Violent protests have taken place in Andhra Pradesh An official report on whether India should create a new southern state of Telangana has been released.
Andhra Pradesh, from which Telangana would be created, saw protests for and against the new state last year.
The report offers six possibilities, ranging from creating a separate state to keeping Andhra Pradesh united but with more powers for Telangana.
The report followed a meeting of major parties, which was boycotted by the party leading the statehood demand.
The final decision on a new state lies with the Indian parliament.
But the state assembly must also pass a resolution approving its creation.
Opponents of the move are unhappy that the state capital, Hyderabad, home to many major information technology and pharmaceutical companies, would become Telangana's new capital.
Last February, the government decided to set up a committee headed by an ex-chief justice of the Supreme Court of India, BN Srikrishna, to examine the demands for the new state.
Mr Srikrishna handed over his report to federal Home Minister P Chidambaram last week.
Among other things, the 461-page report suggests:
- A separate Telangana state with Hyderabad as its capital
- A united Andhra Pradesh with more powers for the Telangana region
- Splitting up Andhra Pradesh into two parts - Telangana and Seemandhra, comprising the Rayalseema and coastal regions - with two state capitals
- "Maintaining status quo"
Mr Chidambaram appealed to the political parties to read the judge's report with an "open mind" and give it their "impartial consideration".
He hoped the report would generate an "informed and mature" debate on the issue.
Mr Chidambaram's remarks followed a meeting with major political parties to share the contents of the report.
Telangana
- Population of 35 million
- Comprises 10 districts of Andhra Pradesh, including city of Hyderabad
- Landlocked, predominantly agricultural area
- One of the most under-developed regions in India
- 50-year campaign for separate status
- More than 400 people died in 1969 crackdown
The regional Telangana Rashtra Samiti party, which is leading calls to create the new state, the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Telugu Desam party stayed away from Thursday's meeting.
Call for calmCorrespondents say there are deep divisions within political parties over the Telangana issue.
In December 2009, India's Congress party-led government promised that the new state would be formed but later said more talks were needed.
Parties are split on the issue.
Congress is also in power in Andhra Pradesh.
The announcement prompted widespread protests in the state, and a student committed suicide in support of the formation of Telangana.
Fearing fresh violence in the state after the publication of the report, the government has appealed to the people of Andhra Pradesh to stay calm.
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