Indian States and Agencies
plural noun
the 560 former semidependent states and agencies in India and Pakistan: all except Kashmir were incorporated into the republics of India and Pakistan (1947–49).
Also called
Native States.
British Dictionary definitions for native states (1 of 2)
Native States
pl n
the former 562 semi-independent states of India, ruled by Indians but subject to varying degrees of British authority: merged with provinces by 1948; largest states were Hyderabad, Gwalior, Baroda, Mysore, Cochin, Jammu and Kashmir, Travancore, Sikkim, and Indore
Also called: Indian States and Agencies