Jharkhand is a state in eastern India, officially the 28th state of the Indian Union, with its capital at Ranchi. The name itself means "Land of Forests," reflecting the region's geography on the Chota Nagpur Plateau.
The state was created on November 15, 2000, which was strategically chosen to coincide with the birth anniversary of the revered tribal leader Birsa Munda. Its formation was the culmination of a decades-long struggle, primarily by the Adivasis (Scheduled Tribes), who felt they received little socio-economic benefit and faced discontent under the administration of the undivided Bihar state. The core problem it solved was the demand for a separate administrative and political identity to protect the distinct cultural heritage and ensure the development of the mineral-rich region, which includes significant reserves of coal, iron, and mica.
Jharkhand was formally established by the Parliament of India through the Bihar Reorganisation Act, 2000. This Act provided for the bifurcation of the existing State of Bihar, carving out 18 districts from its southern portion to form the new state. Key provisions of the Act included the formation of a separate Jharkhand High Court at Ranchi, the establishment of its own Legislative Assembly and Council of Ministers, and the allocation of assets, liabilities, and state government employees between the successor states of Bihar and Jharkhand. The Act also amended the First Schedule and Fourth Schedule to the Constitution to reflect the new state's territory and its representation in the Rajya Sabha.
The concept of Jharkhand connects directly to the broader constitutional mechanism for the creation of new states under Article 3 of the Constitution of India, which empowers Parliament to form a new state by separation of territory from any state. The movement for its creation is closely linked to the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), formed in 1973, and the earlier efforts of the Jharkhand Party, which submitted a memorandum to the States Reorganisation Commission in 1955. The Act itself has not been replaced, but its provisions continue to govern the administrative and financial separation of the two states.