Bhopal Agency

The Bhopal Agency is a former political and administrative unit of the British Empire in India, which supervised and administered a collection of princely states of India. These states were under the control of the Central India Agency of British India. The agency was established in the year 1818 after the end of the Third Anglo Maratha War. The territory included the princely state of Bhopal, the princely state of Khilchipur, Kurwai State, princely state of Narsingarh, princely state of Rajgarh, Pathari State and Muhammadgarh State neighbouring Bhopal. Later it also included the districts of Isagarh and Bhilsa that belonged to the princely state of Gwalior; and also Sironj district that belonged to the princely state of Tonk in Rajputana.

The Agency was administered by a Resident of British India, also known as political agent, of the Governor General of the British. In the year 1854, the Bhopal Agency was incorporated as a part of the newly formed Central India Agency. Later in 1895, the districts of Isagarh and Bhilsa of Gwalior state were reassigned to Gwalior Residency from Bhopal Agency. The Princely States of Dewas Senior and Dewas Junior were included in the agency in 1931; and the princely state of Makrai was reassigned to the Central Provinces and Berar in the year 1933. After the withdrawal of the British in the year 1947, most of the princely states became a part of the Dominion of India. The Bhopal Agency ceased to exist on 15th August 1947 when the country attained independence.

The princely states in the Bhopal acceded to the newly formed Union of India after the nation attained independence from the British Government of India. All association and relations based on treaties between the British administration and the rulers of the Indian princely states based on treaties ceased to exist. After independence, the rulers of these native states acceded to the Government of India. The territory was reorganized and restructured into the new Indian state of Madhya Bharat and Bhopal was appointed as a Province of a Chief Commissioner.

The territory of Madhya Bharat and Bhopal was later merged into the new state of Madhya Pradesh on 1st November 1956.