what were the main features of indian independence act 1947

• It declared India as an independent and sovereign state
• It provided for partition of India and creation of two new dominions- India and Pakistan
• It abolished the position of secretary of state for India
• It abolished the office of viceroy and provided for each dominion, a governor-general, who was to be appointed by the British King on the advice of the dominion cabinet
• It empowered the constituent assemblies of the two dominions to frame and adopt any constitution for their respective nations and to repeal any act of the British parliament, including the ...
• The constituent assemblies were empowered to legislate for their respective dominions till the new constitutions were drafted and enforced
It granted the princely states the freedom to join either of the dominions or to remain independent
Governance of each dominion was to be conducted based on the provisions of the GoI act, 1935
British monarch could no longer ask for bills or veto them. However, this was reserved for Governor-General.
Governor-General of the dominions were made to act on the aid and advise of the council

Full Answer

What were the main provisions of Indian Independence Act 1947?

The main provisions of Indian Independence Act, 1947 were as under: (a) The British government will leave India on 15th August, 1947. (b) India will be divided into two sovereign states of India and Pakistan and both these states will become sovereign on this very day.

When did Indian Independence Act come into being?

Indian Independence Act 1947. Geo. 6.)) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that partitioned British India into the two new independent dominions of India and Pakistan. The Act received the royal assent on 18 July 1947, and thus Pakistan and India came into being on 15 August. The legislation was formulated by the government...

What were the main provisions of the partition of India?

The Act's most important provisions were: division of British India into the two new dominions of India and Pakistan, with effect from 15 August 1947. partition of the provinces of Bengal and Punjab between the two new countries.

What was the effect of 15 August 1947 on India?

Termination of British suzerainty over the princely states, with effect from 15 August 1947. These states could decide to join either India or Pakistan; and The Act also made provision for the division of joint property, etc. between the two new countries, including in particular the division of the armed forces.

Why Indian independence in 1947 is an important event?

Independence Day marks the end of British rule in 1947 and the establishment of a free and independent Indian nation. It also marks the anniversary of the partition of the subcontinent into two countries, India and Pakistan, which occurred at midnight on August 14–15, 1947.

What was the provision in the Indian Independence Act 1947 relating to Princely States?

According to the Indian Independence Act, the Princely States would become independent and the powers earlier wielded by the British colonial government would be terminated. From August 15, 1947, all treaties and agreements made by the British with the Princely States would stand cancelled.

Which of the following statements are correct regarding the Indian Independence Act 1947?

British Parliament ratified the Mountbatten Plan on 18 July 1947 for the Independence of India Act. The act was implemented on 15 August 1947. The act provided two dominion status: India and Pakistan. Hence statement 1 is correct.

When did Indian Independence Act passed?

Indian Independence Act, 1947.

What was the immediate result of Indian independence?

It culminated in the Indian Independence Act 1947, which ended suzerainty in India and created Pakistan. India remained a Crown Dominion until 26 January 1950, when the Constitution of India established the Republic of India. Pakistan remained a dominion until 1956 when it adopted its first constitution.

WHO declared Indian independence?

Jawaharlal NehruIn this session, Jawaharlal Nehru delivered the Tryst with Destiny speech proclaiming India's independence.

Who gave India Independence?

BritainAfter suffering in the war, Britain finally gave in and announced India's independence and also its partition into two countries, India and Pakistan.

How many provisions were in India before Independence?

At the time of independence in 1947, British India had 17 provinces: Ajmer-Merwara. Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Assam.

How many Princely States were there during independence?

565 princely statesAt the time of the British withdrawal, 565 princely states were officially recognised in the Indian subcontinent, apart from thousands of zamindari estates and jagirs. In 1947, princely states covered 40% of the area of pre-independence India and constituted 23% of its population.

Who was responsible for the integration of Princely States?

Sardar Vallabh Bhai PatelThese 500 princely states covered 48 per cent of the Pre-Independent Indian area. Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel was given the task of the integration of princely states. The Indian Independence Act of 1947 gave princely states the choice to accede to either India or Pakistan or remain independent.

Who was given the responsibility of merging the Princely States into the Indian Union?

Vallabhbhai Patel as Minister for Home and States Affairs had the responsibility of welding the British Indian provinces and the princely states into a united India.

Who among the following had designed the Indian Independence Act 1947?

The Indian Independence Act, 1947 was an act of the British Parliament that partitioned India into two independent dominions of India and Pakistan. The legislation was drafted by the Labour government of Clement Attlee.

When did the Indian Act of 1947 come into existence?

The Act received Royal Assent on 18 July 1947 and thus India and Pakistan, comprising West (modern day Pakistan) and East (modern day Bangladesh) regions, came into being on 14 August.

What were the provisions of the Indian Act?

The Act's most important provisions were: Division of British India into the two new dominions – the Dominion of India and the Dominion of Pakistan – with effect from 15 August 1947; Partition of the provinces of Bengal and Punjab between the two new countries;

What was the third option for any state to stay independent?

After the Shimla meeting (May 1947) between Mountbatten and Nehru, the third option for any state to “stay independent” was simply not available. [2] [3] The actual “partition plan” prepared by Viceroy’s team to be announced on May 17th had a complex option that could have theoretically provided a mechanism for the British Indian province of Bengal to emerge as an independent third dominion; this could have paved the way for large states like Hyderabad and Jammu-Kashmir to claim independence – after the lapse of British paramountcy on 15th August. However, Mountbatten – against the advice of his team – shared that “partition plan” with Nehru and Krishna Menon in the quiet privacy of Shimla hills in the first week of May 1947. Nehru violently reacted, making it clear that Congress will reject and protest. Mountbatten had to surrender; he brought changes demanded by Nehru and created a new plan. This plan was then again sent to London for approval and thus, instead of May 17, it was then announced on June 3 – and is known as the “June 3rd Plan". In this new partition plan, there could be only two “dominions” (Independent Bengal was ruled out [4] ). In February 1947, Nehru received reports that some princes of the big States not only wanted to be independent, but were being encouraged to do so by the Political Department, over which the interim government had no control. However, on 3 June 1947, the day after Indian leaders accepted the Mountbatten plan, Mountbatten advised the princely rulers against this and asked them to join one or the other of the Dominions. [5]

What was the 3 June 1947 plan?

The British government proposed a plan, announced on 3 June 1947, that included these principles: Principle of the partition of British India was accepted by the British Government. Successor governments would be given dominion status.

What is the purpose of the Government of India Act?

An Act to make provision for the setting up in India of two independent dominion states, to substitute other provisions for certain provisions of the Government of India Act, 1935, which apply outside those dominions, and to provide for other matters consequential on or connected with the setting up of those Dominions.

How many states acceded to India?

Over 560 princely states acceded to India by 15 August. The exceptions were Junagadh, Hyderabad and Jammu and Kashmir. The state of Jammu and Kashmir was contiguous to both India and Pakistan, but its Hindu ruler chose to remain initially independent. Following a Pakistani tribal invasion, he acceded to India on 26 October 1947, and the state was disputed between India and Pakistan. The state of Junagadh initially acceded to Pakistan but faced a revolt from its Hindu population. Following a breakdown of law and order, its Dewan requested India to take over the administration on 8 November 1947. India conducted a referendum in the state on 20 February 1948, in which the people voted overwhelmingly to join India. The state of Hyderabad, with the majority Hindu population but Muslim ruler faced intense turmoil and sectarian violence. India intervened in the state on 13 September 1948, following which the ruler of the state signed the Instrument of Accession, joining India.

Why was the Indian Independence Act repealed?

The Indian Independence Act was subsequently repealed in Article 395 of the Constitution of India and in Article 221 of the Constitution of Pakistan of 1956, both constitutions being intended to bring about greater independence for the new states. Although under British law, the new constitutions did not have the legal authority to repeal the Act, the repeal was intended to establish them as independent legal systems based only on home-grown legislation. The Act has not been repealed in the United Kingdom, where it still has an effect, although some sections of it have been repealed.

When was the Indian Independence Act passed?

Once the whole partition scheme was agreed by major political parties, stage was set for introducing Independence Bill in the House of Commons, which was introduced on July 4, 1947. This was the culmination of India’s struggle against colonialism and imperialism.

What was the purpose of the 1947 Act?

The Act established that by deliberate manoeuvring a ruling party with the co-opera tion of minority could veto very effectively the will and wishes of even a strong majority, on one pretext or the other. The Act of 1947 was not a constitution in any manner or even did not provide for any constitution on broad basis.

What was the culmination of India’s struggle against colonialism and imperialism?

This was the culmination of India’s struggle against colonialism and imperialism. It was also the victory of communal forces in our national struggle, because the Act provided for the partition of India and formation of an independent and sovereign state of Pakistan. It was also the victory of forces which followed the policy ...

How many independent Indian states did Britain leave?

Not only this, but the scheme was deliberately made mischievous insofar as Indian states were concerned. In fact, Britain left more than 567 independent India’s. It needed a person of will, determination and far-sightedness of Sardar Patel who could undo the mischief and knit them in the fabric of one polity and merge them with Indian Union.

Did the British Parliament apply to India?

No law made by British Parliament was automatically to apply to India. ADVERTISEMENTS: (h) A bill passed by the Dominions legislature could not be disallowed by His Majesty. (i) Both the Dominions will have their own Constituent Assemblies, which will act as their legislatures as well.

Was the Act of 1947 a constitution?

The Act of 1947 was not a constitution in any manner or even did not provide for any constitution on broad basis. On the other hand, it was an Act which enabled the British government to withdraw from India.

Did India and Pakistan live in harmony after partition?

But the hope that after the partition of the country India and Pakistan will live in perfect harmony proved to be a wishful thinking only. Even after the partition of the country both nations did not live like good neighbour – thanks to the negative attitude of Pakistan towards India.

What was the name of the British act that divided India into two separate countries?

This act is called as Indian Independence Act of 1947.

What happened in 1947?

On 20 February 1947, Clement Attlee, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, announced that: 1 By 30 June 1948, the British Government would grant self-government to British India 2 After the date of the final transfer is decided, the future of the Princely States would be decided

What was the purpose of the appointment of the Governor General in each dominions?

Governor-General and the Governors of the provinces were expected to act on the advice of the ministers in all matters. The British king was to abandon the title of the Emperor of India.

When did India and Pakistan come into existence?

On 18 July 1947, the act received the assent. Thus, on 15 August 1947, India and Pakistan, including West (modern-day Pakistan) and Eat (modern-day Bangladesh) came into existence.

Who wrote to Mountbatten about India?

Attlee wrote to Mountbatten on 18 March 1947: “It is, of course, important that the Indian States should adjust their relations with the authorities to whom it is intended to hand over power in British India; but as was explicitly stated by the Cabinet Mission His Majesty’s Government do not intend to hand over their powers ...

What was the 3 June plan?

3 June Plan. On 3 June 1947, the British government offered a plan called Mountbatten Plan or 3 June Plan. It included these principles: The British Government accepted the principle of the partition of British India. Successor governments would be given dominion status. They can make their own constitutions.

When did India get independence?

The origin of India Independence Act was thru Balfour Declaration of 1926 . This was done to give equal status to the British Colony and the autonomy under the Commonwealth Nation.

What was the Mountbatten Plan?

The British Parliament ratified the Mountbatten plan as the ‘Independence of India Act 1947’.The act provided for the partition of India and the establishment of two dominions (India and Pakistan) from 15th August, 1947.The legislature of each dominion would have full power to make laws for that dominion.

Overview

Prelude

Provisions

Salient features

Partition

Princely states

Repeal

See also