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Integration of Rajasthan

Rajasthan took its present shape in seven stages between March 1948 and 1 November 1956, as the princely states joined into unions that grew larger each time. Exams ask the date, capital, Rajpramukh, Up-Rajpramukh and premier of each stage.

⏱ 6 min read✓ Facts checked 16 October 2026

Contents

At a glance

  1. Rajasthan Day is 30 March, the day Greater Rajasthan (stage 4) was inaugurated at Jaipur.
  2. Before integration: 19 princely states, 3 chiefships (Kushalgarh, Lava, Neemrana) and the British-ruled Ajmer-Merwara, i.e. 19 + 3 + 1. Counting the chiefships, some books say 22 princely states.
  3. The States Department came into being on 5 July 1947 under Sardar Patel, with V.P. Menon as its secretary.
  4. Rajpramukh's post ended on 1 November 1956: the States Reorganisation Commission recommended it and the Seventh Amendment abolished it. A Governor took its place.

The seven stages

Stage and unionDateStates joinedCapitalRajpramukh and Up-RajpramukhPremier
1. Matsya Union17–18 March 1948; inaugurated by N.V. GadgilAlwar, Bharatpur, Dholpur, KarauliAlwarRajpramukh: Udai Bhan Singh of DholpurShobharam Kumawat
2. Rajasthan Union (Purva Rajasthan)25 March 1948; inaugurated by N.V. GadgilKota, Bundi, Jhalawar, Tonk, Kishangarh, Shahpura, Pratapgarh, Dungarpur, Banswara (with the Kushalgarh and Lava chiefships)KotaRajpramukh: Bhim Singh of Kota. Up-Rajpramukh: Bundi (senior), Dungarpur (junior)Gokul Lal Asawa
3. United Rajasthan18 April 1948; inaugurated by Jawaharlal NehruMewar (Udaipur) joined the Rajasthan UnionUdaipurRajpramukh: Bhupal Singh of Mewar. Up-Rajpramukh: Kota (senior), Bundi and Dungarpur (junior)Manikya Lal Verma
4. Greater Rajasthan30 March 1949; inaugurated by Sardar PatelJaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Jaisalmer joined United RajasthanJaipurMaharaj Pramukh: Bhupal Singh of Mewar. Rajpramukh: Man Singh II of Jaipur. Senior Up-Rajpramukhs: Jodhpur (Hanwant Singh) and Kota (Bhim Singh). Junior: Bundi and DungarpurHiralal Shastri
5. United Greater Rajasthan15 May 1949 (agreement signed 10 May)Matsya Union joined Greater RajasthanJaipurRajpramukh: Man Singh II of JaipurHiralal Shastri
6. Rajasthan26 January 1950Sirohi, except the Abu Road and Delwara areas (given to Bombay)JaipurRajpramukh: Man Singh II of JaipurHiralal Shastri (Chief Minister)
7. Rajasthan (reorganised)1 November 1956Ajmer, Abu-Delwara, Sunel Tappa; Sironj went to Madhya PradeshJaipurPost of Rajpramukh abolished. First Governor: Gurumukh Nihal Singh (took office 1 November 1956)Mohan Lal Sukhadia (Chief Minister)

Before the unions

  • In 1947 the Rajputana states signed the Instrument of Accession, giving India defence, external affairs and communications; the unions came after.
  • Only four states met the Government of India's test for staying separate (population of 10 lakh or more, revenue of Rs 1 crore or more a year): Mewar, Jaipur, Jodhpur and Bikaner.
  • Ajmer-Merwara was a Chief Commissioner's province under the British and stayed outside the unions until 1956; from 1950 it was the Part C State of Ajmer.

Rajpramukh and premier

  • Bhupal Singh of Mewar was Rajpramukh for life in stage 3. In stage 4 he became Maharaj Pramukh for life, a post that was to end with him, and the Maharaja of Jaipur became Rajpramukh for life.
  • The Up-Rajpramukhs of Greater Rajasthan were appointed for five years only.
  • Hiralal Shastri, Premier of Greater Rajasthan, became the first Chief Minister of Rajasthan when the state took that name on 26 January 1950.

Committees

  • Shankar Rao Deo committee (appointed 4 April 1949): Shankar Rao Deo (chairman), R.K. Sidhwa and Prabhu Dayal Himatsingka. It found that the majority in Bharatpur and Dholpur wanted to join Rajasthan rather than the United Provinces.
  • B.R. Patel committee (report of 27 March 1949): recommended Jaipur as the capital and Jodhpur as the seat of the High Court.
  • Satyanarayan Rao committee (set up in July 1957, report of 26 February 1958): P. Satyanarayan Rao, V. Vishwanathan and B.K. Gupta. It recommended keeping Jaipur as the capital and Jodhpur as the High Court's principal seat.

States Reorganisation Commission

Set upDecember 1953 (the RAS 2023 paper wrote August 1953)
ChairmanJustice Fazl Ali
MembersK.M. Panikkar and Hriday Nath Kunzru
Report30 September 1955
LawStates Reorganisation Act, 1956, in force from 1 November 1956: 14 states and 6 Union territories

Where books differ

  • Matsya Union: inaugurated on 18 March 1948 in V.P. Menon's book and the 1950 White Paper on Indian States; 17 March 1948 in the RBSE Class 9 book, on the Rajasthan Assembly and Rajasthan Foundation pages and in the Rajasthan High Court's history; the RBSE Class 8 book writes 17–18 March.
  • Names of stages 2 and 3: the RBSE Class 8 book calls them Purva Rajasthan (Rajasthan Union) and United Rajasthan; Menon calls them the first and second Rajasthan Union, and the RBSE Class 9 book calls the 25 March union United Rajasthan too.
  • Lava and Neemrana chiefships: the RBSE Class 8 book puts Lava in stage 2 and Neemrana in stage 5, with the Matsya Union; some guides put Neemrana in the Matsya Union of stage 1 and say Lava was merged into Jaipur in 1948.
  • Sirohi: 26 January 1950 in the RBSE Class 8 book and on the Rajasthan Foundation page; the 1950 order that split Sirohi came into force on 25 January 1950, and the Rajasthan High Court's history ends the formation of the state on that day.
  • Sironj, given to Madhya Pradesh in 1956: part of Kota district in the Rajasthan High Court's history and the RBSE Class 9 book, of Jhalawar in the RBSE Class 8 book.

Remember: often mixed up

  • Matsya or Greater RajasthanGreater Rajasthan was formed on 30 March 1949; the Matsya Union joined it later, on 15 May 1949.
  • First Rajpramukh of RajasthanMan Singh II of Jaipur, from stage 4; the rulers of Dholpur, Kota and Mewar headed the earlier, smaller unions.
  • Bundi's rankSenior Up-Rajpramukh in stage 2, Junior from stage 3, when Kota became Senior.
  • Udaipur capital, Kota sessionswhen Udaipur became the capital in stage 3, Kota was promised at least one session of the legislature every year.
  • 1950 or 1956Sirohi joined in 1950 without Abu Road and Delwara; these came to Rajasthan in 1956, with Ajmer and Sunel Tappa.

Test yourself: asked in exams

RAS Prelims 2023 · Q29

Which of the following recommended the post of Rajpramukh to be abolished in Rajasthan and the arrangement of the Governor was made instead ?

  1. (1)State Legislative Assembly
  2. (2)Constituent Assembly
  3. (3)State Reorganization Commission
  4. (4)State Administrative Reforms Commission
Show answer

✓ (3) State Reorganization Commission

See the full paper

RAS Prelims 2023 · Q124

When Matsya Sangh was merged into Vrihat Rajasthan ?

  1. (1)18th April, 1948
  2. (2)25th January, 1950
  3. (3)30th March, 1949
  4. (4)15th May, 1949
Show answer

✓ (4) 15th May, 1949

See the full paper

RAS Prelims 2023 · Q140

Who was appointed first Raj Pramukh of Rajasthan ?

  1. (1)Maharaja Umed Singh of Jodhpur
  2. (2)Maharaja Karni Singh of Bikaner
  3. (3)Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II of Jaipur
  4. (4)Maharana Bhagwat Singh of Udaipur
Show answer

✓ (3) Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II of Jaipur

See the full paper

RAS Prelims 2023 · Q143

Which of the following were the members of State Reorganisation Commission formed by Indian Government in August, 1953 ? (i) Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru (ii) Justice Fazal Ali (iii) K.M. Pannikar (iv) Hridayanath Kunjaru Select the correct answer by using the code given below :

  1. (1)(ii) and (iii)
  2. (2)(ii) and (iv)
  3. (3)(ii), (iii) and (iv)
  4. (4)(i), (ii), (iii) and (iv)
Show answer

✓ (3) (ii), (iii) and (iv)

See the full paper

RAS Prelims 2024 · Q28

Which of the following statement is not correct regarding the Governor of Rajasthan ?

  1. (1)On the basis of the recommendation of the States Reorganisation Commission, the institution of Rajpramukh was abolished.
  2. (2)The institution of Rajpramukh was abolished by the 7th Constitutional amendment.
  3. (3)Gurumukh Nihal Singh was appointed as the first Governor of Rajasthan on 1st November, 1956 AD.
  4. (4)Haribhau Kisanrao Bagde assumed the office of the Governor of Rajasthan on 31st July, 2024.
Show answer

✓ (3) Gurumukh Nihal Singh was appointed as the first Governor of Rajasthan on 1st November, 1956 AD.

See the full paper

RAS Prelims 2024 · Q133

Consider the following statements about Matsya Union's Prime Minister Shobaram and choose the correct option from below : A. He left his legal profession during the Non-Cooperation Movement. B. He was the member of the Cabinet of Heeralal Shastri.

  1. (1)Only A is true.
  2. (2)Only B is true.
  3. (3)A and B both are true.
  4. (4)A and B both are false.
Show answer

✓ (2) Only B is true.

See the full paper

CET Graduation Level 2024 · Q14

After Independence three states in Rajputana acceded to the Indian Union through the-

  1. (1)Instrument of Obligation
  2. (2)Instrument of Accession
  3. (3)Instrument of Integration
  4. (4)Accession Instrument League
Show answer

✓ (2) Instrument of Accession

See the full paper

CET Graduation Level 2024 · Q127

In the fourth phase of integration of Rajasthan, which four princely states merged into Greater Rajasthan?

  1. (1)Kota, Tonk, Bundi, Jhalawar
  2. (2)Pratapgarh, Dungarpur, Kishangarh, Shahpura
  3. (3)Alwar, Bharatpur, Dholpur, Karauli
  4. (4)Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Jaisalmer
Show answer

✓ (4) Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Jaisalmer

See the full paper

Protection Officer 2022 · Q132

Who among the following was/were the member/s of Dr. Shankar Dev Rai Committee, constituted during the integration of Rajasthan ? (i) Prabhudayal (ii) Dr. Abhay Singh (iii) R.K. Sidhwa Code :

  1. (1)Only (i)
  2. (2)Only (ii)
  3. (3)(i) and (iii)
  4. (4)(i), (ii) and (iii)
Show answer

✓ (3) (i) and (iii)

See the full paper

Protection Officer 2024 · Q19

In the context of Greater Rajasthan Union, match List-I with List-II and select the correct code given below - List-I List-II (A) Jaipur (I) Maharaj Pramukh (B) Kota-Jodhpur (II) Rajpramukh (C) Bundi and Dungarpur (III) Senior Up-Rajpramukh (D) Udaipur (IV) Junior Up-Rajpramukh

  1. (1)(A)-(III), (B)-(IV), (C)-(I), (D)-(II)
  2. (2)(A)-(IV), (B)-(II), (C)-(III), (D)-(I)
  3. (3)(A)-(II), (B)-(III), (C)-(IV), (D)-(I)
  4. (4)(A)-(I), (B)-(IV), (C)-(II), (D)-(III)
Show answer

✓ (3) (A)-(II), (B)-(III), (C)-(IV), (D)-(I)

See the full paper

Protection Officer 2024 · Q42

Consider the following statements regarding the State Reorganization Commission (1953) - (I) In its 1955 report, the Commission stated to recognise linguistic homogeneity as important factor conducive to administrative convenience and efficiency, but not to consider it as an exclusive and binding principle, overriding all other considerations, administrative, financial or political. (II) Following the recommendations of the commission, however, Bombay and Punjab were not reorganised on the linguistic basis. Choose the correct answer -

  1. (1)Both (I) and (II) are correct.
  2. (2)Only (II) is correct.
  3. (3)Neither (I) nor (II) is correct.
  4. (4)Only (I) is correct.
Show answer

✓ (1) Both (I) and (II) are correct.

See the full paper

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