Latest news with #MountbattenPlan
News18
18-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
GK: What Was The 1947 British Law That Declared India's Independence?
On 18 July 1947, the British Parliament passed the Indian Independence Act, setting the stage for India's freedom. On this day, 18 July 1947, history turned a decisive page. With the passage of the Indian Independence Act in the British Parliament, the legal foundation was laid for the end of colonial rule in India. The legislation, approved by then-British monarch King George VI, marked a watershed moment in the subcontinent's political history. With this Act, the stage was set for the creation of two sovereign nations — India and Pakistan — which officially came into being less than a month later, on 15 August 1947. A Landmark Decision In Parliament The Indian Independence Act was a direct outcome of the Mountbatten Plan, proposed on 3 June 1947. It was introduced in the British Parliament on 4 July and received royal assent just 14 days later, highlighting the urgency and significance the British government accorded to Indian self-rule. The Act proposed the partition of British India into two dominions — India and Pakistan — and granted them the power to frame their own constitutions. It also nullified the authority of the British Parliament over Indian laws, ending imperial legislative control. Importantly, the Act gave Indian princely states the freedom to choose whether they wished to accede to India, Pakistan, or remain independent. The legislation fixed 15 August 1947 as the date for full independence, ushering in a new era. Lord Mountbatten was appointed the first Governor-General of independent India, and Jawaharlal Nehru took charge as the country's first Prime Minister. The end of the Second World War had significantly weakened Britain, both economically and militarily. At the same time, India's independence movement, led by towering figures such as Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru, and Sardar Patel, had reached its peak. The growing unrest and united demand for freedom became impossible for the British to ignore. A lack of consensus between the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League over the future governance structure led to the proposal for partition. On 14 June 1947, the Congress Working Committee approved the Mountbatten Plan, effectively clearing the path for the historic law. Other Major Events On 18 July In History While 18 July 1947 remains central to India's journey to freedom, the date has witnessed several other notable global milestones: 1857: Establishment of the University of Bombay (now the University of Mumbai), one of India's oldest higher education institutions. 1918: Birth of Nelson Mandela, South Africa's anti-apartheid hero and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. 1955: For the first time in history, electricity generated from nuclear energy was sold commercially — a major leap in scientific and technological progress. As the nation reflects on 18 July, it remembers not just the passing of a law but the culmination of decades of struggle, sacrifice, and unyielding hope. The Indian Independence Act remains a powerful reminder of a hard-won freedom achieved through unity, resilience, and the dreams of millions. First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
India Today
03-06-2025
- Politics
- India Today
News Menu, May 3: PM's vital cabinet meet today after Op Sindoor; IPL final
Good morning. On June 3, 1947, the Mountbatten Plan outlined the partition of British India into two independent dominions -- India and Pakistan. Announced by Lord Louis Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of India, the plan accelerated India's independence, set for August 15, 1947, but triggered massive communal violence, displacement, and migration, with millions affected and thousands killed. It reshaped South Asia's political landscape, creating lasting geopolitical tensions, particularly over is India Today's news menu for today, capturing history in Tea: Operation Sindoor's Global EchoesPM Narendra Modi gears up to meet Operation Sindoor delegations on June 9 or 10 in New Delhi, following their outreach to 33 countries post-Pahalgam terror attack. Returning from Tuesday, the teams will brief Modi on global responses to India's anti-terror stance. Meanwhile, a diplomatic duel looms as Shashi Tharoor's all-party Indian delegation and Pakistan's team, led by Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, converge in the US to sway American lawmakers post-Operation Sindoor. Both nations vie for support amid heightened tensions. India Today unpacks this high-stakes India-Pakistan showdown on global with Cabinet: Modi's Ministerial MeetPM Modi chairs the Union Council of Ministers on Wednesday, the first since the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor. The meeting will strategise India's next steps in security and Feast: IPL 2025 FinaleadvertisementRoyal Challengers Bengaluru, led by Virat Kohli, face Punjab Kings in the IPL 2025 final. Will RCB's 18-year title drought end tonight? With Shreyas Iyer in sizzling form, Punjab Kings will mount a tough challenge to Virat Kohli's title ambition. India Today captures the electric Brouhaha: Sacrifice Sparks ClashMaharashtra's Goseva Aayog demands a livestock market ban before Eid al-Adha, igniting controversy. BJP pushes for a 'green, bloodless' Bakrid, while theIslamic Centre issues sacrifice advisories. India Today probes this cultural face-off that's become part of India's annual Soup: Panoli Case EscalatesA second complaint targets Wajahat Khan, the main complainant against influencer Sharmistha Panoli, who's jailed for her Operation Sindoor remarks. Khan's father claims he's missing, while Panoli's lawyer cites poor jail conditions. BJP slams Mamata's 'Muslim bias.' India Today tracks this political firestorm triggered by social media Pulse: Rahul's Redemption PushRahul Gandhi visits Bhopal to revamp Congress's Madhya Pradesh unit via the 'Creation Campaign,' aiming to reclaim lost ground. On June 4, he heads to Chandigarh for Haryana Congress's 'Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan' post-poll debacle. With the Congress failing to capture power in these key states despite favourable conditions in previous elections, Gandhi faces a tricky another scion bares his ambition in Bihar. Chirag Paswan hints at contesting Bihar polls, backing Nitish Kumar but eyeing strategic leverage. Misa Bharti demands his resignation first. India Today unpacks this political chess Golgappa: Russia-Ukraine Talks FalterRussia-Ukraine peace talks in Turkey collapse after an hour, with both sides' visions clashing. Ukrainian drones hit Russian bombers, escalating tensions. India Today analyses this global Sizzler: Thug Life TangleKamal Haasan moves Karnataka High Court for release of Thug Life as Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) demands an apology for his remarks on the origin of Kannada. India Today follows this cinematic standoff that has become a proxy for the rivalry between Karnataka and Tamil Kimchi: South's Snap ElectionSouth Korea holds a snap presidential election on Tuesday. The poll was triggered by the impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol, who imposed martial law in December. Pre-poll surveys suggest Yoon's rival, Lee Jae-myung, could sweep the election, riding on deep public frustration in the wake of the martial law Bite: Cyril Radcliffe, a British lawyer with no prior experience in India, drew the 1947 boundaries between India and Pakistan. The hasty division, based on outdated maps and data, led to chaotic mass migrations, widespread violence, and millions of before in history so much havoc had been caused by a cartographer's pen.
