The Indian States FAQs

1. What was the total number of princely (Indian) states before independence?

2. Which princely state was described as being as large as Italy, with a population of 14 million?

3. Which was the smallest of the Indian princely states, with a population of only 27 persons?

4. With which event did the East India Company assert its political identity in India, marking the beginning of Anglo-French rivalry?

5. In which year did the East India Company acquire the Diwani of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa?

6. Consider the following statements regarding the Company's early relations with Indian states (1740–1765): (I) The stage began with Anglo-French rivalry with the arrival of Dupleix. (II) The Company acquired political power next only to the Bengal nawabs after the Battle of Plassey. (III) This stage ended with the acquisition of the Diwani of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. Which of the above is/are correct?

7. The "Policy of Ring Fence" pursued by the British corresponds to which period?

8. Whose wars against the Marathas and Mysore reflected the Policy of Ring Fence?

9. Whose policy of subsidiary alliance was described as an extension of the Policy of Ring Fence?

10. The "Policy of Subordinate Isolation" corresponds to which period?

11. The Charter Act which ended the East India Company's commercial functions while retaining its political functions was passed in which year?

12. In which year did the Board of Directors issue guidelines to annex Indian states wherever and whenever possible?

13. Which Governor-General's policy of annexation culminated in the usurpation of eight states, including Satara and Nagpur?

14. In which year did the Crown assume direct responsibility for governing India from the East India Company?

15. Consider the following statements regarding the Policy of Subordinate Union (1857–1935): (I) The policy of annexation was abandoned because of the states' loyalty during the 1857 revolt. (II) After 1858, sanction for matters of succession was required from the Crown instead of the fiction of Mughal authority. (III) The Queen adopted the title "Kaiser-i-Hind," ending the fiction that states stood in equal status with the Crown. Which of the above is/are correct?

16. Which title did Queen Victoria adopt, symbolising the end of the fiction that Indian states were equal, sovereign entities alongside the Crown?

17. The Butler Commission's statement equating state territory/subjects with British territory/subjects for purposes of international relations was given in which year?

18. Which Viceroy adopted a policy of patronage and "intrusive surveillance" toward the princely states, viewing their relationship with the government as neither feudal nor federal?

19. As per the recommendations of the Montford Reforms (1921), which consultative body was set up for the princely states?

20. Consider the following categories of Indian states under the Chamber of Princes and their number of states: (I) Directly represented – 109 (II) Represented through representatives – 127 Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

21. The Butler Committee, set up to examine the relationship between the princely states and the government, submitted its report in which year?

22. The "Policy of Equal Federation," described as a non-starter, corresponds to which period?

23. Under the Government of India Act, 1935, how many of the 375 seats in the proposed Federal Assembly were reserved for the princes?

24. Consider the following statements regarding the Cripps Mission (1942): (I) It held that the British government did not contemplate transferring the paramountcy of the Crown to any other party in India. (II) It gave the princely states a sovereign, third-force status in Indian politics. Which of the above is/are correct?

25. Consider the following pairs of initiatives aimed at breaking the political deadlock after the outbreak of World War II: (I) Cripps Mission – 1942 (II) Wavell Plan – 1945 (III) Cabinet Mission – 1946 Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

26. Who was in charge of the States Ministry in the interim cabinet, tasked with persuading princely states to join the Indian Union?

27. Accession to the Indian Union was sought by Sardar Patel in respect of which three subjects, previously under the Crown's paramountcy?

28. By August 15, 1947, how many princely states had joined the Indian Union?

29. In the case of Junagarh, the accession to India was ultimately decided through which mechanism?

30. Hyderabad signed a Standstill Agreement with India in which month and year?

31. What were the Nizam of Hyderabad's police and stormtroopers, who took over after the withdrawal of Indian troops, called?

32. Hyderabad formally acceded to the Indian Union in which year, following the 1948 police action?

33. The Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir signed the Instrument of Accession to India in which month and year?

34. Approximately how much area of Jammu and Kashmir remained under Pakistani occupation following the ceasefire?

35. Which Article of the Indian Constitution recognised the special status of Jammu and Kashmir?

36. Consider the following pairs regarding the integration of princely states after independence: (I) Part A – smaller states incorporated into contiguous provinces (216 states) (II) Part C – centrally administered states for strategic/special reasons (61 states) (III) Five Unions – formed by merging groups of states, including the United States of Travancore-Cochin Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

37. Which of the following was NOT one of the five unions formed during the integration of princely states?

38. Which constitutional amendment abolished Part-B states as a separate class, merging Parts A and B into one class?

59. The Indian States