Which one of the following is not correct about three considerations that guided the government’s approach to integration of princely states?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → The government was prepared to be inflexible in giving autonomy to some regions
Option (1) The people of most of the princely states ... wanted to become part of the Indian union True. This was the first consideration.
Option (2) The government was prepared to be inflexible in giving autonomy to some regions False. The second consideration was that the government was prepared to be flexible in giving autonomy to some regions, to accommodate plurality.
Option (3) In the backdrop of Partition, the integration and consolidation of the territorial boundaries ... True. This was the third consideration.
Option (4) The government wanted to accommodate plurality while dealing with the demands of the regions. True. It is the idea behind the second consideration: to accommodate plurality and adopt a flexible approach.
Note: NTA put ‘in’ in front of ‘flexible’, and the government’s own approach was turned upside down. A prefix of two letters deserves a second look.
NCERT (2025-26): “Government’s approach … The government’s approach was guided by three considerations. Firstly, the people of most of the princely states clearly wanted to become part of the Indian union. Secondly, the government was prepared to be flexible in giving autonomy to some regions. The idea was to accommodate plurality and adopt a flexible approach in dealing with the demands of the regions. Thirdly, in the backdrop of partition which brought into focus the contest over demarcation of territory, the integration and consolidation of the territorial boundaries of the nation had assumed supreme importance.” |