Just before independence how were the provinces and states in India organised
Answers
before indipendence.in cabinet mission of 1946 and mountbatten plan of 1947 it was there choice to stay whether at india or in Pakistan.except of Hyderabad, junagarh and kashmir rest of all gone to pak side.
Answer:
Just before independence, there were about some 565 princely states in India and about 17 provinces in British India before 1947.
Explanation:
Before the coming of British in India, the whole of India was divided into various princely state ruled by the local rulers. But, after Battle of Plassey in 1757 British East India Company started acquiring territories in India.
Then, the Governor General for the British East India Company of India Lord Dalhousie who remained Governor General from 1848 to 1856 brought the ‘Doctrine of Lapse' in which the princely state without an heir would be acquired by the British, with this principle major part of India became the part of British territories.
After Revolt of 1857, the British came with the Policy of non-interference in which a declaration was made that none other princely states would be acquired by British after 1857, and those territories captured prior 1857 will be called as provinces, which would be ruled by British officials appointed by the Viceroy of India.
Therefore, there were around 565 princely states including princely state of Mysore, Scindias, etc. And there were 17 provinces like the Central Province (MP), United Province (Uttar Pradesh),etc. in British India.