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Indian Princely States Notes with PDF

By October 4, 2025 Educational Resources 0 Comments

These notes are your ultimate revision weapon to revise Indian Princely States. We’ve distilled years of previous exam questions (PYQs) into one powerful, concise resource. Everything you need to know, nothing you don’t.

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Integration of Princely States into India

I. Key Committees & Conferences

A. Butler Committee (1927)

  • Purpose: To improve relationships between Indian Princely States and the British Crown.
  • Key Conclusions:
    • The relationship was not just contractual but subject to change based on policy.
    • Aimed to prevent Princely States from being transferred to a future Indian government without their consent.

B. All India States Peoples’ Conference (AISPC)

  • Established: December 1927.
  • Key Founders: Balwant Rai Mehta, Manilal Kothari, and G.R. Abhyankar.
  • Significance: Attended by over 700 political activists from various states.
  • Leadership: Jawaharlal Nehru was the President in 1939, representing shared national goals.

II. The Process of Integration

  • Lead Negotiator: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Minister of the State Department.
  • General Outcome: Most princely states acceded to India in 1947.
  • Strategy: Patel convinced princes to cede control of External Affairs, Defence, and Communications to the Indian Dominion.
  • Problem States: Three states delayed accession: Junagarh, Hyderabad, and Jammu & Kashmir.
  • Final Integration: These three states were integrated by the end of 1948 through coercion or military action.

III. Individual State Accessions

A. Jammu & Kashmir

  • Date of Accession: 26th October 1947.
  • Key Figures: Maharaja Hari Singh signed the ‘Instrument of Accession’ to Jawaharlal Nehru.
  • Immediate Action: The Indian Army entered the state the next day to fight invaders.

B. Hyderabad

  • Key Agreement: Signed a ‘Stand-Still’ Agreement with the Dominion of India on 29th November 1947.
  • Signatories:
    • For Hyderabad: PM Mir Laik Ali.
    • For India: Governor-General Lord Mountbatten.

C. Punjab

  • Initial Plan: Proposed a plan for a united and independent existence at the time of Partition.
  • Outcome: This plan was superseded by the creation of the PEPSU (Patiala and East Punjab States Union) union under Sardar Patel’s guidance.

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