Indian Independence Act 1947 - The Act's Provisions

The Act's Provisions

The Act's most important provisions were:

• the division of British India into the two new and fully sovereign dominions of India and Pakistan, with effect from 15 August 1947;
• the partition of the provinces of Bengal and Punjab between the two new countries;
• the establishment of the office of Governor-General in each of the two new countries, as representative of the Crown;
• the conferral of complete legislative authority upon the respective Constituent Assemblies of the two new countries;
• the termination of British suzerainty over the princely states, with effect from 15 August 1947, and recognized the right of states to accede to either dominion
• the dropping of the use of the title "Emperor of India" by the British monarch (this was subsequently done by King George VI by royal proclamation on 22 June 1948).

The Act also made provision for the division of joint property, etc. between the two new countries, including in particular the division of the armed forces.