When was the special rights and privy purse enjoyed by the Indian Princely States abolished?

Question

UnlockIAS · Accepted Answer

Correct — D, 1971. The special privileges and privy purses of the former rulers of the princely states were abolished by the 26th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1971. An earlier attempt in 1970 was struck down by the Supreme Court, so the constitutional amendment in 1971 was the decisive step.

Why the other options are wrong — (a) In 1950 the Constitution came into force and actually guaranteed the privy purses (Articles 291 and 362); they were not abolished then.  (b) 1949 saw the integration of princely states and the adoption of the Constitution's text, but the privy purses continued, not abolished.  (c) No abolition of privy purses occurred in 1962; the change came only with the 1971 amendment.

Concept: To secure the accession and integration of princely states, the Constitution (Articles 291 and 362) had guaranteed the rulers privy purses and privileges. These were withdrawn by the 26th Amendment, 1971, completing the states' integration on an equal footing.

State PCS 2020 Q55 — History PYQ with Answer

State PCS 2020 Q55 — History PYQ with Answer