Establishment of Indian Democracy (1947-1966): ISC Class 12 History Notes

What Establishment of Indian Democracy (1947–1966) is about

Weightage: CISCE publishes no chapter or unit weightage for ISC History. Establishment of Indian Democracy (1947–1966) is part of Section A: Indian History, 2 of the 2027 syllabus and can be asked anywhere in the 80-mark Paper I (Section A 16 one-mark items, Section B 4-mark short answers, Section C 8-mark long answers).Source: CISCE ISC History (851) syllabus, examination year 2027; ISC 2025 specimen question paper

Key concepts

Role of Sardar Patel in integrating the princely states

The problem: the Indian Independence Act ended paramountcy, so more than 550 states, covering about two-fifths of India's area, could in law join India, join Pakistan or claim independence. Many rulers, encouraged by some British officials and by the Muslim League, toyed with independence; this threatened to break India into pieces.

Patel's methods (with V. P. Menon)
1. A new States Department was set up in July 1947 with Patel as Minister and Menon as Secretary.
2. Persuasion and patriotism: Patel appealed to the princes to accede in the interest of the country and promised to respect their dignity.
3. The Instrument of Accession asked the states to surrender only three subjects (defence, external affairs and communications), so it was easy to sign; a Standstill Agreement kept existing arrangements going.
4. Pressure where needed: popular movements of the States' People's Conference within the states, and a firm deadline of 15 August 1947. By that date almost all states had acceded; only Junagarh, Hyderabad and Kashmir held out.
5. Integration (1948-1949): small states were merged into neighbouring provinces (for example the Orissa and Chhattisgarh states); others were grouped into unions such as Saurashtra, Madhya Bharat, Vindhya Pradesh, PEPSU (Patiala and East Punjab States Union), Rajasthan and Travancore-Cochin, each with a ruler as Rajpramukh; some (such as Tripura, Manipur and Bhopal) were placed under central administration.
6. In return the rulers received privy purses (annual payments), and kept their titles and private property.

Assessment: in about two years a patchwork of states was made part of one union without large-scale bloodshed (except in Hyderabad and Kashmir). Patel is often called the 'Iron Man of India' for this achievement.

Worked example

[4] Explain the role of Sardar Patel in the integration of the princely states. (Understanding)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. He headed the new States Department with V. P. Menon and appealed to the princes' patriotism - 1 mark.
2. He used the Instrument of Accession (three subjects only) and Standstill Agreements to secure accession by 15 August 1947 - 1 mark.
3. He combined persuasion with pressure, including popular movements and, where necessary, force (Hyderabad) - 1 mark.
4. He merged the states into provinces, unions of states and centrally administered areas, granting privy purses in return - 1 mark.

Answer: Patel, as Minister of States with V. P. Menon, appealed to the princes' patriotism and asked them to accede on only three subjects through the Instrument of Accession, with Standstill Agreements to keep services running. Combining persuasion with firm pressure, he secured the accession of almost all states by 15 August 1947, and then merged them into provinces, unions of states and centrally administered units, compensating the rulers with privy purses.

Junagarh

Problems

• A small state on the Kathiawar coast with a Hindu-majority population (over four-fifths) under a Muslim Nawab, Mahabat Khan.
• Surrounded by Indian territory and with no land link to Pakistan.
• On 15 August 1947, advised by his Dewan Shah Nawaz Bhutto, the Nawab announced accession to Pakistan; Pakistan accepted it in September 1947.
• Junagarh also claimed authority over neighbouring states (Mangrol and Babariawad) that had acceded to India.

How it was solved
1. India refused to recognise the accession; Nehru and Patel held that the people should decide.
2. The people protested; a provisional government (Arzi Hukumat) under Samaldas Gandhi was formed, and India imposed an economic blockade.
3. The Nawab fled to Pakistan in October 1947; Bhutto invited the Indian government to take over the administration, which it did in November 1947.
4. A plebiscite in February 1948 voted overwhelmingly to join India.

Lesson: India used the principle of the people's will, which it later also applied in its arguments on Hyderabad.

Worked example

[4] State four circumstances that led to Junagarh becoming part of the Indian Union. (Understanding)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. Junagarh was surrounded by Indian territory, had no geographical link with Pakistan and had a Hindu majority - 1 mark.
2. The Nawab's accession to Pakistan (15 August 1947) provoked popular protest and a provisional government (Arzi Hukumat) - 1 mark.
3. India imposed a blockade; the Nawab fled and Dewan Bhutto invited India to take over (November 1947) - 1 mark.
4. A plebiscite in February 1948 voted overwhelmingly for India - 1 mark.

Answer: Junagarh joined India because its geography (surrounded by India, no link to Pakistan) and Hindu-majority population made accession to Pakistan unworkable; the people rose against the Nawab and formed the Arzi Hukumat; India's blockade led the Nawab to flee and his Dewan to invite India to take over in November 1947; and a plebiscite in February 1948 confirmed accession to India.

Hyderabad

Problems
1. The largest and richest princely state, in the heart of the Deccan, with a Hindu-majority population ruled by a Muslim Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan.
2. The Nizam wanted independence (or dominion status of his own), built up an army and arms supplies, and was encouraged by Pakistan.
3. He signed a Standstill Agreement with India in November 1947 but used it to delay; he lent money to Pakistan and took his case to the UN Security Council.
4. The Razakars, an armed militia of the Ittihad-ul-Muslimeen led by Kasim Razvi, terrorised the people and attacked trains and villages.
5. A communist-led peasant uprising in Telangana against landlords added to the disorder.
6. An independent Hyderabad would have cut India's north from its south: a 'cancer in the belly of India'.

Measures taken by India
1. Patient negotiations by Patel and Mountbatten; the Standstill Agreement (November 1947).
2. Support to the popular movement led by the Hyderabad State Congress demanding accession and responsible government.
3. Economic pressure and demands that the Razakars be banned.
4. Operation Polo (the 'police action'): Indian troops entered on 13 September 1948 and the Nizam's forces surrendered within five days (17 September 1948).
5. A military governor (Major General J. N. Chaudhuri) took charge; the Razakars were disbanded and Razvi arrested.
6. The Nizam was retained as Rajpramukh with a privy purse, and Hyderabad became a part of India (formally in 1950). In 1956 its Telugu areas went to Andhra Pradesh.

Worked example

[4] State any four measures taken by the Government of India to integrate Hyderabad. (Recall)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. Negotiations and a Standstill Agreement in November 1947 - 1 mark.
2. Support to the popular movement for accession and pressure to ban the Razakars - 1 mark.
3. Operation Polo, September 1948: the Nizam's forces surrendered in five days - 1 mark.
4. Military governor; Razakars disbanded; Nizam made Rajpramukh with a privy purse; full integration by 1950 - 1 mark.

Answer: India first negotiated, signing a Standstill Agreement in November 1947; it backed the people's movement for accession and pressed the Nizam to curb the Razakars; when he would not, it launched Operation Polo in September 1948, which ended in his surrender in five days; and it then installed a military governor, disbanded the Razakars and kept the Nizam as Rajpramukh with a privy purse, completing integration by 1950.

Kashmir

Problems

• A Muslim-majority state ruled by a Hindu Maharaja, Hari Singh, and bordering both India and Pakistan (and China and Afghanistan).
• The Maharaja hoped to remain independent and did not accede to either dominion by 15 August 1947; he offered Standstill Agreements.
• The popular leader Sheikh Abdullah of the National Conference opposed the Maharaja's rule but was secular and opposed joining Pakistan.

Events
1. On 22 October 1947 tribal raiders from the North-West Frontier, supported by Pakistan, invaded Kashmir and advanced towards Srinagar.
2. The Maharaja asked India for help; India required accession first. He signed the Instrument of Accession on 26 October 1947, and Indian troops were airlifted to Srinagar on 27 October.
3. Mountbatten, accepting the accession, said the people's wishes would be ascertained once law and order were restored; Sheikh Abdullah became head of the administration.
4. India referred the matter to the UN Security Council on 1 January 1948. A ceasefire took effect from 1 January 1949, leaving part of the state under Pakistan's occupation.
5. The Constitution gave Jammu and Kashmir a special status under Article 370.

Why it stayed a problem: Pakistan never accepted the accession; the ceasefire line divided the state; the issue led to wars in 1947-48 and 1965 (see India's Foreign Policy).

Worked example

[4] Why did Kashmir pose a problem for India at the time of integration? Give four reasons. (Analysis)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. A Muslim-majority state with a Hindu ruler, bordering both India and Pakistan - 1 mark.
2. The Maharaja wanted independence and did not accede by 15 August 1947 - 1 mark.
3. Pakistan-backed tribal raiders invaded in October 1947, forcing a hurried accession on 26 October - 1 mark.
4. The war, the reference to the UN and the 1949 ceasefire left part of the state under Pakistan's control - 1 mark.

Answer: Kashmir was difficult because it was a Muslim-majority state under a Hindu ruler on the border of both dominions; Hari Singh delayed accession hoping for independence; the Pakistan-backed tribal invasion of October 1947 forced him to accede on 26 October amid war; and India's reference to the UN and the ceasefire of 1949 left part of the state under Pakistani occupation, so the dispute remained unresolved.

The first general election (1951-52)

Problems of preparation and their solutions
1. Size: about 17 crore voters (on universal adult franchise at 21) and nearly 4,500 seats for the Lok Sabha and the state assemblies. Solution: the Election Commission (set up in January 1950) under Sukumar Sen, the first Chief Election Commissioner, planned the poll in many phases from October 1951 to February 1952.
2. Illiteracy (most voters could not read). Solution: party symbols, and a separate ballot box for each candidate marked with his symbol, so a voter only had to drop the ballot paper in the right box.
3. Electoral rolls had to be prepared from scratch; many women gave their names only as 'wife of' or 'mother of' someone. Solution: house-to-house enumeration; the Commission insisted on women's own names and struck off names that were not properly recorded.
4. Delimitation of constituencies and reservation for Scheduled Castes and Tribes; some constituencies elected two members.
5. Logistics: training lakhs of polling staff, setting up a very large number of polling booths, reaching remote hills and forests; indelible ink to prevent double voting.
6. Many doubted that a poor, illiterate country could hold a fair election at all.

Process: the poll was spread over about four months; voters in parts of Himachal Pradesh voted first because snow would close the hills later. Turnout was about 45 per cent.

Results

• The Congress won 364 of the 489 Lok Sabha seats (about three-quarters) with about 45 per cent of the votes, and formed governments in almost all states.
• The Communist Party of India came second with 16 seats; the Socialist Party and the Kisan Mazdoor Praja Party were next; the Jan Sangh won 3.
• Jawaharlal Nehru became the first elected Prime Minister.

Significance and impact
1. It proved that democracy could work in a poor, largely illiterate country and gave the government legitimacy.
2. It was a victory for secularism: communal parties won few seats.
3. Large participation of women and the poor showed faith in the vote.
4. It established the Election Commission as an independent body and set procedures used in later elections.
5. It began a period of Congress dominance with a small but active opposition.

Worked example

[4] Explain two results and two points of significance of the first general election in India. (Understanding)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. Result: the Congress won 364 of 489 Lok Sabha seats (about 75 per cent) and most state assemblies - 1 mark.
2. Result: the CPI came second; Nehru became the first elected Prime Minister - 1 mark.
3. Significance: it showed democracy could succeed in a poor, illiterate country on universal adult franchise - 1 mark.
4. Significance: communal parties were rejected, a victory for secularism; large participation by women - 1 mark.

Answer: Results: the Congress won 364 of the 489 Lok Sabha seats and formed most state governments, the CPI came a distant second, and Nehru became the first elected Prime Minister. Significance: the election proved that universal adult franchise could work in a poor and largely illiterate country, and the defeat of communal parties together with wide participation by women marked a victory for secular democracy.

Linguistic reorganisation: Andhra, the States Reorganisation Act 1956, Bombay and Punjab

Background: the Congress had long promised linguistic provinces, but after Partition the leadership feared that language-based states would weaken unity. The JVP Committee (Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel, Pattabhi Sitaramayya) advised postponement in 1949.

Andhra

• Telugu speakers in Madras State demanded a separate state. Potti Sriramulu began a fast on 19 October 1952 and died on 15 December 1952. Widespread violence followed.
• Nehru announced the creation of Andhra State, formed on 1 October 1953 from the Telugu-speaking districts of Madras, with Kurnool as capital. It was the first state formed on a linguistic basis.

States Reorganisation Commission and Act

• The Commission (appointed December 1953) had Fazl Ali as chairman, with K. M. Panikkar and H. N. Kunzru. It reported in 1955, accepting language as an important but not the only basis.
• The States Reorganisation Act, 1956 (in force from 1 November 1956): abolished the Part A, B, C and D categories of states; created 14 states and 6 union territories; formed Andhra Pradesh by merging the Telangana area of Hyderabad with Andhra; formed Kerala from Travancore-Cochin and Malabar; enlarged Mysore with Kannada-speaking areas; formed a new Madhya Pradesh; kept Bombay as a large bilingual state (with Saurashtra and Kutch added); and ended the institution of Rajpramukh.

Bombay

• Marathi speakers (Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti) and Gujarati speakers (Mahagujarat movement) both rejected the bilingual Bombay state; the city of Bombay itself was disputed. Police firing in Bombay in 1956 left many dead.
• The Bombay Reorganisation Act, 1960 divided the state into Maharashtra (with Bombay city) and Gujarat on 1 May 1960.

Punjab

• The Akali Dal under Master Tara Singh and later Sant Fateh Singh demanded a Punjabi Suba (a Punjabi-speaking state). The Commission rejected it, fearing a religious basis.
• After agitations and the 1965 war, the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966 created Punjab (Punjabi-speaking) and Haryana (Hindi-speaking) on 1 November 1966; hill areas went to Himachal Pradesh; Chandigarh became a union territory and the shared capital.

Assessment: fears that linguistic states would divide India proved largely unfounded; they made administration closer to the people and strengthened unity in diversity, though border disputes and river-water disputes remained.

Worked example

[4] State any four features of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956. (Recall)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. Abolished the classification of states into Parts A, B, C and D - 1 mark.
2. Created 14 states and 6 union territories, largely on linguistic lines - 1 mark.
3. Formed Andhra Pradesh (Andhra plus Telangana) and Kerala (Travancore-Cochin plus Malabar); enlarged Mysore - 1 mark.
4. Retained a bilingual Bombay state and ended the office of Rajpramukh - 1 mark.

Answer: The Act (1) abolished the Part A, B, C and D categories; (2) reorganised India into 14 states and 6 union territories mainly on linguistic lines; (3) created Andhra Pradesh by adding Telangana to Andhra, formed Kerala and enlarged Mysore; and (4) kept Bombay as a bilingual state and abolished the office of Rajpramukh.

Establishment of Indian Democracy (1947–1966) in real life

Each concept, met in an everyday situation. Read the situation, answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

Topics in this chapter

• Junagarh, Hyderabad and Kashmir: Problems and Solutions
• Sardar Patel and the Integration of the Princely States
• The First General Election, 1951-52

Establishment of Indian Democracy (1947–1966): key facts

States Department

July 1947: Patel (Minister), V. P. Menon (Secretary)

Instrument of Accession: defence, external affairs, communications.

Junagarh

Accession to Pakistan 15 August 1947; India takes over November 1947; plebiscite February 1948

Nawab Mahabat Khan, Dewan Shah Nawaz Bhutto; Arzi Hukumat.

Hyderabad

Standstill Agreement November 1947; Operation Polo 13-17 September 1948

Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan; Razakars under Kasim Razvi.

Kashmir

Raid 22 October 1947; accession 26 October 1947; UN reference 1 January 1948; ceasefire 1 January 1949

Maharaja Hari Singh; Sheikh Abdullah.

First general election

October 1951-February 1952; CEC Sukumar Sen

About 17 crore voters; Congress 364/489 Lok Sabha seats.

Andhra

Sriramulu dies 15 December 1952; Andhra State 1 October 1953

First linguistic state; capital Kurnool.

States Reorganisation Act

1956 (in force 1 November 1956): 14 states, 6 UTs

Commission: Fazl Ali, Panikkar, Kunzru.

Bombay and Punjab

Maharashtra and Gujarat 1 May 1960; Punjab and Haryana 1 November 1966

Chandigarh UT; hill areas to Himachal Pradesh.

How the board asks Establishment of Indian Democracy (1947–1966)

The question patterns to expect, and the method that works for each.

Tricks to remember Establishment of Indian Democracy (1947–1966)

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

• The three hold-outs: 'JHK = Plebiscite, Police, Plea to UN'

  Junagarh: plebiscite; Hyderabad: police action (Operation Polo); Kashmir: plea to the UN after accession.

  Use it when: Keeps the three solutions apart.

• Election 1952 in numbers: 17-45-364

  About 17 crore voters, about 45 per cent turnout, 364 seats for the Congress (of 489).

  Use it when: Results questions.

• Linguistic states ladder: 53-56-60-66

  Andhra 1953, SR Act 1956, Maharashtra-Gujarat 1960, Punjab-Haryana 1966.

  Use it when: Sequencing and 'with particular reference to' answers.

• SRC members: 'FPK'

  Fazl Ali, Panikkar, Kunzru.

  Use it when: Recall MCQs.

Establishment of Indian Democracy (1947–1966): board-level solved questions

Ordered from board level to HOTS. Cover the solution, write your own, then compare step by step.

Case-study practice (Section D style)

Read the situation, then answer every part. In the board paper this is a 8-mark question split into 1 + 2 + 2 + 3 marks.

Where the marks are

How a typical answer is split into step marks. Show every step: a right final answer alone rarely earns full marks.

Where students lose marks in Establishment of Indian Democracy (1947–1966)

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

• ✗Mistake: Writing results where significance is asked (and vice versa)

  CISCE examiners' comments, 2024 (first general elections): candidates 'Failed to distinguish between results and significance'.

  Wrong working

  Significance: the Congress won 364 seats.

  Right working

  Result: the Congress won 364 seats. Significance: it proved democracy could work in a poor, illiterate country.

  ✓Do this: Write two sub-headings, Results and Significance, and keep numbers under Results.

  Usually costs: Up to 2 marks.

• ✗Mistake: Writing problems in the 'measures' part on Hyderabad

  CISCE examiners' comments, 2025: candidates 'Wrote "issues" instead of "measures" in part (ii)' and 'Omitted key terms such as Standstill Agreement and Operation Polo'.

  ✓Do this: Plan the answer in two columns, Problems and Measures, and use the key terms by name.

  Usually costs: Up to 4 marks.

• ✗Mistake: Vague account of the Nizam's role

  CISCE examiners' comments, 2025: candidates 'Did not outline the Nizam's role and attitude with specifics' and 'Missed the strategic challenge of a large princely state in the heart of India'.

  ✓Do this: Name the Nizam's specific actions (claim to independence, arms, Pakistan's support, UN appeal) and state the strategic threat.

  Usually costs: 1 or 2 marks.

• ✗Mistake: Mixing up party ideologies

  CISCE examiners' comments, 2025 (on the opposition parties): candidates 'Confused party and its ideology, choosing Socialist Party or Bharatiya Jana Sangh.' The parties' ideologies belong to the next chapter, but the 1952 results use the same names.

  ✓Do this: When naming the parties that came second and third in 1952, keep the CPI and the Socialist Party distinct.

  Usually costs: 1 mark.

• ✗Mistake: Saying the States Reorganisation Commission created Andhra

  Andhra (1953) came before the Commission (appointed December 1953) and was caused by Sriramulu's fast.

  ✓Do this: Sequence: Sriramulu (1952), Andhra (1953), Commission (1953-55), Act (1956).

  Usually costs: 1 mark.

Practice questions on Establishment of Indian Democracy (1947–1966)

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

1. Q1 · 1 mark · Very short answerBoard level

   Who was the Secretary of the States Department under Sardar Patel?

   Hint

   Author of a book on the integration of states.

   Answer

   V. P. Menon.

2. Q2 · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

   Who chaired the States Reorganisation Commission?
   (a) K. M. Panikkar
   (b) Fazl Ali
   (c) H. N. Kunzru
   (d) Pattabhi Sitaramayya

   Hint

   F of 'FPK'.

   Answer

   (b) Fazl Ali.

3. Q3 · 1 mark · Very short answerHarder board level

   Name the provisional government set up against the Nawab of Junagarh and its leader.

   Hint

   A 'petition' government.

   Answer

   The Arzi Hukumat, led by Samaldas Gandhi.

4. Q4 · 1 mark · MCQHarder board level

   Which state came into existence on 1 November 1966?
   (a) Gujarat
   (b) Haryana
   (c) Kerala
   (d) Andhra Pradesh

   Hint

   Punjab Reorganisation Act.

   Answer

   (b) Haryana.

5. Q5 · 4 marks · Short answerBoard level

   [4] Explain the two stages by which the princely states were brought into the Indian Union.

   Hint

   Accession, then integration.

   Answer

   Stage 1, accession (by 15 August 1947): states signed the Instrument of Accession surrendering defence, external affairs and communications, and Standstill Agreements kept services going. Stage 2, integration (1948-1949): small states merged with neighbouring provinces, others grouped into unions such as Saurashtra, PEPSU and Rajasthan under Rajpramukhs, and some placed under central rule; rulers got privy purses and titles.

6. Q6 · 4 marks · Short answerHarder board level

   [4] Why did Hari Singh accede to India in October 1947? State the consequences of the accession.

   Hint

   Raiders; airlift; UN.

   Answer

   Pakistan-backed tribal raiders invaded on 22 October 1947 and threatened Srinagar; India would send troops only after accession, so Hari Singh signed the Instrument on 26 October. Consequences: Indian troops were airlifted and saved Srinagar; war with Pakistan followed; India took the issue to the UN on 1 January 1948; the ceasefire of 1 January 1949 left part of the state under Pakistan.

7. Q7 · 4 marks · Short answerHOTS / competency

   [4] Analyse why the Congress won the first general election so decisively.

   Hint

   Legacy, leader, organisation, divided opposition.

   Answer

   (1) It inherited the prestige of leading the freedom struggle. (2) Nehru's popularity and nationwide campaign. (3) It was the only party with an organisation in every province and village. (4) The opposition was divided among many parties, so the Congress won about three-quarters of seats with about 45 per cent of the vote under first-past-the-post.

8. Q8 · 4 marks · Short answerHarder board level

   [4] 'The death of one man created a state.' Explain with reference to Andhra.

   Hint

   Sriramulu.

   Answer

   Potti Sriramulu fasted from 19 October 1952 for a separate Telugu state and died on 15 December 1952. His death set off riots and protests across the Telugu districts. Nehru was compelled to announce the creation of Andhra, formed on 1 October 1953 from the Telugu areas of Madras with Kurnool as capital. It became the first linguistic state and led to the appointment of the States Reorganisation Commission.

9. Q9 · 8 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency

   [8] (a) Compare the problems of Junagarh and Kashmir. [4]
   (b) Evaluate Patel's methods in integrating the princely states. [4]

   Hint

   Ruler versus people; geography; how solved.

   Answer

   (a) Both had a ruler of a different religion from most subjects: a Muslim Nawab over Hindus in Junagarh, a Hindu Maharaja over Muslims in Kashmir. Junagarh was enclosed by India and its Nawab chose Pakistan; Kashmir bordered both and its ruler sought independence. Junagarh was settled by blockade, take-over and plebiscite (1948); Kashmir by accession during an invasion, war and a UN-brokered ceasefire that left it divided. (b) Patel used persuasion and patriotism, a limited Instrument of Accession, privy purses for the princes, popular pressure within states and, as a last resort, force (Hyderabad). His methods were quick and largely peaceful, though the privy purses became a burden and Kashmir remained unresolved.

10. Q10 · 8 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency

    [8] Explain the problems in preparing for the first general election and assess its impact on Indian democracy.

    Hint

    Four problems, four impacts.

    Answer

    Problems: (1) about 17 crore voters, most illiterate; (2) no electoral rolls; women unwilling to give their names; (3) delimitation and reservation of constituencies; (4) training staff, booths, remote terrain and impersonation. Solutions included symbols, separate ballot boxes, phased polling and indelible ink. Impact: (1) proved democracy could work in a poor country; (2) gave legitimacy to Nehru's government; (3) secular parties won and communal parties were rejected; (4) established the Election Commission and set the pattern of regular, free elections.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

1. 1.Which three subjects did the Instrument of Accession cover?Show answer

   Defence, external affairs and communications.

2. 2.Who led the Razakars?Show answer

   Kasim Razvi (Ittihad-ul-Muslimeen).

3. 3.On what date did Hari Singh sign the Instrument of Accession?Show answer

   26 October 1947.

4. 4.Who was India's first Chief Election Commissioner?Show answer

   Sukumar Sen.

5. 5.How many states and union territories did the 1956 Act create?Show answer

   14 states and 6 union territories.

6. 6.When were Maharashtra and Gujarat formed?Show answer

   1 May 1960.

Quick revision checklist

The night before the exam: can you do each of these without looking?

• ☐Over 550 states; paramountcy lapsed; States Department (Patel, Menon), July 1947.
• ☐Accession: three subjects; Standstill Agreements; by 15 August 1947 all but Junagarh, Hyderabad, Kashmir.
• ☐Integration: mergers, unions (Saurashtra, PEPSU, Rajasthan, Travancore-Cochin), central rule; privy purses.
• ☐Junagarh: Nawab to Pakistan; Arzi Hukumat; take-over November 1947; plebiscite February 1948.
• ☐Hyderabad: Nizam, Razakars, Standstill Agreement; Operation Polo 13-17 September 1948.
• ☐Kashmir: raid 22 October; accession 26 October 1947; UN 1 January 1948; ceasefire 1949; Article 370.
• ☐Election 1951-52: Sukumar Sen; about 17 crore voters; symbols, separate boxes, ink; Congress 364/489; CPI second.
• ☐Andhra 1953 (Sriramulu); SRC (Fazl Ali) 1953-55; SR Act 1956: 14 states, 6 UTs.
• ☐Bombay split 1960 (Maharashtra, Gujarat); Punjab split 1966 (Punjab, Haryana; Chandigarh UT).

Establishment of Indian Democracy (1947–1966): frequently asked questions