Indian Independence Act of 1947
Q. Which were the changes introduced by Indian Independence Act 1947?
1) It provided right to secede from British Commonwealth
2) It gave two options to Princely States i.e., join either India or Pakistan.
3) It made India a Dominion.
4) It abolished office of the Viceroy- Published on 12 Feb 17a. Only 1 and 4
b. Only 2, 3 and 4
c. Only 1, 3 and 4
d. All of the above
ANSWER: Only 1, 3 and 4
Features of the Act were -- It ended the British rule in India and declared India as an independent and sovereign state from August 15, 1947.
- It provided for the partition of India and creation of two independent dominions of India and Pakistan with the right to secede from the British Commonwealth.
- 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.
- His Majesty’s Government in Britain was to have no responsibility with respect to the Government of India or Pakistan.
- The Constituent Assemblies of the two dominions could frame and adopt any constitution for themselves and repeal any act of the British Parliament, including the Independence act itself.
- It empowered the Constituent Assemblies of both the dominions to legislate for their respective territories till the new constitutions were drafted and enforced.
- No Act of the British Parliament passed after August 15, 1947 was to extend to either of the new dominions unless, it was extended by a law made by legislature of the dominion.
- It abolished the office of the secretary of state for India and transferred his functions to the secretary of state for Commonwealth Affairs.
- It proclaimed the lapse of British paramountcy over the Indian princely states and treaty relations with tribal areas from August 15,1947.
- It granted freedom to the Indian princely states either to join the Dominion of India or Dominion of Pakistan or to remain independent.
- It provided for the governance of each of the dominions and the provinces by the Government of India Act of 1935, till the new Constitutions were framed. The dominions could make modifications in the Act.
- British Monarch could not veto bills or ask for reservation of certain bills for his approval.
- But, the Governor-General can assent to any bill in the name of His Majesty.
- Governor-General of India and the provincial governors were termed as constitutional (nominal) heads of the states. They were to act on the advice of the respective council of ministers in all matters.
- It dropped the title of Emperor of India from the royal titles of the king of England.
- It discontinued the appointment to civil services and reservation of posts by the secretary of state for India.
- The members of the civil services appointed before August 15, 1947 would continue to enjoy all benefits that they were entitled to till that time.
