The State of Uttarakhand (initially known as Uttaranchal) came into existence as a separate State of the Indian Union on which of the following dates?

Introduction / Context:
India has undergone several rounds of state reorganisation based on linguistic, cultural and administrative considerations. In the year 2000, three new states were created: Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand (then called Uttaranchal) and Jharkhand. Remembering the exact dates on which these states were carved out is a common topic in competitive examinations. This question asks for the specific date on which Uttarakhand became a separate state of the Indian Union.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The options present several dates in November 2000 and a later date in January 2008.
- We know that Uttarakhand was created around the same time as Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand but on a distinct date.
- Chhattisgarh came into existence on 1 November 2000, and Jharkhand on 15 November 2000.
- The state carved out of the hilly districts of Uttar Pradesh was initially known as Uttaranchal and later renamed Uttarakhand.

Concept / Approach:
The Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000 created the separate state of Uttaranchal, which was later renamed Uttarakhand. This new state formally came into existence on 9 November 2000. Exam questions often test whether students can distinguish between the dates for Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Uttarakhand. Knowing that Chhattisgarh is 1 November, Jharkhand is 15 November and Uttarakhand falls in between on 9 November helps in answering correctly.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the three states created in the year 2000: Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand.Step 2: Remember that Chhattisgarh was formed on 1 November and Jharkhand on 15 November.Step 3: Identify that Uttarakhand, created as Uttaranchal, came into existence on 9 November 2000.Step 4: Compare the available options and locate 9 November 2000 as option B.Step 5: Select option B as the correct answer and rule out later dates and other November dates associated with different states.

Verification / Alternative check:
Verification can be done by consulting timeline charts of reorganisation of Indian states in political atlases or polity textbooks. These charts generally show the year 2000 as a key milestone, with entries for Chhattisgarh on 1 November, Uttarakhand or Uttaranchal on 9 November and Jharkhand on 15 November. News archives from that period also record the formal ceremonies on these specific dates. This external confirmation clearly supports the choice of 9 November 2000 for Uttarakhand.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
1 November 2000 (option A) is the date of creation of Chhattisgarh, not Uttarakhand. 10 November 2000 (option C) is a distractor and does not correspond to the creation of any of the three new states in that year. 1 January 2008 (option D) has no relation to the birth of Uttarakhand as a state; by then the state already existed, though various administrative changes may have taken place. 15 November 2000 (option E) is the date on which Jharkhand was carved out of Bihar, not the date of creation of Uttarakhand.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes remember only that three states were formed in November 2000 and confuse their individual dates. A common error is to mix up Uttarakhand with Chhattisgarh or Jharkhand because all three were created in the same month and year. Another pitfall is to focus only on the year and ignore the exact day and month. Creating a simple memory aid that links each new state with its correct date can help prevent such confusion.

Final Answer:
9 November 2000 is the date on which the state of Uttarakhand, initially known as Uttaranchal, came into existence as a separate state of the Indian Union.