Categorization of States in India (1950 Constitution)
The Indian Constitution categorized states into four parts based on their historical and political backgrounds:
- Part A States: These were former British provinces governed by an elected governor and legislature. Examples include Assam, Bihar, Bombay, East Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Madras, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
- Part B States: These included former princely states or groups of Covenanting states and were governed by a Rajpramukh (a former prince). Hyderabad was categorized under this section, along with Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Bharat, Mysore, Patiala and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU), Rajasthan, Saurashtra, Travancore-Cochin, and Vindhya Pradesh.
- Part C States: These included smaller princely states and provinces governed by a Chief Commissioner. Examples include Ajmer, Coorg, Cooch-Behar, Bhopal, Bilaspur, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Kutch, Manipur, and Tripura.
- Part D States: This category was meant for Union Territories, governed by a Governor appointed by the President of India. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands were placed under this category.
- Hyderabad was categorized under Part B as per the Indian Constitution, which came into effect on January 26, 1950.
- On the day the Constitution was implemented, Mir Osman Ali Khan, the last Nizam of Hyderabad, was designated as the Rajpramukh (the constitutional head of Hyderabad).
- M.K. Vellodi, who was serving as the Prime Minister of Hyderabad, took charge as the Civil Chief Minister of Hyderabad, marking the transition from princely rule to constitutional governance.
