Formation of Indian Union and Reorganisation of States

The formation of the Indian Union was a monumental exercise in political integration following the end of British colonial rule. At independence, India comprised hundreds of princely states and British provinces, each with distinct administrative, cultural, and political identities.

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel led the efforts to integrate these diverse territories into a single, sovereign nation. The reorganisation of states that followed—most notably in 1956—sought to balance India’s unity with its linguistic and regional diversity, creating a federal structure that endures to this day.

Integration of Princely States into the Indian Union

• Pre-Independence (1946–1947): The British announced their intention to withdraw, leaving ....