Operation Polo was a military campaign undertaken by the Indian Army to annex the princely state of Hyderabad, which had opted to remain independent after India's partition in 1947. The Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Pasha, sought to maintain sovereignty despite pressures from the Indian government to accede. The conflict began on September 13, 1948, when Indian forces launched a coordinated attack into the Hyderabad territory. Initial resistance from the Hyderabad army was met with rapid advances from Indian troops, utilizing air support and effective ground strategies.

The operation concluded with the surrender of the Hyderabad forces on September 18, 1948, when Indian Army officials accepted the capitulation in a formal ceremony. This marked a decisive end to one of the last major resistances against Indian unification post-independence. The state, which was one of the largest and wealthiest princely states, was subsequently merged into India, altering the political landscape of the subcontinent.

The operation was notable for the limited international attention it received compared to earlier conflicts. It underscored the challenges India faced in integrating princely states peacefully, leading to the eventual formation of modern India as a unified nation-state. The British colonial legacies of princely autonomy complicated the process, as many regions had their own local rulers and administrative structures that resisted outside control.