Integration of the Indian States, 1947-49
Modern History › Independence and the New-Born Nation · Topic 30.8
Sardar Patel, helped by V.P. Menon, persuaded most princely states to accede to India on defence, communications and external affairs before 15 August 1947. Junagadh, Hyderabad and Jammu and Kashmir remained outside and were settled by plebiscite, police action and accession. Small states were then merged into provinces, others became centrally administered or were grouped into unions, and the classification ended in 1956.
6 min read · UPSC Prelims · History · Independence and the New-Born Nation
At a Glance
- Architects Sardar Patel and V.P. Menon
- Initial accession Defence, communications and external affairs
- Difficult cases Junagadh, Hyderabad, Kashmir
- End of classification Seventh Amendment, 1956
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Modern History: Independence and the New-Born Nation
Where Does It Fit?
This is the eighth topic of the category on independence and the new-born nation. The previous topic traced British policy towards the states up to 1935. This topic covers the integration of the states in 1947-49. The next topic covers the making of the Constitution. Previous topic: subordinate union, equal federation Chamber of Princes…">Evolution of British Policy Towards the Indian States, 1740-1935.
How Did the Question Arise in 1947?
After the war began and the Congress took a position of non-cooperation, the British government tried to break the deadlock through the Cripps Mission, the Wavell Plan, the Cabinet Mission and Attlee’s statement of February 1947. Cripps held that the British government did not contemplate transferring the paramountcy of the Crown to any other party in India. The states tried various schemes to form a union of their own, either as sovereign states or as a third force. The 3 June plan and Attlee’s statement made it clear that the states were free to join either dominion, and Mountbatten refused to give them sovereign status. The earlier stages are in Cripps Mission, 1942, Cabinet Mission Plan, 1946, Attlee’s Statement of 20 February 1947 and Mountbatten Plan of 3 June 1947. The paramountcy problem is in Plan Balkan and the Integration Problem at Withdrawal.
Sardar Patel, in charge of the States Ministry in the interim cabinet and helped by V.P. Menon, the secretary of the ministry, appealed to the patriotic feelings of the rulers to join the Indian dominion in defence, communications and external affairs, the three areas that had been part of the Crown’s paramountcy and over which the states had no control anyway. By 15 August 1947, by one count, 136 states had joined the Indian Union, but others remained outside. A note on the count: other accounts say that all but three states, Junagadh, Hyderabad and Jammu and Kashmir, had signed by that date, and the number depends on whether the very small states are counted. The first figure is given here and the difference is flagged.
How Were Junagadh, Hyderabad and Kashmir Settled?
| State | Problem | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| Junagadh (Junagarh) | The Muslim Nawab wanted to join Pakistan, but the majority population was Hindu and wanted India; the Nawab was repressive | A plebiscite decided in favour of India |
| Hyderabad | Wanted sovereign status; signed a Standstill Agreement with India in November 1947; the Nizam’s police and Razakars took over after Indian troops withdrew; the Nizam wanted an outlet to the sea at Goa; violence and foreign arms followed | Indian troops moved in again in 1948, described as a police action to restore law and order; Hyderabad acceded in November 1949 |
| Jammu and Kashmir | A Hindu prince ruled a Muslim-majority state and wished to remain sovereign; he delayed until Pakistan sent forces behind a front of tribal militia towards Srinagar | The prince signed the Instrument of Accession in October 1947, endorsed by Sheikh Abdullah; Indian troops were sent; a UN complaint and an offer of plebiscite led to a ceasefire but left 84,000 square km under Pakistani occupation |
Article 370 of the Constitution recognised the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, which implied a limited jurisdiction of the Indian Union over the state compared with other states. The Hyderabad action also ended the base of the Telangana struggle described in Communists and Independence. A note on Hyderabad: one date given for accession is November 1949; other accounts say the state was taken over in September 1948 and the Nizam accepted the Constitution in November 1949, so 1949 marks the formal end and 1948 the military action.
How Did Gradual Integration Work?
The problem had two parts: turning the states into viable administrative units and absorbing them into the constitutional units. Three methods were used.
| Method | Details |
|---|---|
| Merger into provinces (Part A) | 216 smaller states incorporated into contiguous provinces; for instance, 39 states of Orissa and Chhattisgarh were merged into the Central Provinces and Orissa, and the Gujarat states into Bombay |
| Centrally administered (Part C) | 61 states kept as centrally administered areas for strategic or special reasons, such as Himachal Pradesh, Vindhya Pradesh, Manipur, Tripura and Bhopal |
| Unions | Five unions: United States of Kathiawar, United States of Matsya, Patiala and East Punjab States Union, Rajasthan, and United States of Travancore-Cochin, later Kerala |
At first the states acceded for defence, communications and external affairs; later they felt that closer association was needed. The five unions and Mysore accepted Indian jurisdiction over Union and concurrent subjects except taxation, subject to Article 238 and the supervisory power of the Union for ten years. The Seventh Amendment of 1956 abolished Part B states as a class and merged Parts A and B, deleting the special provisions, so that the Indian states became part of one uniform political set-up. The reorganisation that followed is in Linguistic Reorganisation of States.
As an analytical point, the integration was achieved by a mix of persuasion, pressure and force, and each step was backed by the other: the appeal to patriotism and the fear of public movements in the states made rulers sign; the plebiscite in Junagadh and the army action in Hyderabad dealt with the cases where persuasion failed; and the generous settlements for rulers made the process quick. The result was one of the largest changes of political geography without a general war, and it reduced the 562 states to a few units in about two years.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Patel and Menon Persons and roles are standard Prelims facts
- Three difficult cases Junagadh, Hyderabad and Kashmir are asked repeatedly
- Part A, B, C structure Needed for understanding the Constitution of 1950
What Came Next?
The next topic covers the making of the Constitution and the work of the Constituent Assembly. Next topic: Making of the Constitution: Constituent Assembly and Its Work.
Key People and Terms
- Instrument of Accession The document by which a state joined India
- Standstill Agreement Hyderabad’s interim arrangement of November 1947
- Razakars The Nizam’s armed volunteers
- V.P. Menon Secretary of the States Ministry
- Article 370 Special status of Jammu and Kashmir
- Seventh Amendment 1956 amendment ending Part B states
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- 562 states; Patel and V.P. Menon.
- Junagadh: plebiscite; Hyderabad: police action 1948.
- Kashmir: accession October 1947.
- 216 states merged into provinces; 61 centrally administered.
- Five unions plus Mysore; classification ended 1956.
Do Not Confuse With
- Standstill Agreement and Instrument of Accession Interim understanding versus formal accession
- Part A and Part C Merged into provinces versus centrally administered
- Police action and plebiscite Hyderabad versus Junagadh
Memory Hook
Persuade, vote, march, merge.
Mains Angle
Questions ask about the method and the difficult cases. These points add depth.
- Method Patriotism, pressure and force
- Cases Junagadh, Hyderabad, Kashmir
- Structure Parts A, B and C and unions
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Discuss the integration of the princely states into the Indian Union and the role of Sardar Patel.”
How to Answer
- Problem Paramountcy and 562 states.
- Persuasion Three subjects.
- Hard cases Three states.
- Conclude Uniform political set-up.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
Who integrated the princely states into India?
Sardar Patel, in charge of the States Ministry, with V.P. Menon as secretary, appealed to the rulers' patriotism to accede on defence, communications and external affairs, the subjects that had been part of the Crown's paramountcy and over which the states had no control.
How was Junagadh integrated?
Its Muslim Nawab wanted to join Pakistan, but the Hindu-majority population wanted India and the Nawab's rule was repressive, so a plebiscite was held, which decided in favour of joining the Indian Union, and the state was merged into India soon after.
How was Hyderabad integrated?
Hyderabad signed a Standstill Agreement in November 1947 but sought sovereign status, the Nizam's Razakars created violence, and Indian troops moved in during 1948 in what was described as a police action; the state acceded formally in November 1949.
How did Jammu and Kashmir join India?
When Pakistani forces came behind tribal militia towards Srinagar, the prince signed the Instrument of Accession in October 1947, endorsed by Sheikh Abdullah, and Indian troops were sent; Article 370 later recognised the special status of the state.
What were Part A, Part B and Part C states?
Part A took 216 states merged into provinces, Part C had 61 centrally administered states, and the unions and Mysore formed Part B; the Seventh Amendment of 1956 abolished Part B as a class and made one uniform political set-up.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 V.P. Menon was the secretary of the States Ministry under Sardar Patel.
They worked together on accession.
2 The question of Junagadh was settled through a plebiscite.
The result was in favour of India.
3 Hyderabad acceded to India through an Instrument of Accession in October 1947.
That was Kashmir; Hyderabad signed a Standstill Agreement in November 1947.
4 Article 370 recognised a special status for Jammu and Kashmir.
It implied limited Union jurisdiction.
5 The Seventh Amendment of 1956 abolished the Part B category of states.
Parts A and B were merged.
Related Topics
Browse the full Modern History index