State Foundation Day 2026: 8 Indian States and 5 Union Territories That Observe November 1

November 1st is an important part of India’s political and administrative history. Eight Indian states and five Union Territories celebrate their Foundation Day on this date. These states are Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, and Tamil Nadu. Whilst some states were formed in 1956 as part of the States Reorganization Act, they have since evolved to become the current states we know today.

8 Indian States That Celebrate Foundation Day On November 1st

These 8 Indian states were formed or reformed on November 1st. Some were formed in 1956 as part of the States Reorganization Act. Whilst others, such as Punjab, Haryana, and Chhattisgarh were formed as part of later reforms.

State	Date of Formation	Notes
Andhra Pradesh	1956	Formed by merging Andhra State with areas of Hyderabad State that spoke Telugu.
Karnataka	1956	Formed by merging areas that speak Kannada into one state called Mysore State.
Kerala	1956	Formed by merging Travancore-Cochin and Malabar.
Madhya Pradesh	1956	Reformed under States Reorganisation Act.
Tamil Nadu	1956	Established as Madras State and renamed Tamil Nadu in 1969.
Punjab	1966	Took its current form after state reorganisation.
Haryana	1966	Formed from Punjab under the Punjab Reorganization Act.
Chhattisgarh	2000	Formed from Madhya Pradesh.

8 Indian States That Celebrate Foundation Day

1. Andhra Pradesh

• Date of Formation: November 1st 1956
• Andhra Pradesh was formed on November 1st 1956. This was done by merging Andhra State and areas of the former Hyderabad State that spoke Telugu. Hyderabad became the capital.
• This was an important part of the linguistic reform of Indian states.

2. Karnataka

• Date of Formation: November 1st 1956
• Karnataka celebrates November 1st as their Karnataka Rajyotsava (Kannada Rajyotsava). The state was formed in 1956 by merging many areas that spoke Kannada. This was initially called Mysore State.
• The name was changed to Karnataka in 1973. This day celebrates the linguistic identity of the state.

3. Kerala

• Date of Formation: November 1st 1956
• Kerala celebrate Foundation Day as their Kerala Piravi (Birth of Kerala). The state was formed on November 1st 1956 after merging Travancore-Cochin with the Malabar district and Kasaragod area.
• Kerala is also known as “God’s Own Country”.

4. Madhya Pradesh

• Date of Formation: November 1st 1956
• Madhya Pradesh was formed on November 1st 1956 under the States Reorganization Act 1956. Many areas were merged to create the state, with Bhopal as the capital.
• It is often referred to as the “Heart of India” due to its central location. The state is well known for its historic monuments, temples, National Parks, and wildlife.

5. Tamil Nadu

• Date of Formation: November 1st 1956
• Tamil Nadu was formed as the Madras State on November 1st 1956. This was part of the linguistic reform. In 1969 the state was renamed Tamil Nadu.
• The state is renowned for its language (Tamil), literature, historic temples, traditional art, and rich heritage.

6. Punjab

• Date of Current Form: November 1st 1966
• Punjab took its current form on November 1st 1966 under the Punjab Reorganization Act 1966. The former Punjab State was reformed. This resulted in the creation of Haryana and changes to surrounding areas.
• Chandigarh became the common capital of Punjab and Haryana. It was also classified as a Union Territory.

7. Haryana

• Date of Formation: November 1st 1966
• Haryana was formed on November 1st 1966 after separating from Punjab. This happened under the Punjab Reorganization Act 1966. This was due to the demand of having a new state.
• In 2026, Haryana will be celebrating 60 years since its formation. One of the most well-known cities in Haryana is Gurugram (Millennium City). It has produced many athletes who have represented the country internationally.

8. Chhattisgarh

• Date of Formation: November 1st 2000
• Chhattisgarh was formed on November 1st 2000 after separating from Madhya Pradesh. It became the 26th state in India.
• The formation was an important step in creating smaller states.

Union Territories That Celebrate Foundation Day On November 1st

Alongside the 8 states listed above there are 5 Union Territories that celebrate Foundation Day on November 1st. These are,

• Andaman and Nicobar Islands
• Chandigarh
• Delhi
• Lakshadweep
• Puducherry