When were Indian states first organised on a linguistic basis?

The reorganization of Indian states on a linguistic basis was a gradual process, but the major turning point was in 1956.

Here's a breakdown:

* 1947: India gained independence, but the princely states were initially given the option to join India or Pakistan. Many states were multilingual and their boundaries were not based on language.

* 1953-1956: The States Reorganisation Commission was formed to address linguistic tensions and recommend state boundaries. This commission recommended the creation of states based on language, but with some exceptions.

* 1956: Based on the commission's recommendations, the States Reorganisation Act was passed, which created 14 states and 6 union territories. This was a significant shift towards linguistic states, though some exceptions still existed.

* Post 1956: Further reorganizations continued, with states being created or modified based on language considerations. For example, Punjab was divided into Punjab and Haryana in 1966 based on language.

Therefore, while the process started earlier, 1956 is considered the pivotal year when the reorganization of states on a linguistic basis took place. It marked a significant step towards recognizing and representing the linguistic diversity of India.