Interim Government of India
The Interim Government of India, also known as the Provisional Government, formed on 2 September 1946[2] from the newly elected Constituent Assembly of India, had the task of assisting the transition of British India to independence. It remained in place until 15 August 1947, the date of the independence (and partition) of India, and the creation of Pakistan.[3][4][5]
Interim Government of India | |||||||||||
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1946–1947 | |||||||||||
![]() British India in 1945 | |||||||||||
Status | Interim government | ||||||||||
Capital | New Delhi | ||||||||||
Common languages | |||||||||||
Government | Empire | ||||||||||
Emperor | |||||||||||
• 1946–1947 | George VI | ||||||||||
Governor-Generalc | |||||||||||
• 1946–1947 (first) | Lord Wavell | ||||||||||
• 1947 (last) | Lord Mountbatten | ||||||||||
Secretary of State | |||||||||||
• 1946–1947 (first) | Lord Pethick-Lawrence | ||||||||||
• 1947 (last) | Earl of Listowel | ||||||||||
Legislature | Executive Council Vice-President: Jawaharlal Nehru | ||||||||||
Historical era | Decolonisation of Asia | ||||||||||
• Established | 2 September 1946 | ||||||||||
15 August 1947 | |||||||||||
15 August 1947 | |||||||||||
Area | |||||||||||
1947 | 4,226,734 km2 (1,631,951 sq mi) | ||||||||||
Currency | Indian Rupee | ||||||||||
ISO 3166 code | IN | ||||||||||
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Today part of | |||||||||||
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History of India |
![]() Satavahana gateway at Sanchi, 1st century CE |
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Formation
After the end of the Second World War, the British authorities in India released all political prisoners who had participated in the Quit India movement. The Indian National Congress, the largest Indian political party, which had long fought for national independence, agreed to participate in elections for a constituent assembly, as did the Muslim League. The newly elected government of Clement Attlee dispatched the 1946 Cabinet Mission to India to formulate proposals for the formation of a government that would lead to an independent India.[5]
The elections for the Constituent Assembly were not direct elections, as the members were elected from each of the provincial legislative assemblies. In the event, the Indian National Congress won a majority of the seats, some 69 per cent, including almost every seat in areas with a majority Hindu electorate. The Congress had clear majorities in eight of the eleven provinces of British India.[6] The Muslim League won the seats allocated to the Muslim electorate.
Viceroy's Executive Council
The Viceroy's Executive Council became the executive branch of the interim government. Originally headed by the Viceroy of India, it was transformed into a council of ministers, with the powers of a prime minister bestowed on the vice-president of the Council, a position held by the Congress leader Jawaharlal Nehru. After independence, all members would be Indians, apart from the Viceroy, in August to become the Governor-General, Lord Mountbatten, who would hold only a ceremonial position, and the Commander-in-Chief, India,[5] Sir Claude Auchinleck, replaced after independence by General Sir Rob Lockhart.
The senior Congress leader Vallabhbhai Patel held the second-most powerful position in the Council, heading the Department of Home Affairs, Department of Information and Broadcasting.[7] The Sikh leader Baldev Singh was responsible for the Department of Defence and Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari was named to head the Department of Education and arts.[7] Asaf Ali, a Muslim Congress leader, headed the Department of Railways and Transport. Scheduled Caste leader Jagjivan Ram headed the Department of Labour, while Rajendra Prasad headed the Department of Food and Agriculture and John Mathai headed the Department of Industries and Supplies.[7]
Upon the Muslim League joining the interim government, the second highest-ranking League politician, Liaquat Ali Khan, became the head of the Department of Finance. Abdur Rab Nishtar headed the Departments of Posts and Air and Ibrahim Ismail Chundrigar headed the Department of Commerce.[7] The League nominated a Scheduled Caste Hindu politician, Jogendra Nath Mandal, to lead the Department of Law.[7]
Cabinet of the Interim Government of India
First Interim Cabinet
Office | Name | Party | |
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Viceroy and Governor-General of India President of the Executive Council |
The Viscount Wavell | Indian Empire | |
Commander-in-Chief | Sir Claude Auchinleck | ||
Vice President of the Executive Council External Affairs and Commonwealth Relations |
Jawaharlal Nehru | Indian National Congress | |
Home Affairs Information and Broadcasting |
Vallabhbhai Patel | Indian National Congress | |
Agriculture and Food | Rajendra Prasad | Indian National Congress | |
Arts, Education and Health | Shafaat Ahmed Khan | Indian National Congress | |
Commerce | C.H. Bhabha | Indian National Congress | |
Defence | Baldev Singh | Indian National Congress | |
Finance | R K Shanmukham Chetty | Indian National Congress | |
Industries and Supplies | C. Rajagopalachari | Indian National Congress | |
Labour | Jagjivan Ram | Indian National Congress | |
Law | Syed Ali Zaheer | Indian National Congress | |
Railways and Communications Post and Air |
Asaf Ali | Indian National Congress | |
Works, Mines and Power | Sarat Chandra Bose | Indian National Congress | |
Reconstituted Cabinet
Activities
Although until August 1947 British India remained under the sovereignty of the United Kingdom, the interim government proceeded to establish diplomatic relations with other countries, including the United States.[4] Meanwhile, the Constituent Assembly, from which the Interim Government was drawn, struggled with the challenging task of drafting a constitution for independent India.
See also
References
- Interpretation Act 1889 (52 & 53 Vict. c. 63), s. 18.
- http://indiatoday.intoday.in/education/story/interim-government/1/463170.html
- Vidya Dhar Mahajan (1971). Constitutional history of India, including the nationalist movement. S. Chand. pp. 200–10.
- "Office of the Historian – Countries – India". U.S. State Department. Retrieved 2009-08-16.
- Radhey Shyam Chaurasia (2002). History of Modern India, 1707 A. D. to 2000 A. D. Atlantic Publishers & Distributors. pp. 300–400. ISBN 978-81-269-0085-5.
- (Judd 2004, p. 172)
- John F. Riddick (2006). The History of British India: A Chronology. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 100–150. ISBN 978-0-313-32280-8.
- V. Krishna Ananth. India Since Independence: Making Sense of Indian Politics. Pearson Education India. 2010. pp 28–30.