India has undergone many changes since it became a Republic on 26/1/1950; some major, some minor.
India’s borders have changed. Pondicherry, Karaikal, Mahe, Yanam, Dadra, Nagar Haveli, Goa, Diu, Daman and Sikkim became parts of India. India lost some territory to China though India’s official map does not show that.
States Re-organisation took place on 1/11/1956. Before that India had states in Parts A, B, C and Territories in Part D of First Schedule of India’s Constitution. Distinction between states disappeared and Union Territories were introduced. States like Hyderabad, Coorg, Cutch, Bhopal, Ajmer, Madhya Bharat, PEPSU, Travancore-Cochin and Vindhya Pradesh disappeared. States like Delhi, Manipur, Tripura and Himachal Pradesh became Union Territories. On 1/5/1960 Bombay was split into Gujarat and Maharashtra.
New States like Nagaland, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Jharkhand and Telangana came into existence later on. Some Union Territories became states. Some states had name changes. Madras became Tamil Nadu. Mysore became Karnataka.
Jammu & Kashmir was split into two Union Territories; 1) Jammu & Kashmir 2) Ladakh.
Cities had name changes. Bombay, Calcutta, Madras, Baroda, Poona, Calicut, Trivandrum, Allahabad and some other cities changed names.
Roads had name changes. Esplanade Road, Churchgate Street, Lamington Road, Mount Road, Cathedral Road, Allenby Road, Baird Road, Curzon Road, Dalhousie Road, Minto Road, Reading Road and many other roads changed names.
Many buildings, museums and gardens changed names.
When India became independent one American dollar was equal to3.36 rupees, on 26/1/1950 it was 4.76 rupees, on 6/6/1966 it was 7.50 rupees, now it is around 72 rupees.
On 26/1/1950 India’s President’s salary was Rs.10,000/- p.m. Now it is Rs.5,00,000/-. Similarly salaries of Vice President, Governors, judges, MPs, MLAs and others have gone up. That shows how much inflation has been there.
In 70 years Constitution was amended more than hundred times. Constitution (126th Amendment) Bill was the last amendment. It is said to be 104th amendment as some amendment bills were not passed. 42nd Amendment inserted the words SOCIALIST SECULAR in the Preamble.
Constitution had 8 Schedules. Now it has 12.
There were 14 languages in 8th Schedule. Now there are 22.
India did not have television in 1950. The number of TV channels telecast in India is said to be more than 1,000 including Indian and foreign channels.
India has progressed in computers and telecommunications. Cars, phones, fridges, washing machines are common.
India’s judicial system has become slow. Most people get date after date and no justice.
In sports India needs to do better.
Films and TV serials are plenty. Serials on historical persons have more fiction than fact.
