Patiala and East Punjab States Union

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Patiala and East Punjab States Union (pətēä´lə, pənjäb´), former union of states, 10,099 sq mi (26,156 sq km), NW India. The capital was Patiala (1991 pop. 253,706). Comprising six former princely states, it was the only area in India in which the Sikhs had a majority. It was merged with Punjab state in 1956.