What does "State of Hyderabad as it existed before that date" refer to in the context of this paragraph?
In the context of this paragraph, "State of Hyderabad as it existed before that date" refers to the state of Hyderabad before its merger with India in 1948. This is referring to a time when the Nizam's rule was still in place and the territory was not yet part of the Indian Union. The context suggests that this section is discussing the administration of personnel appointments made during that time period, prior to the state's merger with India.