Ahmedabad . When India got independence from the British, Bhavnagar was the first princely state in India to sign the merger document with India. In the history of independent India, Maharaja Krishna Kumar Singh of Bhavnagar princely state first presented the merger proposal. As soon as Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel took the initiative, the princely state of Bhavnagar immediately gave its consent to it.
Two agreements were signed to join independent India. The first agreement was the Instrument of Accession and the second was the Stand Deal Agreement. Signatures were necessary on both these agreements. On 5 August 1947, King Krishna Kumar Singh of Bhavnagar signed both the agreements and gave them to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. On 16 August 1947, Governor General of India Lord Mountbatten signed them. In this way, Bhavnagar is recorded as the first princely state to join independent India. After the inclusion of Bhavnagar princely state, other kings also signed the agreement to include their princely states in India.