Which was the first princely state in Saurashtra to merge with the Indian Union?

Junagadh
Nawanagar
Bhavnagar
Porbandar

The correct answer is Junagadh.

Junagadh was a princely state in the Kathiawar Agency of British India. It was located on the Kathiawar Peninsula in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent. The state had a population of 1,191,000 in 1941 and a total area of 11,530 square kilometers. The capital of Junagadh was the city of Junagadh.

The ruler of Junagadh at the time of Indian independence was Muhammad Ali Khan III, the 26th Nawab of Junagadh. Khan was a Muslim, and the majority of the population of Junagadh was Hindu. In November 1947, Khan announced that he was joining Pakistan. However, the Indian government refused to recognize this decision, and the state of Junagadh was eventually merged with India in 1948.

The merger of Junagadh with India was a controversial issue. Khan’s decision to join Pakistan was opposed by many of his subjects, and there were widespread protests in the state. The Indian government argued that the merger was necessary to prevent Junagadh from becoming a part of Pakistan, and that the majority of the population of Junagadh wanted to join India. The Pakistani government, on the other hand, argued that the merger was illegal and that Junagadh was a part of Pakistan.

The issue of Junagadh was eventually resolved by the United Nations. In 1950, the UN Security Council passed a resolution that called for the de facto and de jure integration of Junagadh with India. The resolution was accepted by both India and Pakistan, and Junagadh has been a part of India ever since.

The other options are:

  • Nawanagar was a princely state in the Kathiawar Agency of British India. It was located on the Kathiawar Peninsula in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent. The state had a population of 1,128,000 in 1941 and a total area of 10,220 square kilometers. The capital of Nawanagar was the city of Jamnagar.
  • Bhavnagar was a princely state in the Kathiawar Agency of British India. It was located on the Kathiawar Peninsula in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent. The state had a population of 1,444,000 in 1941 and a total area of 13,200 square kilometers. The capital of Bhavnagar was the city of Bhavnagar.
  • Porbandar was a princely state in the Kathiawar Agency of British India. It was located on the Kathiawar Peninsula in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent. The state had a population of 444,000 in 1941 and a total area of 6,000 square kilometers. The capital of Porbandar was the city of Porbandar.