Indian Independence Act 1947

Overview

  1. The Indian Independence Act of 1947 marked the end of British rule in India and the establishment of two independent nations: India and Pakistan.
  2. The Act was based on the recommendations of the Mountbatten Plan, proposed by Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of India.
  3. It was passed by the British Parliament on July 18, 1947, and came into effect on August 15, 1947.

Key Provisions

  1. The Act provided for the creation of two independent dominions, India and Pakistan.
  2. Each dominion was granted the power to frame its own Constitution.
  3. The British Crown's sovereignty over the territories of India ceased to exist.
  4. The office of the Viceroy was abolished, and each dominion was to have a Governor-General as its constitutional head.
  5. The Governor-General of each dominion was to be appointed by the respective dominion governments.
  6. The Act ended the legislative authority of the British Parliament over India.
  7. The Act provided for the partition of Bengal and Punjab into two parts, based on religious demographics.
  8. The territories of Sindh, Baluchistan, North-West Frontier Province, and East Bengal were included in Pakistan.
  9. The princely states were given the option to join India, Pakistan, or remain independent.
  10. The civil services were to be divided between the two dominions.
  11. Provisions were made for the division of army, navy, and other assets between India and Pakistan.
  12. The legislative assemblies of the provinces of Bengal and Punjab were empowered to decide the fate of their respective regions.
  13. The Act dissolved the Indian Legislative Assembly and the Council of State.

Significance

  1. The Act marked the formal end of British colonial rule in India.
  2. It granted Indians the power to govern themselves and frame their own Constitution.
  3. It led to the creation of two nations, resulting in one of the largest migrations in history.
  4. The Act set the stage for the framing of the Constitution of India, which was adopted on January 26, 1950.

Impact

  1. The partition led to widespread communal violence, displacing millions of people.
  2. The Act left unresolved issues such as the status of princely states and the boundary disputes between India and Pakistan.
  3. Despite its challenges, the Act symbolized the culmination of India’s struggle for independence.
Category
Historical Background
Geography
When was the Indian Independence Act, 1947, enacted?
The Indian Independence Act, 1947, resulted in the partition of India into which two countries?
Who was the last Viceroy of India under British rule?
What was the main provision of the Indian Independence Act, 1947?
Under the Indian Independence Act, 1947, India and Pakistan were declared as what type of entities?
Which British Prime Minister announced the plan for Indian independence?
The partition of British India was based on which plan?
How many provinces were initially part of India after the partition in 1947?
Which princely state was the first to join India after independence?
Who became the first Governor-General of independent India?
Under the Indian Independence Act, 1947, what happened to the title of the "Emperor of India"?
Who was responsible for implementing the Indian Independence Act, 1947?
Which date was officially declared as India’s Independence Day?
Under the Indian Independence Act, 1947, what option was given to the princely states?
How many princely states existed at the time of India’s independence in 1947?
The partition of India led to the creation of which two new legislative assemblies?
What was the status of the Governor-General after the Indian Independence Act, 1947?
Which section of the Indian Independence Act, 1947, specified the division of assets between India and Pakistan?
What was the primary role of the Boundary Commission set up under the Indian Independence Act, 1947?
Who was the Chairman of the Boundary Commission?
The Indian Independence Act, 1947, ended British control over which regions?
Under the Indian Independence Act, 1947, who had the authority to legislate for independent India?
How long did the Indian Independence Act, 1947, remain operational as a legal framework?
The Indian Independence Act, 1947, provided for the establishment of which type of government in India?
Which two provinces were divided as a result of the partition in 1947?
The Indian Independence Act, 1947, allowed for the division of which armed forces?
What was the main reason for enacting the Indian Independence Act, 1947?
Which body formally ended its rule over India with the enactment of the Indian Independence Act, 1947?
Under the Indian Independence Act, 1947, what was the fate of the princely states that did not choose to join India or Pakistan?
What role did the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League play in the Indian Independence Act, 1947?