White Paper on Indian States (1950)/Part 2/Three Categories of States
Three Categories of States
33. According to the Butler Committee the Indian States as they existed could be classified into three distinct categories:—
(i) States, the Rulers of which were members of the Chamber of Princes in their own right. 108 in number.
(ii) States, the Rulers of which were represented in the Chamber of Princes by 12 members of their Order elected by themselves. 127 in number.
(iii) Estates, Jagirs and others. 327 in number.
The first category included the Ruling Princes who enjoyed a permanent dynastic salute of 11 guns or more, together with other Rulers of the States who exercised such full or practically full internal powers as, in the opinion of the Viceroy, qualified them for individual admission to the Chamber. As a result of fresh admissions, the membership of the Chamber was enlarged to 140.