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(a) There will be Presidium consisting of the Rulers of Nawanagar and Bhavnagar as permanent members and three other Rulers elected from amongst the members of the Council of Rulers. The Rajpramukh and the Up-Rajpramukh of Saurashtra will be elected from amongst the members of the Presidium.

(b) A Joint Advisory Council consisting of Ministers of Saurashtra and Ministers of Bombay will be established for investigating and discussing subjects of common concern and making recommendations for the better co-ordination of policy and action with respect to such matters.

(c) There is a specific provision that the Covenant did not prevent the Government of Saurashtra from negotiating a union of Saurashtra and other Gujerati-speaking areas on such terms and conditions as may be agreed to by the Council of Rulers as well as the Council of Ministers.

The Covenant (Appendix XXXIV) was signed on 23rd January 1948 and the new State was inaugurated by the Hon'ble Sardar Patel on 15th February 1948.

127. The Covenant for the formation of the United State of Saurastra provided for the setting up of a Constituent Assembly to frame a Constitution for Saurashtra. A Supplementary Covenant was entered into by the Rulers of Saurashtra in 1949 to convert the Constituent Assembly elected under the provisions of the original Covenant into the interim Legislature of Saurashtra. Another Supplementary Covenant (Appendix XXXV) has been entered into to provide that the present Ruler of Nawanagar would hold office as Rajpramukh of Saurashtra during his life-time. With the integration in Saurashtra, of the territories of Junagadh and certain smaller States of Kathiawar (Appendix XXXVI), the area and population of the State respectively are 21,062 sq. miles and 3.556 millions.

Madhya Bharat

128. The United State of Gwalior, Indore and Malwa, otherwise known as Madhya Bharat, comprises 20 States in Central India including the major States of Gwalior and Indore. Linguistically, culturally, historically and economically the region forms a compact block. The position of the two major States of Gwalior and Indore, which had been recognised as viable units entitled to stand by themselves, rendered the problem of the integration of these States into one Union somewhat difficult.