Some former feudatory states merged with the Indian Union after independence, becoming part of:

The correct answer is: b) Madras State.

After India’s independence in 1947, the Indian Union was formed by merging the British Indian provinces and princely states. The Madras Presidency was one of the British Indian provinces that was merged into the Indian Union. The Madras Presidency was renamed Madras State in 1950. In 1956, Madras State was reorganized along linguistic lines, and the Tamil-speaking parts of the state were merged to form the state of Tamil Nadu.

The other options are incorrect because:

• a) Madras Presidency was a British Indian province, not a former feudatory state.
• c) Tamil Nadu was formed in 1956, after the reorganization of Madras State.
• d) Kerala was formed in 1956, after the reorganization of Madras State.