Hyderabad State, India

The princely state of Hyderabad remained outside the Indian Union after independence in August 1947. The Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII, initially sought to maintain Hyderabad's independence. In November 1947, Hyderabad entered into a Standstill Agreement with the Dominion of India, temporarily continuing existing administrative arrangements while negotiations continued.

The Nizam's government faced growing internal conflict, including the Telangana armed rebellion and the activities of the Razakars, an armed organisation associated with the Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen. Relations between Hyderabad and the Government of India deteriorated during 1948.

India launched Operation Polo on 13 September 1948. Hyderabad's forces surrendered on 17 September 1948, after which Indian administration was established. The formal constitutional relationship was subsequently completed when the Nizam executed an Instrument of Accession on 25 January 1950, effective with the commencement of the Constitution on 26 January 1950.

Operation Polo was the Indian military operation launched on 13 September 1948 against the princely state of Hyderabad. It was officially described at the time as a "police action". The operation concluded on 17 September 1948, following the surrender of Hyderabad's forces.

• Duration: 13–17 September 1948.
• Indian Forces: Indian Army formations including the 1st Armoured Division, commanded during the operation by Major General J.N. Chaudhuri.
• Hyderabad Forces: Hyderabad State Forces, supported by Razakar irregulars.
• Outcome: Hyderabad's military resistance ended and Indian administration was established throughout the state.

The operation was followed by serious communal violence in parts of Hyderabad State. The Sunderlal Committee, appointed to investigate the violence, estimated that approximately 30,000–40,000 people died. The report was not publicly released until 2013.

Following the surrender of Hyderabad's forces in September 1948, the state was placed under military administration. Major General J.N. Chaudhuri, who had commanded the Indian forces during Operation Polo, served as Military Governor during the transition.

• Military Governor: Major General J.N. Chaudhuri
• Period: September 1948 – 1 December 1949
• Role: Oversaw the military administration and transition toward civilian government.
• Major Measures: Reorganisation of administration and implementation of post-integration regulations, including measures concerning jagirs and special tribunals.

Military administration was followed by civilian government under M.K. Vellodi. The transition marked the end of the immediate post-Operation Polo military administration and the beginning of constitutional civilian governance.

Mir Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII served as Rajpramukh of Hyderabad State from 26 January 1950 until the state's dissolution on 31 October 1956.

• Rajpramukh: Mir Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII
• Term: 26 January 1950 – 31 October 1956
• Role: Constitutional head of the Part-B State of Hyderabad

With the Constitution coming into force on 26 January 1950, Hyderabad became a Part-B State and the Nizam assumed the constitutional office of Rajpramukh. He continued in that position until the reorganisation of the state on 1 November 1956, when the office of Rajpramukh ceased to exist in Hyderabad.

Hyderabad State had two Chief Ministers during its constitutional existence as a Part-B State.

Hyderabad State consisted of 16 districts, organised into four administrative divisions.

• Telangana region: Nine predominantly Telugu-speaking districts formed the core Telangana area.
• Marathwada region: Five predominantly Marathi-speaking districts formed the Marathwada area.
• Karnataka region: Gulbarga, Raichur and Bidar areas contained predominantly Kannada-speaking populations, although Bidar was linguistically mixed.

Divisions: The districts were grouped into four administrative divisions for governance.

Hyderabad State became a Part-B State of the Indian Union on 26 January 1950, with the Nizam serving as Rajpramukh. Its administration combined institutions inherited from the Hyderabad State with the constitutional and administrative framework of the Republic of India.

The state also witnessed the Mulkhi agitation of 1952, centred on the enforcement of local-service rules. The agitation reflected tensions over employment opportunities and the application of the Hyderabad State's Mulki rules, which provided preferential treatment in government employment to qualifying local residents.

In 1956, the States Reorganisation Act reorganised Hyderabad State substantially along linguistic lines. The predominantly Telugu-speaking Telangana districts were transferred to Andhra State and, together with it, formed Andhra Pradesh. The Marathi-speaking areas were transferred to Bombay State, while the Kannada-speaking areas were transferred to Mysore State.

The States Reorganisation Commission (SRC) had not recommended an immediate merger of the Telangana region with Andhra State. The Commission noted concerns among sections of Telangana's population about economic, educational and administrative disparities and proposed that Telangana initially remain a separate Hyderabad State, with a possible future union subject to specified conditions.

Despite the SRC's recommendation, the Government of India proceeded with the merger. The Telugu-speaking areas of Hyderabad State were combined with Andhra State on 1 November 1956 to create Andhra Pradesh. Safeguards for Telangana were set out in the Gentlemen's Agreement of 20 February 1956.

The reorganisation also transferred Hyderabad State's Marathi-speaking territories to Bombay State and Kannada-speaking territories to Mysore State. These territories subsequently became parts of the modern states of Maharashtra and Karnataka.

• 13 September 1948: Operation Polo launched by the Indian Army.
• 17 September 1948: Hyderabad's forces surrender; Indian administration is established.
• September 1948: Hyderabad placed under military administration, with Major General J.N. Chaudhuri serving as Military Governor.
• 1 December 1949: Civilian administration under M.K. Vellodi replaces the military administration.
• 25 January 1950: The Nizam executes the Instrument of Accession to India.
• 26 January 1950: Constitution of India comes into force; Hyderabad becomes a Part-B State and the Nizam becomes Rajpramukh.
• 26 January 1950: M.K. Vellodi becomes Chief Minister of Hyderabad State.
• 6 March 1952: Dr. Burgula Ramakrishna Rao becomes Chief Minister following the Hyderabad State elections.
• 1952: Mulkhi agitation takes place over local-service rules and government employment.
• 20 February 1956: Gentlemen's Agreement concerning safeguards for Telangana is signed.
• 1 November 1956: Hyderabad State dissolved; its territories are distributed among Andhra Pradesh, Bombay State and Mysore State.
• 2 June 2014: Telangana becomes a separate state following the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014.