FLAME University maps India’s ever-changing state and district borders
A team from FLAME University is officially launching “The India State Stories” a project to uncover “the rich tapestry of Indian states and districts from 1941 to 2021
Apart from maps, tables and texts, there are podcasts on themes that take one on “a journey of India’s territorial evolution - from the colonial era to the Indian States and districts as we know them today”.
The birth of a nation or a state is a never quiet one. The public discourse is long and loud. But, many districts are formed with a simple executive order. In a stroke of the pen in 2016, Telangana tripled its number of districts. In 2022, Andhra Pradesh doubled the number of districts from 13 to 26. There was little debate or discussion among people.
Unfortunately, it was difficult to find a common data repository for all the information. The borders of many districts have changed. On the other hand, many cities were considered districts earlier. A person interested in exploring these chapters of Indian history over a long period would find it challenging to find data.
Now, a team from FLAME University is officially launching “The India State Stories” a project to uncover “the rich tapestry of Indian states and districts from 1941 to 2021”. The free platform has been unofficially open since last year. It allows historians, students, academicians from political science, demography, public health and education, policy makers and interested individuals to explore “the diverse historical and political narratives shaping the subcontinent.”
“There are untold stories and hidden facets of India’s regions. When you study a long period of time, you need to have a dictionary of how things have changed,” says Prof Shivakumar Jolad, the Founder-Director of the project. He is also an Associate Professor, Public Policy at FLAME University and Chair of the FLAME Center for Legislative Education and Research.
Though the platform appears to be of academic interest, it addresses the regular user by saying, “Administrative and political history isn’t just something happening far away— it shapes our daily lives. Maybe you remember a childhood story, an address mix-up after a district name change, or an unexpected impact of a policy shift”.
The interactive, user-friendly website stokes one’s curiosity. One of the first sections asks, “The foundational statement of India in the Constitution defines India as a union of states. Yet, none of the states that occupy India’s current geographical boundary existed in the same structure back in 1950. How did this come to be?”. Another chapter points out that “the political map of India in 1951 was unrecognisable from the map of 2021”. Another segment says, “Public policy and administration rarely address the evolution of the ‘district’ in India. Why are they split, who bears the costs and benefits? Does creating new districts lead to better administration?”
Apart from maps, tables and texts, there are podcasts on themes that take one on “a journey of India’s territorial evolution – from the colonial era to the Indian States and districts as we know them today”.
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A chapter, titled “Why Indian Districts Are Not Equal” highlights how “India’s districts are widely unequal—in terms of population, area and population density, highlighting the arbitrary nature of district formation in the country”. The researchers show that Thane, Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur, among other districts, have very high population densities, while others are much less densely populated.
Another insightful chapter is “Political Motives Trump Administrative Reasons: Tracing the History of District Creation in India”. The District Dashboard section comprises six interactive dashboards to allow a user to visualise and track the evolution and changes in the Indian districts from 1872 till 2024.
A work in progress is the District Tracker, which uses tools, such as comparative bar charts and population-weighted bubble plots to help a user map and compare India’s administrative landscape as of 2025. “We take all the data from government sources, from the census and surveys to Open Government Data and Local Government Directory,” says Jolad.
Dipanita Nath is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. She is a versatile journalist with a deep interest in the intersection of culture, sustainability, and urban life.
Professional Background
Experience: Before joining The Indian Express, she worked with other major news organizations including Hindustan Times, The Times of India, and Mint.
Core Specializations: She is widely recognized for her coverage of the climate crisis, theatre and performing arts, heritage conservation, and the startup ecosystem (often through her "Pune Inc" series).
Storytelling Focus: Her work often unearths "hidden stories" of Pune—focusing on historical institutes, local traditions, and the personal journeys of social innovators.
Recent Notable Articles (December 2025)
Her recent reporting highlights Pune’s cultural pulse and the environmental challenges facing the city during the winter season:
1. Climate & Environment
"Pune shivers on coldest morning of the season; minimum temperature plunges to 6.9°C" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the record-breaking cold wave in Pune and the IMD's forecast for the week.
"How a heritage tree-mapping event at Ganeshkhind Garden highlights rising interest in Pune’s green legacy" (Dec 20, 2025): Covering a citizen-led initiative where Gen Z and millennials gathered to document and protect ancient trees at a Biodiversity Heritage Site.
"Right to breathe: Landmark NGT order directs PMC to frame norms for pollution from construction sites" (Dec 8, 2025): Reporting on a significant legal victory for residents fighting dust and air pollution in urban neighborhoods like Baner.
2. "Hidden Stories" & Heritage
"Inside Pune library that’s nourished minds of entrepreneurs for 17 years" (Dec 21, 2025): A feature on the Venture Center Library, detailing how a collection of 3,500 specialized books helps tech startups navigate the product life cycle.
"Before he died, Ram Sutar gave Pune a lasting gift" (Dec 18, 2025): A tribute to the legendary sculptor Ram Sutar (creator of the Statue of Unity), focusing on his local works like the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue at Pune airport.
"The Pune institute where MA Jinnah was once chief guest" (Dec 6, 2025): An archival exploration of the College of Agriculture, established in 1907, and its historical role in India's freedom struggle.
3. Arts, Theatre & "Pune Inc"
"Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak were not rivals but close friends, says veteran filmmaker" (Dec 17, 2025): A deep-dive interview ahead of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) exploring the camaraderie between legends of Indian cinema.
"Meet the Pune entrepreneur helping women build and scale businesses" (Dec 16, 2025): Part of her "Pune Inc" series, profiling Nikita Vora’s efforts to empower female-led startups.
"How women drone pilots in rural Maharashtra are cultivating a green habit" (Dec 12, 2025): Exploring how technology is being used by women in agriculture to reduce chemical use and labor.
Signature Style
Dipanita Nath is known for intellectual curiosity and a narrative-driven approach. Whether she is writing about a 110-year-old eatery or the intricacies of the climate crisis, she focuses on the human element and the historical context. Her columns are often a blend of reportage and cultural commentary, making them a staple for readers interested in the "soul" of Pune.
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