What were the three guiding considerations of the government's approach to the princely states?

Autonomy, flexibility, and territorial boundaries

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.
The task of bringing the princely states together was complex and required skilful persuasion, considering a large number of states 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.
He was assisted by V.P. Menon, a senior civil servant to carry out this task smoothly and successfully.
Three considerations guided the government's approach:  
The desire of the people to join the Indian Union.
Flexibility in granting autonomy to specific regions.
Importance of consolidating the nation's territorial boundaries.
Before August 15, 1947, peaceful negotiations resulted in most states within India's new boundaries joining the Indian Union through the signing of the "Instrument of Accession."