive powers and government policies are overseen. Under legislative powers, the Governor summons and dissolves the State Assembly and sends bills for the approval or returns them for further consideration. The Governor can even send bills for the President’s approval, Who is the head of state.
Under judicial powers, Article 161 gives the Governor all authority to grant pardons, reduce sentences, or suspend punishments for criminals. Along with the items above, no money bill shall be presented before the State Assembly without the Governor’s concurrence, and the state budget is presented before the State Assembly along with the Governor’s recommendation. In case of a crisis, in case of constitutional crisis in the state, he can advise for President’s Rule under Article 356, through which the President suspends or dissolves the State Assembly.
The Governor, being the head of the state, is, however, a mere figurehead, and actual power rests in the hands of the Chief Minister and the Council of Ministers. The Chief Minister is the head of the state government and looks after the affairs of the state by governing the state, framing policies, administrative decisions, and advice to the Governor. Besides these, he is also active in legislative and financial matters. Hence, it can be concluded that the constitutional head is the Governor, but the Chief Minister and the Council of Ministers handle the policies and plans of the state, What is state, What is state in nation.