States Reorganisation, Planning and foreign policy of India

It was in 1956 when the States reorganisation Act of India came into existence. The Act reformed the boundaries of Indian territories and states based on the language in each region. The States reorganisation Act divided states into four types. Along with State reorganisation, students will also learn about the foreign policy of India. 

After Independence, India was planning for development by introducing principles of the foreign policy of India. The policy in India referred to various objectives, interests and principles for promoting the country to the global level. The thrust of foreign policy, however, keeps on changing with time. Further details are mentioned ahead.

States reorganisation: Classification into different types

The State reorganisation commission in India in 1956 divided the states into four different types. The reorganisation was based on several factors, including language while replacing the religion-based identities to enhance peaceful cooperation among the citizens.

• Part A States

These were British India’s past governors provinces with an elected governor and state legislature to control these states. Bombay, Madras, Assam, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh (formerly Central Provinces and Berar), Punjab (previously East Punjab), Uttar Pradesh, Orissa and West Bengal were part of Part A states.

• Part B States

These were princely states or groupings of princely states that had previously existed. A Rajpramukh was in charge of these states as he was the ruler of a constituent state. Rajpramukh is the monarch of a constituent state with a legislature that is chosen by the people and was appointed by India’s President.

Patiala and the East Punjab States Union (PEPSU), Hyderabad, Jammu and Kashmir and Travancore-Cochin were the states of Part B. Madhya Pradesh. Mysore, Rajasthan and Saurashtra are the states that make up Madhya Pradesh.

• Part C States

Part C included the provinces of the former Chief Commissioners as well as several princely kingdoms controlled by a Chief Commissioner chosen by India’s President. Bhopal, Tripura, Coorg, Manipur, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Bilaspur, Cutch, Ajmer and Vindhya Pradesh were the states in Part C.

• Part D States

The central government chose a lieutenant governor to lead this state. Only the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are part of the Part D state.

Planning for development & Foreign Policy of India

The foreign policy of India shaped different segments of the nation including economy, geography, history and culture. The first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru helped in shaping the policy for the country. While implementing foreign policy, the nations wanted to preserve certain objectives including world peace, independence for Afro-Asian nations and disarmament, as they played an important role in India’s independence. 

To seek these objectives, certain principles were introduced in foreign policy. They are listed as follows: 

• Panchsheel

Jawaharlal Nehru was a true believer in world peace and that is why he gave most importance to friendly relations with all the countries especially the powerful countries and neighbours. He called this objective ‘Panchsheel’. This objectives include the following principles:

1. Mutual respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of each other.
2. Non-aggression pact.
3. Mutual non-interference in one another’s internal affairs.
4. Mutual benefit and equality.
5. Peaceful coexistence.

• Non-Alignment 

The most essential element of India’s foreign policy has been non-alignment. Non-alignment is intended to retain national independence in international affairs by refusing to join any military alliance created after WWII by the United States and the Soviet Union. Non-alignment has nothing to do with neutrality, non-involvement, or isolationism. 

It was a fluid idea that meant not committing to any military alliance and instead adopting an independent stance on foreign affairs based on the facts of the situation during planning for development. The non-alignment approach attracted many adherents in developing nations because it allowed them to defend their sovereignty while still maintaining their freedom of action during the tense Cold War period.

India was instrumental in the formation of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). The notion of NAM developed through time. In 1947, Nehru was the driving force behind the Asian Relations Conference in New Delhi. In 1955, a Conference of 29 Asian and African countries convened in Bandung (Indonesia). This was the first gathering of its sort, with participants vowing to collaborate for colonial freedom, peace, cultural, economic and political collaboration.

Anti-colonialism, anti-imperialism and anti-racism

India has long battled colonialism and racism particularly throughout the country’s reorganisation, planning and foreign policy. Whenever there was an injustice, India spoke up, for example in 1947. In support of Indonesian identity in the face of Dutch colonialism and in opposition to South Africa’s unlawful takeover of Namibia and the infamous apartheid policy in South Africa. India was a strong supporter of communist China’s admission to the United Nations.

Strengthening the United Nations

India has long considered the United Nations as a vehicle for international peace and peaceful transformation. Apart from that India has always expected the UN to actively engage nations in talks or negotiations to help them resolve their problems. India has also urged for the UN to play a more active role in the development of third world countries. 

In the Unified Nations, India has urged for a united front of third world countries. It thinks that, because of its size, the non-aligned world can play a constructive and significant role in the UN by preventing superpowers from utilising the organisation for their own needs. India connected the decrease of weaponry with the wider objective of development as early as 1950.

Conclusion

At the time of Independence in 1947, the country was very peculiar about the States reorganisation, Planning and foreign policy of India. Not only did the Prime Minister work on creating peaceful solutions among the states in India but he also worked on sustaining peaceful relationships with the rest of the world. 

It was a time of creating a history for the country and how it will showcase its principles to the entire world. The acts took some time to roll out to the world but since then have been one of the sole factors of successful objectives of the country to the entire world.