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Britannica Sources used in this answer

Why was Haryana separated from Punjab in 1966?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Map of India and surrounding countries with the state of Haryana highlighted in orange near the northern border, adjacent to New Delhi and Chandigarh. The map provides a regional context, showing neighboring countries including Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.
Haryana

The separation of Haryana from Punjab in 1966 was primarily driven by long-standing linguistic and religious differences between the two regions.1

The union between the two areas had been considered awkward due to the distinct identities of the Punjabi-speaking Sikh population in Punjab and the Hindi-speaking Hindu population in Haryana. While the Sikh community campaigned for a Punjabi suba (a Punjabi-speaking province), the people of the Hindi-speaking region simultaneously sought the creation of a "Vishal Haryana" (Greater Haryana).21

Agitation for a separate state of Haryana had been active since the early 20th century, led by figures such as Lala Lajpat Rai. Following the partition of India in 1947, these demands gained significant momentum. Ultimately, the Indian government passed the Punjab Reorganization Act, which partitioned the state into two to satisfy these regional aspirations, officially establishing Haryana as the 17th state of India on November 1, 1966.12