Aspirant Academy
ENHI

RAS question

The formation of the state of Rajasthan was completed in how many phases?

Correct answer: (D) 7.

The formation of Rajasthan was completed in seven stages, ending with Re-organized Rajasthan on 1 November 1956 under the State Re-organization Act of 1956.

  1. (A)

    8

  2. (B)

    6

  3. (C)

    5

  4. (D)

    7

Explanation

Rajasthan was not formed in a single administrative step after Independence. The Rajasthan Foundation page states that the integration of the 19 states and three chiefships of Rajputana into the Indian Union took seven stages to form Rajasthan. The sequence began with the Matsya Union on 17 March 1948, followed by the Rajasthan Union, United States of Rajasthan, Greater Rajasthan, United States of Greater Rajasthan, and United Rajasthan. The seventh stage was Re-organized Rajasthan, triggered by the State Re-organization Act of 1956, and it completed Rajasthan's formation on 1 November 1956. Therefore, the number asked in the MCQ is seven, not any lower or higher count.

Why the other options are wrong

  • (A) Eight is too high because the official sequence lists seven stages, with Re-organized Rajasthan as the final stage.
  • (B) Six stops at United Rajasthan on 26 January 1950 and misses the seventh reorganisation stage completed on 1 November 1956.
  • (C) Five stops at the United States of Greater Rajasthan and leaves out both United Rajasthan and the final Re-organized Rajasthan stage.

Concept

This tests the post-Independence integration of princely states in Rajasthan, a recurring RAS theme because state formation links modern Indian history with Rajasthan-specific polity and geography. The key is to remember the complete seven-stage sequence from Matsya Union to Re-organized Rajasthan.

Source

Related questions