Which North-Eastern state was formed as the 16th state of the Indian Union?

Concept

The order of statehood in the Indian Union is determined by the date on which a territory was admitted or formally constituted as a state.

The relevant constitutional or statutory milestone must be distinguished from earlier administrative status and later political developments.

Application

1. Nagaland attained statehood on 1 December 1963 under the State of Nagaland Act, 1962.

2. It entered the Union after the first fifteen states in the statehood sequence and therefore became the 16th state.

Cross-check and contrast

• Manipur became a full-fledged state in 1972 and is counted as the 19th state.

• Sikkim joined the Indian Union as a state in 1975 and is counted as the 22nd state.

• Arunachal Pradesh attained statehood in 1987 and is counted as the 24th state.

Therefore, the state described is Nagaland.