On 30 March 1949, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel inaugurated Greater Rajasthan in Jaipur. The great states of Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner and Jaisalmer had joined the union, and Jaipur became its capital. The date is celebrated every year as Rajasthan Day (Rajasthan Diwas). But Greater Rajasthan was only the fourth of seven stages through which today's state was formed, and the process was not complete until 1 November 1956. For RAS, the stages of integration are among the most frequently asked facts in the entire syllabus.
The starting point
At independence, the region we now call Rajasthan consisted of:
- 19 princely states (salute states such as Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Bikaner and many smaller ones);
- 3 chiefships — Lawa, Kushalgarh and Neemrana;
- the British-ruled province of Ajmer-Merwara.
The integration was carried out by the Ministry of States under Sardar Patel, with V. P. Menon as its secretary, alongside the efforts of the Praja Mandal leaders.
The seven stages
| Stage | Name | Date | States joined | Capital | Rajpramukh | Prime Minister |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matsya Union | 18 March 1948 | Alwar, Bharatpur, Dholpur, Karauli (and Neemrana) | Alwar | Maharaja Udaybhan Singh of Dholpur | Shobharam Kumawat |
| 2 | Rajasthan Union (Purva Rajasthan) | 25 March 1948 | Kota, Bundi, Jhalawar, Banswara, Dungarpur, Kishangarh, Pratapgarh, Shahpura, Tonk (and Kushalgarh) | Kota | Maharao Bhim Singh of Kota | Gokul Lal Asawa |
| 3 | United State of Rajasthan | 18 April 1948 | Udaipur (Mewar) joined | Udaipur | Maharana Bhupal Singh of Udaipur | Manikyalal Verma |
| 4 | Greater Rajasthan | 30 March 1949 | Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Jaisalmer (and Lawa) joined | Jaipur | Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II of Jaipur (Maharana Bhupal Singh as Maharajpramukh) | Hiralal Shastri |
| 5 | United Greater Rajasthan | 15 May 1949 | The Matsya Union merged | Jaipur | Sawai Man Singh II | Hiralal Shastri |
| 6 | Rajasthan (Part B state) | 26 January 1950 | Sirohi (except Abu and Delwara, which went to Bombay State) | Jaipur | Sawai Man Singh II | — |
| 7 | Reorganised Rajasthan | 1 November 1956 | Ajmer-Merwara, Abu–Delwara and Sunel Tappa joined; Sironj went to Madhya Pradesh | Jaipur | Office of Rajpramukh abolished; Governor appointed | — |
Key points in each stage
Stage 1 — Matsya Union. The name was suggested by K. M. Munshi, recalling the ancient Matsya janapada. It was formed partly because of concerns about law and order in Alwar and Bharatpur after the partition violence.
Stage 3 — Udaipur joins. Mewar had initially hoped to remain separate or lead its own union. When it joined, the capital shifted to Udaipur, and Jawaharlal Nehru inaugurated the new union.
Stage 4 — Greater Rajasthan. The joining of the big states was the decisive step. Jaipur was chosen as capital after much debate; to balance regional interests, some state-level offices were located in other cities (for example, the High Court at Jodhpur, and later the RPSC at Ajmer).
Stage 5 — Matsya merges. The Matsya Union's people were consulted through a committee headed by Shankar Rao Deo, which found majority support for merging with Rajasthan rather than with Uttar Pradesh.
Stage 6 — Sirohi. Sirohi's division was controversial: Abu and Delwara went to Bombay State in 1950, and returned to Rajasthan only in 1956.
Stage 7 — 1956. Under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, Ajmer (which had become a separate Part C state after independence) joined Rajasthan, and Mount Abu returned. The office of Rajpramukh was abolished; Gurumukh Nihal Singh became Rajasthan's first Governor.
Why it took so long
- Rulers of large states hoped to preserve their status or form separate unions.
- Regional rivalries (Jaipur vs Jodhpur vs Udaipur) over the capital and institutions.
- Complex questions — Sirohi and Abu, Ajmer's status, the Matsya Union's preference.
- The need to settle privy purses and the rulers' privileges.
Practice
Prelims-style:
- What was the first stage of integration, and when was it formed?
- Who was the Rajpramukh of the United State of Rajasthan?
- On which date is Rajasthan Day celebrated, and why?
- Who was the first Prime Minister of Greater Rajasthan?
- Which areas joined Rajasthan on 1 November 1956?
Mains-style (50 words): Why was 30 March 1949 significant in Rajasthan's history?
Mains-style (100 words): Describe the stages in the integration of Rajasthan and the challenges involved.
A note on dates and numbers. Exam patterns, vacancies and schedules change from year to year. Always confirm the current details in the latest notification on the Rajasthan Public Service Commission website .
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