A province is a territorial unit within a country or state that is governed by a centralized government, while a princely state refers to a region in India that was ruled by an Indian prince under the suzerainty of the British Crown during the colonial period. Princely states had varying degrees of autonomy and were eventually integrated into India after independence.

A. U. Siddiqui has written:

'Indian freedom movement in princely states of Vindhya Pradesh' -- subject(s): Nationalism, Politics and government

Rao, an Indian princely title cognate with raja

sind

Bahawalpur and Swat are two examples of 'Princely States' that joined Pakistan upon partition.