At the core of this initiative is the Administrative Atlas of India (1872–2011), a resource containing detailed maps of India’s provincial and district boundaries over nearly 150 years. These maps, however, were not available in digitized, GIS-compatible formats. To unlock their analytical potential, the team undertook the task of converting these maps into GIS shapefiles, enabling the extraction of precise administrative boundaries. This foundational work made it possible to systematically track changes in provincial, state, and district boundaries across decades.
By stitching together data across different periods, the project highlights key transitions in India’s history:
1872-1941: Evolution India’s provinces, princely states, and districts from the first pan Indian Census to the present
1941–1951: Integration of princely states and major boundary restructuring to create the Indian Union.
1951–2011: Post-Independence, administrative divisions expanded, with the number of districts rising from 310 to 640 and all states undergoing major restructuring.
The project also faced unique challenges, such as mapping boundary changes post-2011 due to the unavailability of reliable GIS data. By synthesizing multiple sources, the team documented administrative transitions up to 2024, tracking changes in district names and boundaries with unprecedented precision. These efforts culminated in a Spatial and Temporal Database of Indian States and Districts, complemented by a rich visual archive illustrating the administrative evolution of India.
This work is not only a robust historical record but also an invaluable resource for researchers, policymakers, and the public, enabling them to trace India’s administrative and political transformations with greater clarity and ease.
This project employed a comprehensive and multi-method research approach to document the political and administrative evolution of India's states and districts. The process combined quantitative methods, secondary data analysis, historical literature reviews, and qualitative interviews, providing an unparalleled depth of insight.
Data Curation and Digitization
The foundation of the project was the digitization of maps from the Administrative Atlas of India (1872–2011). These maps, which detail India’s administrative boundaries at the provincial, state, and district levels, were segmented by decades and converted into GIS shapefiles.
A consultant in Hyderabad assisted in transforming these print maps into digital formats, unlocking new possibilities for spatial and temporal analysis.
Tracing Boundary Changes
The team systematically mapped changes in provincial and district boundaries from 1872 to 1951, documenting splits, mergers, and the creation of new administrative units during the colonial period.
Post-Independence, the project tracked the spatial integration of states and documented the ongoing administrative division of districts. This included tracing the formation of new states and the splitting of districts, visualized through alluvial diagrams and dendrograms.
Mapping Spatial and Administrative Evolution
The evolution of state and district boundaries was mapped decade by decade, with special attention to boundary changes and name alterations.
The research captured the transformation of India’s administrative landscape from 1951 to 2024, documenting how states and districts have grown and adapted in response to administrative needs.
Literature Integration and Historical Contextualization
A review of India’s political and state history provided historical context for the changes in administrative boundaries. This narrative was integrated with spatial data to offer a cohesive story of state and district evolution.
Visual and Digital Documentation
The project created a wealth of visual documentation, including:
Posters for each state, depicting their administrative evolution.
A visual booklet of India’s evolution from 1951 to 2021.
A booklet on the integration of Indian states post-Independence.
The outputs were disseminated through platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and a dedicated webpage, ensuring accessibility and engagement for a broad audience.
By synthesizing these diverse methodologies, the project has provided a robust and detailed account of India’s administrative history. The digitized maps and visualizations offer powerful tools for analysis, while the integrated narratives make the findings accessible and engaging for historians, researchers, and the general public alike.
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