Question

Which one of the following statements is NOT correct about the princely states ?

• A. Princely states were ruled by the princes.
• B. All the princely states had accepted to be an integral part of India after the end of British rule.
• C. The princes of princely states accepted British supremacy and enjoyed some form of control over their internal affairs.
• D. After the end of British paramountcy, the provinces were free to join either India or Pakistan or remain independent.

Hint:

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India's first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, played the decisive historic role in negotiating the 'Instrument of Accession' with native rulers to unite India.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Concept: Prior to independence in 1947, British India was divided into two entities: British Indian Provinces (directly ruled by the British Government) and Princely States (ruled by local hereditary princes under British paramountcy).

Step 1: Analyzing Statement (A).
Princely states were indeed governed by native rulers, maharajas, and nawabs. Hence, statement (A) is correct.

Step 2: Analyzing Statement (B).
When British paramountcy lapsed in 1947, not all princely states immediately agreed to join India. States such as Travancore, Hyderabad, Junagadh, and Jammu & Kashmir initially refused or hesitated to sign the Instrument of Accession, seeking independence or accession to Pakistan. It required strategic diplomacy by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to integrate all 565 princely states into the Indian Union. Therefore, statement (B) is false and constitutes the correct answer to this "NOT correct" question.

Step 3: Analyzing Statements (C) and (D).
Under the doctrine of paramountcy, princes accepted British suzerainty while retaining internal governance control (Statement C is correct). Furthermore, the Indian Independence Act of 1947 declared that British paramountcy would lapse, leaving princely states legally free to join India, join Pakistan, or remain independent (Statement D is correct).