Instrument of Accession

An Instrument of Accession is a legal document used when a princely state or territory formally agrees to join a larger nation. In the context of Indian history, when India gained independence in 1947, many princely states needed to choose whether to join India or Pakistan. The Instrument of Accession allowed these states to accept Indian sovereignty while maintaining some degree of autonomy. The signing of this document by rulers, such as the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir, played a crucial role in shaping the political landscape of India post-independence.