Which one of the following statements about ‘Princely States’ in India is not correct?
[amp_mcq option1=”The British Government declared that States were free to join either India or Pakistan or remain independent.” option2=”The decision to join India or Pakistan or remain independent was left not to the people of Princely States but to the Princely Rulers.” option3=”The Ruler of Travancore first decided to remain independent.” option4=”The State of Travancore finally joined India through a plebiscite.” correct=”option4″]
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2022
Statement A is correct, as the Indian Independence Act of 1947 gave princely states the option to accede to India or Pakistan or remain independent. Statement B is correct; the decision legally rested with the ruler, although popular opinion and geographical location played significant roles. Statement C is correct; the Dewan of Travancore, C. P. Ramaswami Iyer, initially declared the state’s intention to remain independent. Statement D is incorrect; Travancore did not join India through a plebiscite. It acceded to India in July 1947 after negotiations, political pressure, and an assassination attempt on the Dewan. Plebiscites were used in states like Junagadh and a conditional plebiscite was proposed for Jammu and Kashmir, while Hyderabad was integrated through police action.
The integration of princely states into the Indian Union after independence was a complex process involving negotiation, diplomacy, and in some cases, military action or plebiscites. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and V. P. Menon played crucial roles in this process.