Question

________ common capital of both Punjab and Haryana.

• A. Chandigarh
• B. Shimla
• C. Nepal
• D. none of these

Answer 1

The correct option is A Chandigarh

• Chandigarh is a city and a union territory of India that serves as the capital of the Indian states of Punjab and Haryana.
  
• As a union territory, the city is governed directly by the Union Government and is not part of either state.
  
• After India got its independence in 1947, the country had to divide the then Punjab into East Punjab(Pakistan) and West Punjab(India). The capital of Punjab before the Independence was Lahore.
  
• With the partition of India and Punjab, Lahore went to Pakistan.
  
• So, the Government of India under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru carved out a new city Chandigarh consisting of nearly 50 Pwadhi speaking villages of the then state of East Punjab India. Chandigarh was designed to be a model city and is still is considered one of the best planned cities in the world.
  
• In 1966, a new state Haryana was then formed from the eastern portion of Punjab. This was formed because the development of the then large portion of Punjab was getting difficult.
  
• After that, both states locked horns with each other as both of them vied the ownership of the city. It was then decided by the Central Government to make Chandigarh a Union Territory for ten years till the states came at a decision. Both states did not want to give away Chandigarh, so it was made the capital of both Punjab and Haryana.
  
• The ten years became more than forty years, and still Chandigarh is a UT and the capital of both the states. The conflict of interest has not been resolved and that is why Chandigarh is lucky to be a part of the Central Government as a Union Territory and Punjab and Haryana.