1947 Instrument of Accession

The Instrument of Accession was a legal document introduced by the Government of India Act 1935, used in 1947 to allow rulers of princely states under British paramountcy to join India or Pakistan after the Partition of British India. The document enabled the accession of states to the Dominion of India or Pakistan on three subjects: defense, external affairs, and communications. 565 princely states existed in India during the British Raj, and the Indian Independence Act 1947 terminated British suzerainty over these states, allowing them to join either India or Pakistan. A standard template was used for the Instrument of Accession, which was executed by rulers and accepted by the Government of India or Pakistan. The accession of Jammu and Kashmir is notable, as it was executed by Maharaja Hari Singh on October 26, 1947, and accepted by Lord Mountbatten on October 27, 1947.learn more on wikipedia