Indian Independence Act 1947
The Indian Independence Act 1947 (10 & 11 Geo. 6. c. 30) 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 Royal Assent on 18 July 1947 and thus modern-day India and Pakistan, comprising west (modern day Pakistan) and east (modern day Bangladesh) regions, came into being on 15 August.[1][a]
Long title
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.
10 & 11 Geo. 6. c. 30
18 July 1947
15 August 1947
Constitution of India (India)
Constitution of Pakistan of 1956 (Pakistan)
The legislature representatives of the Indian National Congress,[2] the Muslim League,[3] and the Sikh community[4] came to an agreement with Lord Mountbatten, then Viceroy and Governor-General of India, on what has come to be known as the 3 June Plan or Mountbatten Plan. This plan was the last plan for independence.
Prelude[edit]
Attlee's announcement[edit]
Clement Attlee, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, announced on 20 February 1947 that:
The Act's most important provisions were:
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.
Repeal[edit]
The Indian Independence Act was subsequently repealed in Article 395 of the Constitution of India and in Article 221 of the Constitution of Pakistan of 1956,[17] both constitutions being intended to bring about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intended to establish them as independent legal systems based only on home-grown legislation.[18] The Act has not been repealed in the United Kingdom, where it still has an effect, although some sections of it have been repealed.