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Assess the main administrative issues and socio-cultural problems in the integration process of Indian Princely States.

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CSE 2021 (Prelims) CSAT Previous Year Paper (10-Oct-2021)

The integration of Indian Princely States into the newly independent Union presented formidable challenges. Administratively, the primary issue was unifying disparate governance structures, legal systems, and revenue models from over 500 states into a cohesive national framework. Many princely states lacked modern bureaucracies, necessitating significant efforts to establish uniform administrative practices, integrate existing services, and manage financial mergers, including state debts and taxation.

Socio-culturally, the process faced substantial resistance from ruling elites and landed gentry who clung to their power, traditional privileges, and autonomy. Diverse linguistic, ethnic, and regional identities within these states, often cultivated over centuries, fostered strong local loyalties that sometimes conflicted with the emerging idea of a unified Indian nationalism. Religious complexities, particularly in states like Hyderabad and Junagadh, also stirred communal tensions. Overcoming these deep-seated affiliations and fostering a broader national identity required tact, persuasion, and, at times, firm political action.

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Important Questions from GS1

  1. Underline the changes in the field of society and economy from the Rig Vedic to the later Vedic period. 

  2. Estimate the contribution of Pallavas of Kanchi for the development of art and literature of South India. 

  3. How far is it correct to say that the First World War was fought essentially for the preservation of the balance of power?

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