Identify the incorrect pair:

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 4:

The question asks you to identify the *incorrect* pair concerning key events in the linguistic reorganization of Indian states. The correct answer is Option 4: Goa status referendum - 1980. This pair is factually incorrect because the Goa Opinion Poll, commonly referred to as the Goa Status Referendum, took place much earlier, in **1967**, not 1980. This referendum was held to decide whether Goa should merge with the neighboring State of Maharashtra or retain its separate identity as a Union Territory. The Goan people voted decisively against the merger, allowing the region to retain its separate identity, which was crucial for its eventual statehood in 1987. Since the stated year (1980) does not match the historical event (1967), this pair is the incorrect one. Understanding these chronological facts is essential for mastering the history of post-independence India's political geography.

The incorrect option is 1:

Option 1 states: Andhra State created from the Telugu-speaking Northern districts of Madras State - 1953. This pair is historically correct. The creation of Andhra State in October 1953, carved out from the northern Telugu-speaking districts of the Madras Presidency, was a landmark event. It was the first state created on a linguistic basis, spurred by the fast-unto-death of Potti Sriramulu for a separate state. This creation demonstrated the political power of linguistic identity and eventually led the central government to appoint the States Reorganisation Commission (SRC) later that year, setting the stage for the massive nationwide reorganization that followed. Since the year 1953 is accurate for the formation of the first Andhra State, this pair is not the incorrect one.

The incorrect option is 2:

Option 2 states: States Reorganisation Act - 1956. This is a historically accurate statement. The States Reorganisation Act was enacted in November 1956. This act was the legal culmination of the recommendations made by the States Reorganisation Commission (SRC), which had been appointed in 1953. The Act reorganized the states and union territories of India on linguistic lines, replacing the earlier classification of states into Part A, B, C, and D. It resulted in the formation of 14 states and 6 union territories, marking a significant milestone in India's administrative and political history. As the year 1956 is correct, this option is a correct pair.

The incorrect option is 3:

Option 3 states: State of Maharashtra created - 1960. This pair is also chronologically correct. The State of Maharashtra was officially established on May 1, 1960, coinciding with the establishment of the State of Gujarat. These two states were created by dividing the bilingual Bombay State based on the demands of the Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti and the Mahagujarat movement, respectively. This division was carried out to satisfy the linguistic aspirations of the Marathi and Gujarati speaking populations. Since the formation of Maharashtra in 1960 is an established fact, this pairing is correct and thus not the answer to the question asking for the *incorrect* pair.