Dominion of India

Dominion of India Bhārata Adhirājya
Dominion within the Commonwealth of Nations
← 1947–1950 →
Flag National Emblem
Capital	New Delhi
Language(s)	Hindi, English and many others
Government	Constitutional monarchy
King of India
- 1947-50	George VI
Governor-General
- 1947-48	Earl Mountbatten of Burma
- 1948-50	C. Rajagopalachari
Prime Minister
- 1947-50	Jawaharlal Nehru
Historical era	Cold War
- Independence	15 August 1947
- Indo-Pakistani War	1947-48
- Constitution	26 January 1950
Currency	Indian rupee

The Dominion of India, also known as the 'Union of India' or the 'Indian Union ', was a predecessor to modern-day India and an independent state that existed between 15 August 1947 and 26 January 1950. Although it was transformed into the Republic of India by promulgation of the Constitution of India on 26 January 1950, the term "Union of India" (or simply "the Union") is still used by the Indian judicial system to refer to the Indian government (also known as the central government) (as opposed to the governments of the individual states in India).

When British rule in India ended in 1947, two dominions were created to succeed it: the Dominion of India and the Dominion of Pakistan. Created by the Indian Independence Act 1947, which was enacted by the British parliament, these states existed until the promulgation of their later republican constitutions, when the Republic of India replaced it.

During the dominion phase, the British monarch remained head of state of both countries and was represented in each by a governor-general. However, these governors-general were not also designated "Viceroys" as had been customary under the British Raj. Two governors-general held office in India during the dominion period:

1. Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma (1947–48)
2. Chakravarti Rajagopalachari (1948–50)

Jawaharlal Nehru held office as prime minister (and head of government) of the Union of India throughout this period.

Partition of India

Main article: Partition of India

In mid-August 1947 the British granted independence to India, and partitioned it to create a new country, Pakistan. Two dominions were created and both joined the British Commonwealth as self-governing dominions. The partition left Punjab and Bengal, two of the biggest provinces, divided between India and Pakistan. In the early days of independence, more than two million people migrated across the new borders and more than one hundred thousand died in a spate of communal violence. The creation of two nations divided on religious lines also resulted in tensions over the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, leading to the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947.

See also

• Government of India
• Governor-General of India
• Indian independence movement
• British India