Indian Princely States

1. Most of the integration of princely states in the Union of India had taken place in which year? [U.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 1990]

(a) 1948
(b) 1947
(c) 1950
(d) 1961

Correct Answer: (b) 1947

Solution:Integration of most of the princely states happened in 1947. All Princely States merged into the Union of India in 1947 except Junagarh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Hyderabad. These three states were compelled to join the Union of India until the end of 1948. Sardar Patel, who took charge of the state department in 1947, tackled the situation with great statesmanship. Patel appealed to the patriotic and nationalist sentiments of the Princes and requested the States to be handed over to the authority of External Affairs, Defence, and Communications to the Indian Dominion. The Integration of Princely states had taken proper shape in his leadership.

2. Integration of States was done under the leadership of: [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Mains) 2002]

(a) Maulana Azad
(b) Govind Ballabh Pant
(c) B.R. Ambedkar
(d) Sardar Patel

Correct Answer: (d) Sardar Patel

Solution:Integration of most of the princely states happened in 1947. All Princely States merged into the Union of India in 1947 except Junagarh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Hyderabad. These three states were compelled to join the Union of India until the end of 1948. Sardar Patel, who took charge of the state department in 1947, tackled the situation with great statesmanship. Patel appealed to the patriotic and nationalist sentiments of the Princes and requested the States to be handed over to the authority of External Affairs, Defence, and Communications to the Indian Dominion. The Integration of Princely states had taken proper shape in his leadership.

3. Which three Indian States delayed accession to India even after other princely states had joined India? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1998]

(a) Junagarh, Mysore, Jammu and Kashmir
(b) Junagarh, Hyderabad, Jammu and Kashmir
(c) Udaipur, Kapurthala, Jammu and Kashmir
(d) Hyderabad, Udaipur, Travancore

Correct Answer: (b) Junagarh, Hyderabad, Jammu and Kashmir

Solution:Integration of most of the princely states happened in 1947. All Princely States merged into the Union of India in 1947 except Junagarh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Hyderabad. These three states were compelled to join the Union of India until the end of 1948. Sardar Patel, who took charge of the state department in 1947, tackled the situation with great statesmanship. Patel appealed to the patriotic and nationalist sentiments of the Princes and requested the States to be handed over to the authority of External Affairs, Defence, and Communications to the Indian Dominion. The Integration of Princely states had taken proper shape in his leadership.

4. Jammu and Kashmir became an integral part of India on— [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2008]

(a) 26 October, 1948
(b) 26 November, 1948
(c) 26 October, 1947
(d) None of these

Correct Answer: (c) 26 October, 1947

Solution:On 26 October, 1947, the Maharaja of Kashmir, Hari Singh, handed over the 'Instrument of Accession' (IOA) to Jawaharlal Nehru. J.L. Nehru appointed Sheikh Abdullah as Prime Minister and the Indian Army entered Jammu and Kashmir on 27 October, 1947 to repel the invaders.

5. At the time of Partition of India, which one of the following provinces of British India came forward with a plan for a United and Independent existence? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2000]

(a) Punjab
(b) Assam
(c) Bengal
(d) Bihar

Correct Answer: (a) Punjab

Solution:During the time of Partition of India, Punjab province came forward with a plan for a United and Independent existence, but it was due to the effort of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel that PEPSU came into existence consisting of Eastern Punjab, Patiala, and the hilly States and rejected the idea of an independent state.

6. Which one of the following native States was a party to the 'Stand-Still' Agreement? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1997]

(a) Hyderabad
(b) Jammu and Kashmir
(c) Junagarh
(d) Mysore

Correct Answer: (a) Hyderabad

Solution:The Standstill Agreement was signed between the State of Hyderabad and the Dominion of India on 29 November, 1947. This Agreement was signed by the Prime Minister of Hyderabad State Mir Laik Ali and then Governor-General of India Lord Mountbatten.

7. During the freedom struggle, a parallel movement launched in the Indian States (in the States ruled by the Indian rulers such as Kashmir, Nizam's Hyderabad, Travancore etc.) was: [68th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2022]

Correct Answer: (c) Praja Mandal Movement

Solution:In the 1920s during the freedom struggle, various people's movements were launched in the princely states of British Raj. These movements were called State Peoples Conference or Praja Mandals. These movements were spearheaded by people living in princely states who were subject to the rule of local aristocrats rather than the British Raj. They campaigned against those feudatory rulers and sometimes also the British administrators, in attempts to improve their civil rights.

8. The purpose of the Butler Committee, 1927: [46th B.P.C.S. (Pre) 2004]

(a) Modernization of Indian Army
(b) Innovative modernization of Indian Agriculture
(c) Implementation of Censorship over National Newspapers
(d) Improvement of relationships between Indian Provinces and the Crown

Correct Answer: (d) Improvement of relationships between Indian Provinces and the Crown

Solution:The Indian States Committee appointed a committee under the Chairmanship of Sir Harcourt Butler, which was popularly known as "The Butler Committee," to investigate and clarify the relationship between paramount power and the princes of Princely States in 1927 AD.

The recommendations of the committee were:

The relationship of the paramount power of the state was not merely a contractual relationship but a living, growing relationship shaped by circumstances and policy.
British paramountcy preserved the princely state.
The state should not be transferred without their agreement to a relationship with a new government in British India responsible to an Indian legislature.

9. All India State Peoples Conference was set up — [40th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1995]

(a) in 1924
(b) in 1926
(c) in 1927
(d) in 1929

Correct Answer: (c) in 1927

Solution:All India State People's Conference was set up in December 1927. More than 1500 political workers of different states participated in this Conference. All India States People Conference was formed in which men like Balwant Rai Mehta, Manilal Kothari, and G.R. Abhyankar played a significant role.

10. Who among the following was the President of the All India States Peoples Conference in 1939? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2001]

(a) Jaya Prakash Narayan
(b) Jawaharlal Nehru
(c) Sheikh Abdullah
(d) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

Correct Answer: (b) Jawaharlal Nehru

Solution:Jawaharlal Nehru was elected as President of All India State Peoples Conference in 1939 to represent the common national interest of political struggles of the Princely States and British India.