Brits ruled only 63% of India's territory (78% population). No annexations happened after 1858. There were 565 Princely States which had to be integrated.
This was ==not a conquest== as the integration was not forced. Rather, the integration was based on talks and agreement.
- integration of states’ people contributed to integration of states as
- ppl strengthened Sardar Patel
- ppl’s participation gave legitimacy to integration or else it’d have been empire building
- brits anyways believed India isn’t one nation
- ppl’s mvmt laid foundation for integration
- eg. Quit India Mvmt (QIM)