What was the British government’s view about the integration of princely states?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → The princely states were free to join either India or Pakistan or remain independent if they so wished.
Option (1) The princely states could choose to be part of the Commonwealth Dominion. — Incorrect. The British view gave the states only three choices: join India, join Pakistan or remain independent.
Option (2) The people and not the princely rulers of the states would decide ... — Incorrect. It was the reverse: the decision was left not to the people but to the princely rulers of these states, which was a very serious problem for a united India.
Option (3) The princely states were free to join either India or Pakistan or remain independent ... — Correct. With the end of British paramountcy, the 565 princely states would become legally independent, and the British government took the view that all these states were free to join either India or Pakistan or remain independent if they so wished.
Option (4) The princely states could submit their own Constitutions before their integration. — Incorrect. The question before the rulers was only whether to join India or Pakistan or stay independent; their own constitutions did not come into it.
NCERT (2025-26): “The problem … Just before Independence it was announced by the British that with the end of their rule over India, paramountcy of the British crown over Princely States would also lapse. This meant that all these states, as many as 565 in all, would become legally independent. The British government took the view that all these states were free to join either India or Pakistan or remain independent if they so wished. This decision was left not to the people but to the princely rulers of these states. This was a very serious problem and could threaten the very existence of a united India.…” |