Ans.

Efforts to merge the native states with the Indian Union: – Before the independence of India, there were 562 princely states in the country.  Two-fifths of the whole of India and 1/4th of the population lived in these princely states.  There was a huge disparity between these states in terms of administration, area, population, and financial resources.  The people there had no rights in these states.  After the Haripura Conference of the Congress, there were movements for civil rights and responsible government in some princely states, but they did not get any special success.  When the British government decided to transfer the power of India to the Indians, then on July 18, 1947, the British Parliament passed the Indian Independence Act (1947).  By this act the British supremacy over the native states was again returned to the native states, that is, the princely states would become completely independent and it would be up to them whether they wanted to join Pakistan or Hindustan or they could maintain their independent existence if they wanted.  Huh.

On July 5, 1947, the “State Ministry” was established under the direction of the Home Minister of the interim government, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and he was entrusted with the responsibility of negotiating with the native monarchs on behalf of India.  India became independent on August 15, 1947.  At the time of the partition of India, princely states like Khairpur, Bahawalpur, etc. joined Pakistan and the rest remained in India.