The State Archives, Government of Andhra Pradesh, is a rich repository of the administrative and historical records dating back to tenth century A.D. The records now housed in the State Archives consist, among others, of die ex-Hyderabad Government records, the records of Government of Madras particularly of the 11 Andhra Districts in the composite Madras State, etc.
In order to encourage scholars to utilise archival sources in this office as well as elsewhere for writing monographs on the History of Andhra Pradesh and of the Deccan or on technical aspects of archives-keeping in India, the Government of Andhra Pradesh instituted in the year 1966-67, a regular Monograph Series Scheme under the Plan Schemes of the State Archives, Hyderabad. This scheme also envisages the publication of selected monographs.
The monographs are to be based partly or wholly on original source material available in the State Archives, Government of Andhra Pradesh or the Tamilnadu State Archives, Madras or other Indian Archival Repositories. The monographs dealing with the technical aspects of archives-keeping are expected to throw light on the problems related to Archival science especially preservation of archives with special reference to Indian or Asian conditions. The writing of the monographs on the above subjects is open to all persons in India and other countries.
In order to select suitable candidates for writing monographs on lump sum remuneration basis, reviewing and selecting them for publication under this scheme, a Selection and Review Committee with the following official and non-official members was constituted by the Government of Andhra Pradesh in August, 1966.
This study is an attempt to provide a brief review of Currency and Finance of (the erstwhile) Hyderabad State from 1900 to 1956. The review is based on the material partly collected for my Doctoral work and partly during the year 1967 in the State Archives, Government of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad. This monograph is prepared under the Regular Monograph Series Scheme sponsored by the Directorate of Archives.
The purpose of this study is to trace the Fiscal Policy of the State. Fiscal Policy, broadly defined, is the activities of the Government for mopping up financial re-sources and their spending with certain effect on the economy. In a developing economy, fiscal policy is used to accelerate the pace of economic growth. It is in this context an analysis of Hyderabad finance may be meaningful for it serves as the study in contrast with the contemporary line of policy frame. The primary objective of the State's fiscal policy was to raise resources to meet the obligations arising out of pre-determined expenditure, an offshoot of prevailing policy of laissez-faire, dictating minimum state interference in economic activity. Subtle co-relation between fiscal policy and economic development was, therefore, not realised. State fiscal policy, not being a refined instrument of economic change in Hyderabad perpetuated financial and economic stagnation.
The Hyderabad State, a land-locked region in South India, has had rich experience as a semi-independent State. The insular policy of the Nizams and their administration, resulted in adopting a closed-policy even in the economic sphere. As for example, the Stat State was proud of maintaining its own currency, coinage, exchange system, post-office, railway and military. Here was an attempt to manage all these subjects well within the compass of suzerainty. Yet it is far from reality to conclude that Hyderabad had a free economy, independent of British political supremacy. At any rate, the Nizams derived satisfaction that they were enjoying greater autonomy than the other native States.
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