Indian Independence Act 1947

The United Kingdom’s Parliament passed the (1947) Indian Independence Act 1947, which divided the British Region into two new sovereign republics, Pakistan and India. On July 18, 1947, the Act received Royal Assent, and Pakistan and India were founded on August 15, 1947, with both the East (modern-day Bangladesh) and West (modern-day Pakistan)  territories. Within the Indian assembly, Lord Mountbatten achieved a deal with both the Indian Congress, a Muslim League, and indeed the Sikh minority on the June 3 Plan, often known as the Mountbatten Plan. The Indian Independence Act 1947, which is mentioned in this study, is part of the UPSC Indian Polity and Governance Syllabus. 

Prominent features of the Indian Independence Act of 1947

The following are some of the most prominent features of the Indian Independence Act of 1947: 

• It claimed India to be a sovereign and independent nation.
• It stipulated India’s partition and the establishment of two dominions, India and Pakistan.
• The job of Secretary of State for India was eliminated.
• It eliminated the viceroyalty and established a governor-general with each dominion, which is about to be nominated by the British King here on recommendations of the dominion government.
• It gave the two dominions’ founding legislatures the right to draft and ratify any constitution for the separate countries and annul any act of British parliament, such as the independence act itself.
• Until new constitutions were created and implemented, the constituent legislatures were given the authority to legislate in their various dominions.
• It gave princely states the option of joining one of the dominions or remaining independent. 

Provisions of Indian Independence Act of 1947

The following were the most important provisions of the Indian Independence Act:

•       Consequently, from August 15, 1947, British India was split into two new dominions: the Dominion of India and the Dominion of Pakistan.
•       Partition of Bengal and Punjab provinces was between two countries;
•       In each of the two new nations, the post of Governor-General is established as a proxy of the Crown.
•       The complete legislative authority conferred on the separate Constitutional Assembly of the two additional republics;
•       From August 15, 1947, British sovereignity and over princely states is terminated. They had the option of joining either India or Pakistan. 

The constitutional significance of the Indian independence act 1947

The relevance of the constitution, the Indian Independence Act of 1947 marked a turning point in the country’s constitutional history. As Attlee put it, India’s “fulfillment of the British purpose” was the “Culminating Point in such a Longer Timeline of Things.” Speaking in the House of Lords, Lord Samuel praised the Act as “a covenant of reconciliation without bloodshed.” Indian leaders praised the Act’s passing as well. For example, Dr. Rajendra Prasad has remarked that British dominion over India is ending. Our relationship with Britain would now be based on equality, equal well-being, and common gain..The Act signaled the start of a new era of independence in India, but it was met with opposition from several individuals and politicians. ‘For such Muslims of Pakistan, August 14 will be a day of rejoicing,’ stated Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. For Hindus and Sikhs, it was a day of mourning. The end of the British mandate and control over Indian states and the concession of the option of joining the Kingdom or remaining independent posed a serious threat to the country’s unity and cohesion.

With these flaws, the Indian Independence Act of 1947 effectively ended British rule in India and ushered in a new era of freedom in the country.

Conclusion

India gained independence from British domination in 1947 after a long and grueling fight. However, this gained its independence with the country’s division. With areas of Western and Eastern India separated from the Indian map, the state of Pakistan formed. West Pakistan absorbed Western Punjab, Sindh, and Baluchistan, while East Pakistan arose from the division of Bengal into East and West, with the latter staying part of India. As a result, East Pakistan and West Pakistan were separated by a long Indian corridor. Later events proved that such a development of the new state was non-pragmatic and impractical.