Indian Independence Act 1947 partitioned British India into two dominions: India and Pakistan. The British Parliament enacted the Indian Independence Act of 1947, proclaiming India as a free and independent nation. The Indian Independence Act received royal assent on July 18, 1947, and India and Pakistan were established on August 15, 1947.
Towards Independence Act 1947
Indian Independence Act of 1947
- India as an independent and sovereign state
- Two independent dominions of India and Pakistan
- Empowered the Constituent Assemblies of the two dominions
- Abolished the office of viceroy
- It granted freedom to the Indian princely states either to join the Dominion of India or Dominion of Pakistan or to remain independent.
- Lord Mountbatten was the 1st Governor General of India and Jinnah became the 1st Governor General of Pakistan of new India. GG was to be constitutional (nominal) heads to be acting on the advice of Council of Ministers.
- the constituent Assembly of each dominion will exercise the power of the legislature. Dissolve the existing Central Legislative Assembly and Council of States.
- It abolished the Secretary of State (SoS) for India and transferred his functions to SoS for Commonwealth Affairs.
Evaluation of the features of act:
- Hastened act: the lack of clarity on the border still has its repercussions today with constant tussle between India and Pakistan. The same is the case with border on Chinese side.
- Jammu and Kashmir question: Jammu and Kashmir has been the bone of contention even today.
- Rise in communal feeling: Another unforeseen consequence of Partition was that Pakistan’s population ended up more religiously homogeneous than originally anticipated.
- Suspicion: Suspicions often arise that Indian Muslims hold allegiances toward Pakistan; the Islamization of life in Pakistan since the 1980s increasingly endangers non-Muslim minorities.
Changes in Constituent Assembly:
- It became the Parliament of Indian Dominion.
- The Constituent Assembly became a fully sovereign body empowered to draft any constitution and annul any act, including this one.
- It held two major separate functions that endured until November 26, 1949, alongside other minor functions.
Read Also: Government Of India Act Of 1935
