The Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966

The Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966 is an Indian law that aimed to reorganize the Indian state of Punjab, which had been created in 1947. The act separated the largely Hindu and Sikh areas of the state from the largely Muslim areas and created a new state, Haryana. It also created a new Union Territory, Chandigarh, which serves as the capital of both Punjab and Haryana. The act made provisions for the transfer of assets and liabilities of the existing state of Punjab, including its debt and government employees, between the newly created states and the Union Territory. The act was passed in response to longstanding demands from Punjabi Hindus and Sikhs for a separate state, as well as from the government of India, which sought to better manage the administration of the region.