Q.Which of the following should be the basis for formation of a State? Why? (Common Language / economic interests / religion / administrative convenience)

The chapter explains that India's States were created "as far as possible... on the basis of common cultural and linguistic identity," following the States Reorganisation Commission of 1953 — economic interests and administrative convenience were later, supporting reasons (used in the 2000 division of MP/UP/Bihar), while religion was never used as a basis. …

1. Common Language: the chapter states directly that India's national movement generated "distinct unity around a common language, region and culture," and that "in the course of the national movement itself, it was decided that as far as possible, States would be created on the basis of common cultural and linguistic identity." The States Reorganisation Commission set up in December 1953 recommended creating linguistic States, and India's actual reorganisations since 1956 — Gujarat and Maharashtra in 1960, Punjab and Haryana in 1966, the north-eastern States, and even the 2014 creation of Telangana — have broadly followed this principle. This makes common language the strongest, textbook-supported basis.
2. Common economic interests: the chapter notes that the 2000 division of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar (creating Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand) was partly "to meet the need for greater administrative efficiency," which touches economic/administrative viability. So economic interests can be a legitimate supporting factor, but they have not been India's primary or sole basis for defining a new State's people. …