The States Reorganisation Act, 1956, reorganised Hyderabad State largely on linguistic lines. Its Telugu-speaking districts were merged with Andhra State to form Andhra Pradesh, while Marathi-speaking areas were transferred to Bombay State and Kannada-speaking areas to Mysore State. Hyderabad State was consequently dissolved on 1 November 1956.
The princely state of Hyderabad was annexed by India in September 1948 through a military operation code named Operation Polo, which was dubbed a "police action". At the time of Partition in 1947, the princely states of India, who in principle had self‑government within their own territories, were subject to subsidiary alliances with the British, giving them control of their external relations. With the Indian Independence Act 1947, the British abandoned all such alliances, leaving the states with the option of opting for full independence.
However, by 1948 almost all had acceded to either India or Pakistan. One major exception was that of the wealthiest and most powerful principality, Hyderabad, where the Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII, a Muslim ruler who presided over a largely Hindu population, chose independence and hoped to maintain this with an irregular army. The Nizam was also beset by the Telangana rebellion, which he was unable to crush. In November 1947, Hyderabad signed a standstill agreement with the Dominion of India, continuing all previous arrangements except for the stationing of Indian troops in the state.
India invaded the state in September 1948, following a crippling economic blockade, and multiple attempts at destabilizing the state through railway disruptions, the bombing of government buildings, and raids on border villages. After the defeat of Razakars, the Nizam signed an instrument of accession, joining India.
Operation Polo was the military operation launched by the Indian Army on 13 September 1948 to integrate the princely state of Hyderabad. It was the code name of the Hyderabad "police action" in September 1948, by the then newly independent Dominion of India against Hyderabad State. The operation concluded in about five days on 17 September 1948.
- Duration: 13–17 September 1948 (5 days).
- Indian Forces: 1st Armoured Division and other units led by Major General J.N. Chaudhuri.
- Hyderabad Forces: Hyderabad Army and Razakars (irregular militia).
- Casualties: 97 Indian soldiers injured; 882 casualties among Razakars and Nizam's army.
- Outcome: Annexation of Hyderabad into the Indian Union.
The operation was followed by widespread communal violence. The Sunderlal Committee (Pandit Sunderlal, Kazi Abdul Ghaffar, and Maulana Abdulla), appointed by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, estimated that 30,000–40,000 people died across Hyderabad State. Its report was officially released only in 2013.
The code name "Operation Polo" was a reference to Hyderabad's role as the centre of Indian polo – containing some 17 polo grounds at the time where the game was played.
After the annexation into the Indian Union, Major General J.N. Chaudhuri who led Operation Polo stayed on as Military Governor till December 1949.
On 19 September 1948, the whole of Hyderabad was put under military administration, headed by Maj. Gen. J.N. Chowdhury, Commander of the First Armoured Division of the Indian Army, who was appointed Military Governor. Major General El Edroos, commander of the Hyderabad forces, formally surrendered to Major General Chaudri, commander of an Indian column which advanced from the west, who was appointed Military Governor of Hyderabad.
- Military Governor: Major General J.N. Chaudhuri
- Term: 17 September 1948 – December 1949
- Key Actions: Established law and order, abolished jagirs, introduced reforms.
On 24 November, Major General Chaudhari took over as Military Governor of Hyderabad and stayed in that position till the end of 1949. The Military Governor, by virtue of powers delegated to him by the Nizam, enacted various regulations, including the Hyderabad (Abolition of Jagirs) Regulation and the Special Tribunals Regulation.
Hyderabad State had its last Nizam, HEH Mir Osman Ali Khan (1886–1967) as Rajpramukh from 26 January 1950 to 31 October 1956.
- Rajpramukh: Mir Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII
- Term: 26 January 1950 – 31 October 1956 (6 years, 279 days)
- Role: Constitutional head of the Part‑B state
After Hyderabad State acceded to the Indian Union, he was appointed Rajpramukh of the state in 1948 and held the administrative title till 1956 when the post was abolished. On 26 January 1950, the Nizam became the Raj Pramukh (governor) of Hyderabad state. He took a salary of Re 1 per month and voluntarily gave up the position in 1956.
The Nizam continued to issue government orders (firmans) until 25 January 1950, after which the military-administrator had taken control. As Rajpramukh, he served as a constitutional governor, symbolising continuity while India integrated the princely state.
Hyderabad State had two Chief Ministers during its existence.
Appointed by: Government of India
Party: Independent (civil servant)
Term: 770 days
M. K. Vellodi was an Indian civil servant appointed as the first Chief Minister of Hyderabad State after the transition to civilian rule. He served during the early years of the state's integration into the Indian Union.
Party: Indian National Congress
Term: 1,701 days
Dr. Burgula Ramakrishna Rao (13 March 1899 – 14 September 1967) was the second and last Chief Minister of the erstwhile Hyderabad State. In the first State Assembly election in India, 1952, Dr. Burgula Ramakrishna Rao was elected Chief Minister of Hyderabad State. He served until the state's dissolution in 1956.
Administratively, Hyderabad State was made up of sixteen districts, grouped into four divisions.
- Telugu-speaking districts (9): The core Telangana region.
- Kannada-speaking districts (4): Gulbarga division.
- Marathi-speaking districts (4): Aurangabad division.
Divisions: The state was divided into four divisions for administrative convenience.
Hyderabad State was a Part‑B state within the Indian Union, with the Nizam as Rajpramukh. The administration was a blend of the old Nizam's bureaucracy and the new Indian administrative framework.
The state witnessed the Mulkhi agitation in 1952 by locals after government jobs meant for the locals were given to non‑locals. During this time there were violent agitations by some Telanganites to send back bureaucrats from Madras state, and to strictly implement 'Mulki‑rules' (local jobs for locals only), which was part of Hyderabad state law since 1919.
In 1956, during the reorganisation of the Indian states based along linguistic lines, the Telugu‑speaking region of Hyderabad State was merged with Andhra State, the Marathi‑speaking region was merged with Bombay State, and the Kannada‑speaking region with Mysore State.
The States Reorganisation Commission (SRC) was not in favour of an immediate merger of the Telugu‑speaking Telangana region of Hyderabad State with Andhra State, despite their common language. Para 378 of the SRC report said: "One of the principal causes of opposition of Vishalandhra also seems to be the apprehension felt by the educationally backward people of Telangana that they may be swamped and exploited by the more advanced people of the coastal areas."
Andhra State and Hyderabad State were merged to form Andhra Pradesh on 1 November 1956, after providing safeguards to Telangana in the form of the Gentlemen's Agreement. In June 2014, Telangana re‑emerged as a separate state.
Hyderabad city continued to be the capital of both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana for 10 years after the bifurcation in 2014. The city remains the shared capital of both states to this day.
- 13 September 1948: Operation Polo launched by the Indian Army.
- 17 September 1948: Nizam signs instrument of accession; Hyderabad State formed.
- 19 September 1948: Hyderabad put under military administration; Major General J.N. Chaudhuri appointed Military Governor.
- 26 January 1950: Nizam becomes Rajpramukh of Hyderabad State.
- 26 January 1950: M.K. Vellodi appointed as Chief Minister.
- 6 March 1952: Dr. Burgula Ramakrishna Rao becomes Chief Minister after elections.
- 1 November 1956: Hyderabad State dissolved; merged into Andhra Pradesh, Bombay, and Mysore states.
- 2 June 2014: Telangana re‑emerges as a separate state.
- Wikipedia – Hyderabad State (1948–1956)
- Indian Express – Operation Polo 75th anniversary (2023)
- Hindustan Times – Hyderabad state put under military administration (1948)
- Telangana State Archives – Nizam-era records
- States Reorganisation Commission Report – 1955
- Taylor C. Sherman – "The integration of the princely state of Hyderabad and the making of the postcolonial state in India, 1948–56" (2007)
Hyderabad State existed for just over eight years – a brief but transformative period that bridged the princely era of the Nizams and the linguistic reorganisation of India. Its legacy lives on in the modern states of Telangana, Maharashtra, and Karnataka, and in the enduring cultural and administrative traditions of the Deccan.