Difficulty: Medium
Correct Answer: 10 districts
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Telangana became the 29th State of India in June 2014, carved out of the north-western part of the former State of Andhra Pradesh. At the moment of its creation, the State had a specific number of districts, which later changed after administrative reorganisation. This question focuses on the original number of districts at the time of formation, which is an important factual detail often tested in competitive examinations on Indian polity and geography.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
When Telangana was officially formed on 2 June 2014, it initially consisted of 10 districts that were previously part of Andhra Pradesh. These included districts such as Hyderabad, Warangal, Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Khammam, Nalgonda, Mahbubnagar, Medak, Adilabad and Rangareddy. Later, the State government reorganised and created several new districts, increasing the total count significantly. However, for exam purposes, questions often specifically mention “at the time of formation,” which points clearly to the original number of 10 districts.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Focus on the phrase “at the time of its formation in June 2014,” which limits us to the original administrative structure.
Step 2: Recall that Telangana initially had 10 districts taken from the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh.
Step 3: Remember that new districts were created later, but those changes are not relevant to this particular question.
Step 4: Compare this recall with the options: 9, 10, 11 and 12; 10 districts matches the known fact.
Step 5: Choose “10 districts” as the correct answer.
Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this information by cross-checking basic Telangana State profiles in standard reference books or official government summaries, which consistently mention that Telangana was formed with 10 districts and later reorganised into a much larger number. Many exam-oriented guides also mention: “Telangana (formed 2014) – originally 10 districts; districts increased later through reorganisation.” This pattern across multiple sources confirms the accuracy of the 10-district figure at the time of formation.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
9 districts: There is no standard or official record stating that Telangana began with only 9 districts; this is an incorrect number.
11 districts: This overstates the initial number of districts; 11 districts came into play only in some other States or in later reorganisations elsewhere.
12 districts: This also exaggerates the initial figure for Telangana; the official original number was 10, not 12.
Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to confuse the original number of districts with the current number after new districts were created. Many students may have read news about Telangana increasing its number of districts and then misapply that information to questions that specifically refer to the time of formation. Another pitfall is not reading the time reference carefully and answering based on present-day administrative structures. Always pay careful attention to phrases like “at the time of formation” or “as of now” when dealing with such questions.
Final Answer:
At the time of its formation in June 2014, Telangana consisted of 10 districts.
Discussion & Comments