The Deccan States Agency was an erstwhile political unit of the British Empire in India, which administered and supervised a collection of princely states of India that accepted the suzerainty of the British. The agency was formed during the 1930s and consisted of several princely states in western India, which are currently located in the states of Karnataka and Maharashtra. Later the Deccan States Agency was amalgamated with the Kolhapur residency and was known as the Deccan States Agency and Kolhapur Residency also. Before the formation of the Deccan States Agency, these Indian princely states were not directly controlled by the British, but were under the suzerainty of the British province of Bombay Presidency. The Agency was managed by a Resident of British India, also known as political agent, who was appointed to the Governor General of the British India.
After India achieved independence in the year 1947, most of the former princely states of India under the suzerainty of Deccan States Agency were acceded to the Union of India Dominion of India; and were later included into the state of Bombay. In 1956 the southern portion of Bombay state was reassigned to the state of Mysore, which was later known as Karnataka, while the rest of Bombay State was segmented into the new states of Gujarat and Maharashtra in the year 1960.
Princely States under the Deccan States Agency
The various princely states of India that were included in the Deccan States Agency are mentioned below-
* Princely State of Akalkot
* Princely State of Aundh
* Bavda State
* Princely State of Bhor
* Princely State of Himmat Bahadur
* Princely State of Ichalkaranji
* Bhoite Saranjam State
* Princely State of Jamkhandi
* Princely State of Janjira
* Princely State of Jath
* Princely State of Kagal Junior
* Princely State of Kagal Senior
* Princely State of Kapshi
* Princely State of Kolhapur
* Kurundwad Senior State
* Kurundwad Junior State
* Princely State of Latur
* Princely State of Miraj Senior
* Princely State of Miraj Junior State
* Princely State of Mudhol
* Princely State of Phaltan
* Princely State of Sangli
* Princely State of Ramdurg
* Sar Lashkar State
* Princely State of Torgal
* Princely State of Savanur
* Sawantwadi State
* Princely State of Vishalgad
* Wadi Estate