Question

Hyderabad was the largest princely state when India got independence; Its accession proved to be a difficult task. Consider the following statements and find the correct statement/s:

1. Some parts of the old Hyderabad state are today’s parts of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.
2. Nizam of Hyderabad entered into a Standstill Agreement with India in September 1947 for six months while negotiations were going on with the Indian Government.

Options

• a only

• b only

• Both a and b 

• Neither a nor b

Answer 1

a only

Explanation:

Hyderabad was indeed the largest princely state in British India, covering a vast area and possessing significant wealth. Its ruler, the Nizam, initially refused to accede to the newly independent Dominion of India and wished to remain independent. This led to a standoff, ultimately resolved by the Indian Army’s military action, Operation Polo, in September 1948, forcing Hyderabad's integration into India.