The correct answer is: b) 1949.
Manipur was a princely state in India until 1949. It was ruled by the Maharaja of Manipur, who was a hereditary ruler. In 1947, India gained independence from British rule. The Maharaja of Manipur initially wanted to remain independent, but he was eventually persuaded to join the Indian Union. Manipur became a part of India on 15 October 1949.
The integration of Manipur into the Indian Union was a complex process. The Maharaja of Manipur was initially reluctant to join the Indian Union, but he was eventually persuaded to do so by the Indian government. The integration of Manipur into the Indian Union was a significant event in the history of India. It marked the end of the princely states in India and the beginning of a new era in the country’s history.
The other options are incorrect because:
- Option a) is incorrect because India gained independence from British rule in 1947, but Manipur did not join the Indian Union until 1949.
- Option c) is incorrect because the States Reorganisation Act of 1956 was a law that reorganized the states of India. It did not affect the integration of Manipur into the Indian Union.
- Option d) is incorrect because Manipur became a part of India in 1949, not 1972.