In which year was the separate State of Jharkhand officially formed out of the State of Bihar?

Introduction / Context:
The political map of India has changed several times since independence, as new States have been created to recognise regional identities and improve administration. Jharkhand is one such State carved out of the southern districts of Bihar. This question checks whether you know the year in which Jharkhand officially came into existence as a separate State.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The subject is the creation of the State of Jharkhand.
• Jharkhand was formed by reorganising the State of Bihar.
• Options list four years around the turn of the century plus one extra year.
• We assume familiarity with major State reorganisation events in post independence India.

Concept / Approach:
Jharkhand was created as a separate State on 15 November 2000. The Parliament of India passed the Bihar Reorganisation Act, 2000, which provided for the formation of the new State. The date 15 November was chosen to coincide with the birth anniversary of tribal leader Birsa Munda. Therefore, the correct year is 2000, not 1998, 1999, 2001, or 2002.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Jharkhand became a State at the beginning of the twenty first century, not in the 1990s. Step 2: Remember that the Bihar Reorganisation Act, 2000, is the law that created Jharkhand. Step 3: Connect the name of the Act with the year 2000, as Acts are usually labelled by the year of their passage. Step 4: Select 2000 from the options as the correct year for the formation of Jharkhand.

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard history and polity references mention that Jharkhand, Uttaranchal, and Chhattisgarh were created around the same period, with Jharkhand being formed on 15 November 2000. Official government websites and maps dated before and after that year also show Jharkhand as appearing as a separate State from 2000 onwards. This confirms that the answer 2000 is accurate.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
1998 and 1999: These years precede the passing of the Bihar Reorganisation Act, so Jharkhand did not yet exist as a separate State. 2001 and 2002: These years are after Jharkhand was already formed. They may be used in options to confuse candidates who only vaguely remember that the State appeared around the early 2000s but do not recall the exact year.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent error is to confuse the formation year of Jharkhand with those of other new States such as Chhattisgarh or Uttaranchal, which were created around the same time. Another pitfall is to remember only that Jharkhand is a relatively new State and to guess a year without anchoring it to the relevant reorganisation Act. Memorising a short list of key State formation years, including 2000 for Jharkhand, is useful for exam preparation.

Final Answer:
2000