- Indian Independence Movement - The Indian Independence Act
- Mahatma Gandhi: Top Questions
- British raj - The transfer of power and the birth of two countries
- Indian Independence Act: Top Questions
- Timeline of the Indian Independence Movement
- British raj - Prelude to independence, 1920β47
- Indian Independence Movement - Formation of the Indian National Congress
How did India gain independence from British rule in 1947?
India gained independence from British rule in 1947 following a long-standing Indian Independence Movement characterized by both nonviolent resistance, such as Mahatma Gandhiβs satyagraha campaigns, and escalating political tensions between the Congress Party and the Muslim League.12
By 1946, the British government attempted to transfer power through the Cabinet Mission Plan, which proposed a federal structure. However, the failure to reach a consensus led to widespread civil unrest and communal violence. Facing an increasingly volatile situation, the last viceroy, Lord Mountbatten, concluded that partition was necessary to avoid further conflict.34
In July 1947, the British Parliament passed the Indian Independence Act, which mandated the creation of two independent dominions, India and Pakistan, and the partition of Punjab and Bengal. The transfer of power was finalized at midnight on August 14β15, 1947, formally ending the British raj.5362