Princely state A princely state ( also called native state or Indian state ) was a " nominally sovereign " entity of British India during the British Raj that was not directly governed by the British , but rather by an Indian ruler under a form of indirect rule , subject to a subsidiary alliance and the suzerainty or paramountcy of the British Crown . There were officially 565 princely states in India at the time of independence in 1947 , but the great majority had contracted with the Viceroy of India to provide public services and tax collection . Only 21 major ones had actual state governments , and among them only four were large ( Hyderabad State , Mysore State , Baroda State and Jammu and Kashmir State ) . They acceded to one or other of the two new independent nations between 1947 and 1949 . The accession process was largely peaceful except in the case of Jammu & Kashmir ( which became bitterly divided between India and Pakistan ) and Hyderabad . All the princes were eventually pensioned off . Several of the states acceded to Pakistan between 1947 and 1948 , becoming the princely states of Pakistan . A few of these retained their autonomy until the 1970s . British relationship with the Princely States . India under the British " Raj " ( the " Indian Empire " ) consisted of two types of territory : British India and the " Native States " or " Princely states " . In its Interpretation Act 1889 , the British Parliament adopted the following definitions : ( 4 . ) The expression " British India " shall mean all territories and places within Her Majesty ' s dominions which are for the time being governed by Her Majesty through the Governor - General of India or through any governor or other officer subordinate to the Governor - General of India . ( 5 . ) The expression " India " shall mean British India together with any territories of any native prince or chief under the suzerainty of Her Majesty exercised through the Governor - General of India , or through any governor or other officer subordinate to the Governor - General of India . In general the term " British India " had been used ( and is still used ) also to refer to the regions under the rule of the East India Company in India from 1774 to 1858 . The term has also been used to refer to the " British in India " . The British Crown ' s suzerainty over 175 Princely States , generally the largest and most important , was exercised in the name of the British Crown by the central government of British India under the Viceroy ; the remaining , approximately four hundred , states were influenced by Agents answerable to the provincial governments of British India under a Governor , Lieutenant - Governor , or Chief Commissioner . A clear distinction between " dominion " and " suzerainty " was supplied by the jurisdiction of the courts of law : the law of British India rested upon the legislation enacted by the British Parliament , and the legislative powers those laws vested in the various governments of British India , both central and local ; in contrast , the courts of the Princely States existed under the authority of the respective rulers of those states . Princely status and titles . The Indian rulers bore various titles — including Wadiyar ( by the Royal Maharajas of Mysore ) , Chhatrapati ( exclusively used by the 3 Bhonsle dynasty of the Marathas ) or Badshah ( " emperor " ) , Maharaja or Raja ( " king " ) , Nawab ( " governor " ) , Thakur or Thakore , Nizam , Wāli , Inamdar , Saranjamdar and many others . Whatever the literal meaning and traditional prestige of the ruler ' s actual title , the British government translated them all as " prince , " in order to avoid the implication that the native rulers could be " kings " with status equal to that of the British monarch . More prestigious Hindu rulers ( mostly existing before the Mughal Empire , or having split from such old states ) often used the title " Raja , " or a variant such as " Rana , " " Rao , " " Rawat " or Rawal . Also in this ' class ' were several Thakur sahib s and a few particular titles , such as Sar Desai , Raja Inamdar Or Saranjamdar . The most prestigious Hindu rulers usually had the prefix " maha " ( " great " , compare for example Grand duke ) in their titles , as in " Maharaja , Maharana , Maharao " , etc . The states of Travancore and Cochin had queens regnant styled Maharani , generally the female forms applied only to sisters , spouses and widows , who could however act as regents . There were also compound titles , such as ( Maha ) rajadhiraj , Raj - i - rajgan , often relics from an elaborate system of hierarchical titles under the Mughal emperors . For example , the addition of the adjective " Bahadur " raised the status of the titleholder one level . Furthermore most dynasties used a variety of additional titles , such as Varma in South India . This should not be confused with various titles and suffixes not specific to princes but used by entire ( sub ) castes . The Sikh princes concentrated at Punjab usually adopted Hindu type titles when attaining princely rank ; at a lower level Sardar was used . Muslim rulers almost all used the title " Nawab " ( the Arabic honorific of " naib " , " deputy , " used of the Mughal governors , who became de facto autonomous with the decline of the Mughal Empire ) , with the prominent exceptions of the Nizam of Hyderabad & Berar , the Wāli / Khan of Kalat and the Wāli of Swat . Other less usual titles included Darbar Sahib , Dewan , Jam , Mehtar ( unique to Chitral ) and Mir ( from Emir ) . Precedence and prestige . However , the actual importance of a princely state cannot be read from the title of its ruler , which was usually " granted " ( or at least recognised ) as a favour , often in recognition for loyalty and services rendered to the Mughal Empire . Although some titles were raised once or even repeatedly , there was no automatic updating when a state gained or lost real power . In fact , princely titles were even awarded to holders of domains ( mainly jagir s ) and even zamindar s ( tax collectors ) , which were not states at all . Various sources give significantly different numbers of states and domains of the various types . Even in general , the definition of titles and domains are clearly not well - established . There is also no strict relation between the levels of the titles and the classes of gun salutes , the real measure of precedence , but merely a growing percentage of higher titles in classes with more guns . The gun salute system was used to set unambiguously the precedence of the major rulers in the area in which the British East India Company was active , or generally of the states and their dynasties . Princely rulers were entitled to be saluted by the firing of an odd number of guns between three and 21 , with a greater number of guns indicating greater prestige . ( There were many minor rulers who were not entitled to any gun salutes , and as a rule the majority of gun - salute princes had at least nine , with numbers below that usually the prerogative of Arab coastal Sheikhs also under British protection . ) Generally , the number of guns remained the same for all successive rulers of a particular state , but individual princes were sometimes granted additional guns on a personal basis . Furthermore , rulers were sometimes granted additional gun salutes within their own territories only , constituting a semi - promotion . While the states of all these rulers ( about 120 ) were known as salute states , there were far more so - called non - salute states of lower prestige , and even more princes ( in the broadest sense of the term ) not even acknowledged as such . On the other hand , the dynasties of certain defunct states were allowed to keep their princely status — they were known as Political Pensioner s . There are certain estates of British India which were rendered as Political Saranjams has equal princely status . Though none of these princes were awarded gun salutes , princely titles in this category were recognised as among certain vassals of salute states , and were not even in direct relation with the paramount power . After Indian Independence , the Maharana of Udaipur displaced the Nizam of Hyderabad as the most senior prince in India , because Hyderabad had not acceded to the new Dominion of India , and the style " Highness " was extended to all rulers entitled to 9 - gun salutes . When the princely states had been integrated into the Indian Union their rulers were promised continued privileges and an income ( known as the Privy Purse ) for their upkeep . Subsequently , when the Indian government abolished the Privy Purse in 1971 , the whole princely order ceased to be recognised under Indian law , although many families continue to retain their social prestige informally ; some descendants of the rulers are still prominent in regional or national politics , diplomacy , business and high society . At the time of Indian independence , only five rulers — the Nizam of Hyderabad , the Maharaja of Mysore , the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir state , the Maharaja Gaekwad of Baroda and the Maharaja Scindia of Gwalior — were entitled to a 21 - gun salute . Five more — the Nawab of Bhopal , the Maharaja Holkar of Indore , the Maharana of Udaipur , the Maharaja of Kolhapur and the Maharaja of Travancore — were entitled to 19 - gun salutes . The most senior princely ruler was the Nizam of Hyderabad , who was entitled to the unique style " Exalted Highness " . Other princely rulers entitled to salutes of 11 guns ( soon 9 guns too ) or more were entitled to the style " Highness " . No special style was used by rulers entitled to lesser gun salutes . As " paramount ruler " , and successor to the Mughals , the British " King - Emperor " of India , for whom the style of Majesty was reserved , was entitled to an ' imperial ' 101 - gun salute — in the European tradition also the number of guns fired to announce the birth of an heir ( male ) to the throne . All princely rulers were eligible to be appointed to certain British orders of chivalry associated with India , the Most Exalted Order of the Star of India and the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire . Women could be appointed as " Knights " ( instead of Dames ) of these orders . Rulers entitled to 21 - gun and 19 - gun salutes were normally appointed to the highest rank , Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India . Many Indian princes served in the British Army , the Indian Army , or in local guard or police forces , often rising to high ranks ; some even served while on the throne . Many of these were appointed as an Aide de camp , either to the ruling prince of their own house ( in the case of relatives of such rulers ) or indeed to the British King - Emperor . Many saw active service , both on the subcontinent and on other fronts , during both World Wars . Apart from those members of the princely houses who entered military service and who distinguished themselves , a good number of princes received honorary ranks as officers in the British and Indian Armed Forces . Those ranks were conferred based on several factors , including their heritage , lineage , gun - salute ( or lack of one ) as well as personal character or martial traditions . After the First and Second World Wars , the princely rulers of several of the major states , including Gwalior , Kolhapur , Patiala , Bikaner , Jaipur , Jodhpur , Jammu and Kashmir and Hyderabad , were given honorary general officer ranks as a result of their states ' contributions to the war effort . It was also not unusual for members of princely houses to be appointed to various colonial offices , often far from their native state , or to enter the diplomatic corps . Doctrine of lapse . A controversial aspect of East India Company rule was the doctrine of lapse , a policy under which lands whose feudal ruler died ( or otherwise became unfit to rule ) without a male biological heir ( as opposed to an adopted son ) would become directly controlled by the Company and an adopted son would not become the ruler of the princely state . This policy went counter to Indian tradition where , unlike Europe , it was far more the accepted norm for a ruler to appoint his own heir . The doctrine of lapse was pursued most vigorously by the Governor - General Sir James Ramsay , 10th Earl ( later 1st Marquess ) of Dalhousie . Dalhousie annexed seven states , including Awadh ( Oudh ) , whose Nawabs he had accused of misrule , and the Maratha states of Nagpur , Jhansi and Satara , and Sambalpur . Resentment over the annexation of these states turned to indignation when the heirlooms of the Maharajas of Nagpur were auctioned off in Calcutta . Dalhousie ' s actions contributed to the rising discontent amongst the upper castes which played a large part in the outbreak of the Indian mutiny of 1857 . The last Mughal Badshah ( emperor ) , whom many of the mutineers saw as a figurehead to rally around , was deposed following its suppression . In response to the unpopularity of the doctrine , it was discontinued with the end of Company rule and the British Parliament ' s assumption of direct power over India . Imperial governance . By treaty , the British controlled the external affairs of the princely states absolutely . As the states were not British possessions , they retained control over their own internal affairs , subject to a degree of British influence which in many states was substantial . By the beginning of the 20th century , relations between the British and the four largest states — Hyderabad , Mysore , Jammu and Kashmir , and Baroda — were directly under the control of the Governor - General of India , in the person of a British Resident . Two agencies , for Rajputana and Central India , oversaw twenty and 148 princely states respectively . The remaining princely states had their own British political officers , or Agents , who answered to the administrators of India ' s provinces . The Agents of five princely states were then under the authority of Madras , 354 under Bombay , 26 of Bengal , two under Assam , 34 under Punjab , fifteen under Central Provinces and Berar and two under United Provinces . The Chamber of Princes ( " Narender Mandal " or " Narendra Mandal " ) was an institution established in 1920 by a Royal Proclamation of the King - Emperor to provide a forum in which the rulers could voice their needs and aspirations to the government . It survived until the end of the British Raj in 1947 . By the early 1930s , most of the princely states whose Agencies were under the authority of India ' s provinces were organised into new Agencies , answerable directly to the Governor - general , on the model of the Central India and Rajputana agencies : the Eastern States Agency , Punjab States Agency , Baluchistan Agency , Deccan States Agency , Madras States Agency and the Northwest Frontier States Agency . The Baroda Residency was combined with the princely states of northern Bombay Presidency into the Baroda , Western States and Gujarat Agency . Gwalior was separated from the Central India Agency and given its own Resident , and the states of Rampur and Benares , formerly with Agents under the authority of the United Provinces , were placed under the Gwalior Residency in 1936 . The princely states of Sandur and Banganapalle in Mysore Presidency were transferred to the agency of the Mysore Resident in 1939 . Short list of Native States in 1909 . The native states in 1909 included five large states that were in " direct political relations " with the Government of India . For the complete list of princely states in 1947 , see List of princely states of India . State military forces . " See article : Indian State Forces " The armies of the Native States were bound by many restrictions that were imposed by subsidiary alliance s . They existed mainly for ceremonial use and for internal policing . According to the , " Since a chief can neither attack his neighbour nor fall out with a foreign nation , it follows that he needs no military establishment which is not required either for police purposes or personal display , or for cooperation with the Imperial Government . The treaty made with Gwalior in 1844 , and the instrument of transfer given to Mysore in 1881 , alike base the restriction of the forces of the State upon the broad ground of protection . The former explained in detail that unnecessary armies were embarrassing to the State itself and the cause of disquietude to others : a few months later a striking proof of this was afforded by the army of the Sikh kingdom of Lahore . The British Government has undertaken to protect the dominions of the Native princes from invasion and even from rebellion within : its army is organised for the defence not merely of British India , but of all the possessions under the suzerainty of the King - Emperor . " In addition , other restrictions were imposed : " The treaties with most of the larger States are clear on this point . Posts in the interior must not be fortified , factories for the production of guns and ammunition must not be constructed , nor may the subject of other States be enlisted in the local forces . . . . They must allow the forces that defend them to obtain local supplies , to occupy cantonments or positions , and to arrest deserters ; and in addition to these services they must recognise the Imperial control of the railways , telegraphs , and postal communications as essential not only to the common welfare but to the common defence . " The troops were routinely inspected by British army officers and generally had the same equipment as soldiers in the Indian Army . Although their numbers were relatively small , the Imperial Service Troops were employed in China and British Somaliland in the first decade of the 20th century , and later saw action in the First World War and Second World War . Political integration of princely states in 1947 and after . At the time of Indian independence , India was divided into two sets of territories , the first being the territories of " British India , " which were under the direct control of the India Office in London and the Governor - General of India , and the second being the " Princely states , " the territories over which the Crown had suzerainty , but which were under the control of their hereditary rulers . In addition , there were several colonial enclaves controlled by France and Portugal . The integration of these territories into Dominion of India , that had been created by the Indian Independence Act 1947 by the British parliament , was a declared objective of the Indian National Congress , which the Government of India pursued over the years 1947 to 1949 . Through a combination of tactics , Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and V . P . Menon in the months immediately preceding and following the independence convinced the rulers of almost all of the hundreds of princely states to accede to India . In a speech in January 1948 , Vallabhbhai Patel said : Although this process successfully integrated the vast majority of princely states into India , it was not as successful in relation to a few states , notably the former princely state of Kashmir , whose Maharaja delayed signing the instrument of accession into India until his territories were under the threat of invasion by Pakistan , the state of Hyderabad , whose ruler decided to remain independent and was subsequently defeated by the Operation Polo invasion , and the states of Tripura and Manipur , whose rulers agreed to accession only in late 1949 , after the Indian conquest of Hyderabad . Having secured their accession , Sardar Patel and V . P . Menon then proceeded , in a step - by - step process , to secure and extend the central government ' s authority over these states and to transform their administrations until , by 1956 , there was little difference between the territories that had formerly been part of British India and those that had been princely states . Simultaneously , the Government of India , through a combination of diplomatic and military means , acquired control over the remaining European colonial enclaves , such as Goa , which were also integrated into India . As the final step , in 1971 , the 26th amendment to the Constitution of India withdrew official recognition of all official symbols of princely India , including titles and privileges , and abolished the remuneration of the princes by privy purses . As a result , even titular heads of the former princely states ceased to exist .