Page:White Paper on Indian States (1950).pdf/28

 and of the States within the geographical orbit of the Indian Dominion to 89 millions changing the relative population ratio of the States from 24 per cent. to 28 per cent.

27. In pre-Partition India 16 States had a population of over one million. These 16 States plus 4 others with a population of more than 750,000 but less than a million were assigned individual representation in the Constituent Assembly of India. These 20 States claimed 60 seats in the Constituent Assembly as against 33 seats assigned to the rest of the States; of these 20 States, 11 were entitled to send two or more representatives. Of the rest 13 had a population between 500,000 and 750,000. The remainder of the 140 States which were members of the Chamber of Princes in their own right, had a population ranging from 25,000 to 500,000.

28. The distribution of the principal communities over the territories of the States in post-Partition India showed that 27 per cent. and 26 per cent. respectively of the total population of Hindus (including Scheduled Castes) and Muslims were to be found in the States. In the case of the Sikhs and Indian Christians, however, the percentage was much higher; the States claimed 50 per cent. of the Indian Christians and 36 per cent. of the Sikhs residing in the DomnionDominion [sic] of India. The corresponding figures for pre-Partition India were: Hindus 25 per cent., Muslims 16 per cent., Indian Christians 46 per cent. and Sikhs 27 per cent.

29. The revenues of the States, which in numerous cases did not reflect their relative areas and population, showed equal disparity. Nineteen States had a revenue of rupees ten millions or more a year; seven had revenue ranging between five to ten millions and the figure descended gradually till in the case of petty principalities it showed a revenue approximating to an artisan's average wages.

 

30. Historically the main common feature that distinguished the States from the Provinces was that the States unlike the Provinces had not been annexed by the British. In their individual origin, however, the evolution and growth of States represented different processes. Firstly, there were the old established States, such as those in Rajputana, which were in existence before the main waves of foreign invasion took place. Another class consisted, mainly of the States with Muslim dynasties, which were