Manipur Merger Agreement
Topic: Challenges of Nation Building: Partition, Princely States and Reorganisation · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 1 "Challenges of Nation Building"
Meaning
The Manipur Merger Agreement was the deal by which Manipur was fully merged into India. Maharaja Bodhachandra Singh signed it on 21 September 1949, and it came into force on 15 October 1949. It was signed without the consent of Manipur's elected Assembly, and this remains a lasting grievance in Manipur. Earlier, just before independence, the Maharaja had signed the Instrument of Accession on a promise that Manipur would keep its internal autonomy, meaning it would run its own affairs.
Example
In June 1948, Manipur held an election under universal adult franchise, where every adult can vote. It was the first such election in India. The people had elected their own Assembly, yet the 1949 merger went ahead without that Assembly's approval.
Don't confuse with
- Instrument of Accession (Manipur): signed before independence, it handed over only a few subjects and promised autonomy. The 1949 Merger Agreement ended Manipur's separate status completely.