Question

Who was the king of Jammu and Kashmir at the time of Indian Independence?
A. Raja Balwant
B. Raja Harisingh
C. Raja Karan Singh
D. None of these

Answer 1

Hint Jammu and Kashmir was one of India’s largest princely states during the time of independence. It was a state in the northernmost part of India. It became a princely state only after the first Anglo-Sikh war. The British annexed Jammu and Kashmir along with parts of Ladakh from the Sikhs and sold it to Gulab Singh for a mere sum of 75000 rupees.

Complete step by step solution
During the time of Indian independence, India consisted of about 564- 565 small and large princely states. The princely state of Jammu and Kashmir was among the largest of all of them. During the partition of India in 1947, Lord Louis Mountbatten allowed the princely states to join either of the Dominions that were being created or to remain sovereign. The ruler of Jammu and Kashmir, Maharaja Hari Singh decided to remain a sovereign independent nation for most of the time and not to join either India or Pakistan. It was only when Jammu and Kashmir faced infiltration of terrorists from Pakistan, that Maharaja Hari Singh sought asylum in India and signed the Instrument of Accession of States.
Maharaja Hari Singh was the ruler of Jammu and Kashmir during the independence of India.

So, the correct answer to this question is option B.

Note Gulab Singh, Ranbir Singh, and Pratap Singh ruled the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir before Raja Hari Singh. Raja Hari Singh was a rather inefficient ruler and spent most of his time outside his kingdom.