What considerations guided the government's approach for consolidating India after the partition and merging Princely states with India?

All of the above.

The correct answer is Option 4 - All of the above.

Government’s Approach towards Partition & Princely states:

The interim government firmly opposed the division of India into small principalities.
The Muslim League differed from the Indian National Congress, advocating for the states' freedom to choose their own course.
Bringing the princely states together was complex and required skilful persuasion, considering many shapes and different administrative structures.
Sardar Patel, India's Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, played a crucial role in diplomatically negotiating with the rulers of princely states and integrating them into the Indian Union.

The government's approach was guided by three considerations:

The desire of the people to join the Indian Union.
Flexibility in granting autonomy to certain regions.
Importance of consolidating the nation's territorial boundaries.