Question

Read the passage given below carefully and answer the question that follow:

The interim government took a firm stance against the possible division of India into small principalities of different sizes. The Muslim League opposed the Indian National Congress and took the view that the states should be free to adopt any course they liked. Sardar Patel played a historic role in negotiating with the rulers of princely states firmly but diplomatically and bringing most of them into the Indian Union.

How many princely states were there in British India at the time of independence?

Options

• 556

• 566

• 655

• 565

Answer 1

565