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Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India on:
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Answer: Option B — 26 October 1947
Detailed Solution
Maharaja Hari Singh, the ruler of Jammu and Kashmir, signed the Instrument of Accession to India on 26 October 1947. The Governor-General, Lord Mountbatten, accepted it on 27 October 1947.
Background:
- At the time of independence, Jammu and Kashmir was a princely state with a Muslim-majority population and a Hindu ruler.
- Maharaja Hari Singh did not join either India or Pakistan at first, hoping to remain independent.
- He signed a Standstill Agreement with Pakistan, but India did not sign one.
The tribal invasion:
- On 22 October 1947, armed tribesmen from Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province, supported by the Pakistani army, invaded Jammu and Kashmir.
- They advanced quickly towards Srinagar, looting and killing on the way.
- The Maharaja asked India for military help.
Accession:
- India said it could send troops only if the state acceded to India.
- The Maharaja signed the Instrument of Accession on 26 October 1947, giving India control over defence, external affairs and communications.
- On 27 October 1947, Indian troops were airlifted to Srinagar and began driving back the invaders.
- 27 October is observed as Infantry Day in India.
UN involvement:
- India took the matter to the United Nations Security Council on 1 January 1948.
- A ceasefire came into effect on 1 January 1949, and a ceasefire line was drawn, which later became the Line of Control.
Special status:
- Jammu and Kashmir was given special status under Article 370 of the Constitution.
- This special status was ended in August 2019, and the state was reorganised into two Union territories.
Role of Sheikh Abdullah:
Sheikh Abdullah, leader of the National Conference, supported accession to India and became the head of the state's emergency administration and later its Prime Minister.
Accession Day:
26 October is observed as Accession Day in Jammu and Kashmir.
Why not the other options?
- ✗15 August 1947 is Independence Day.
- ✗22 October 1947 is the date of the tribal invasion.
- ✗27 October 1947 is when the accession was accepted and Indian troops landed in Srinagar.
Quick tip
Remember: Instrument of Accession of J&K = signed on 26 October 1947 by Maharaja Hari Singh; troops landed on 27 October.
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This question tests your understanding of Union, Territory & Citizenship, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers Part I and Part II of the Constitution: the Union and its territory (Articles 1-4), the formation and reorganisation of states, and the provisions on citizenship (Articles 5-11), including how citizenship is acquired and lost under the Citizenship Act, 1955. Questions commonly ask which article describes India as a 'Union of States' (Article 1), how Parliament can create new states (Article 3), and the five ways of acquiring citizenship (birth, descent, registration, naturalisation and incorporation of territory). Remember that India provides for single citizenship. Practise the union, territory and citizenship questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.