Patiala and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU) ਪੈਪਸੂ |
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State of India | |||||
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1951 map of India. The Patiala and East Punjab States Union is shown forming enclaves in East Punjab. | |||||
Capital | Patiala | ||||
Government | Democracy | ||||
Legislature | PEPSU Legislative Assembly | ||||
History | |||||
• | State Established | 15 July 1948 1948 | |||
• | State Disestablished | 1 November 1956 1956 | |||
Area | |||||
• | 1951 | 26,208 km2(10,119 sq mi) | |||
Population | |||||
• | 1951 | 3,493,685 | |||
Density | 133.3 /km2 (345.3 /sq mi) |
The Patiala and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU) was a state of India uniting eight princely states between 1948 and 1956. The capital and principal city was Patiala. The state covered an area of 26,208 km². Shimla, Kasauli, Kandaghat, Dharampur and Chail also became part of the PEPSU.
It was created by combining eight princely states, which maintained their native rulers :
The state was inaugurated on July 15, 1948 and formally became a state of India in 1950.
On 1 November 1956, PEPSU was merged mostly into Punjab State following the States Reorganisation Act.
A part of the former state of PEPSU, including the south-eastern portion around Jind and the Narnaul enclave, presently lie within the state of Haryana, which was separated from Punjab on 1 November 1966. Some other areas that belonged to PEPSU, notably Solan and Nalagarh, now lie in the state of Himachal Pradesh.
When the state was formed, the then-Maharaja of Patiala, Yadavindra Singh, was appointed its Rajpramukh (equivalent to Governor). He remained in office during the entire length of the state's short existence. The then Maharaja of Kapurthala, Jagatjit Singh, served as Uparajpramukh (lieutenant-governor).