Sardar Patel and V.P. Menon dealt with matters arising between Central Government and Indian states, during the process of integration. Patel handled the princes with patience, tact, sympathy and an iron hand. The process of integration was threefold and known as the ‘Patel Scheme’.

1. Merger of small states with adjoining provinces: About 216 states were merged with provinces adjoining them, e.g: Merger of 24 states of Orissa, 14 states of Central Province, Pudukottai with Madras, etc. These merged states were included in part B of the Constitution.

2. Grouping of small states: Many small states grouped themselves to form a big state with the ruler of the most important becoming the Rajpramukhs e.g.: Union of Saurashtra, Patiala, and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU), etc. These unions were called part B states.

3. Integration into Chief Commiss- oner’s Provinces: About 61 states which were quite small and backward were converted into centrally administered areas as Chief Commissioner’s Provinces and were called Part-C States, e.g.: Himachal Pradesh, Ajmer, Coorg, Cooch-Bihar, etc.