Q. October 26, 1947 is an important date in the Indian history, because of
(a) Maharaja Hari Singh’s signing on Instrument of Accession
(b) ceasefire with Pakistan
(c) merger of Sind
(d) declaration of war over India by Pakistan
Ans: (a) Maharaja Hari Singh’s signing on Instrument of Accession
Explanation:
The correct answer is (a) Maharaja Hari Singh’s signing of the Instrument of Accession.
October 26, 1947, is an important date in Indian history because on that day, Maharaja Hari Singh, the ruler of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, signed the Instrument of Accession, integrating the state with India.
After India’s independence in 1947, the princely states were given the choice to accede to either India or Pakistan based on geographical contiguity and the wishes of their rulers. Maharaja Hari Singh initially desired to remain independent but faced a rebellion within his state and an invasion by tribal forces from Pakistan.
In response to the invasion, Maharaja Hari Singh sought military assistance from India and signed the Instrument of Accession on October 26, 1947, acceding Jammu and Kashmir to India. This marked the formal legal agreement by which the princely state became a part of the Indian Union.
The signing of the Instrument of Accession paved the way for the Indian government to deploy its forces in Jammu and Kashmir to defend against the invasion and secure the state. The conflict over Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan has continued since then, leading to several wars and ongoing disputes.
