Which one of the following is not a change brought about by the Indian Independence Act of 1947?
The Government of India Act, 1919 was amended to provide an interim Constitution.
Understanding the Indian Independence Act 1947 and its Changes
The Indian Independence Act of 1947 was a crucial piece of legislation passed by the British Parliament that led to the creation of two independent Dominions, India and Pakistan, from British India. This Act brought about several significant changes, fundamentally altering the political and constitutional landscape of the subcontinent. The question asks us to identify which of the given statements is NOT a change brought about by this Act.
Analyzing the Options on the Indian Independence Act 1947
Let's examine each option to determine its relationship with the Indian Independence Act 1947:
- The Government of India Act, 1919 was amended to provide an interim Constitution.
The Indian Independence Act 1947 did indeed provide for the governance of the new Dominions until their own Constitutions were framed. However, it did NOT amend the Government of India Act, 1919 for this purpose. Instead, it adapted the Government of India Act, 1935, to serve as the interim Constitution for both the Dominion of India and the Dominion of Pakistan. Therefore, the statement that the 1919 Act was amended for this purpose is factually incorrect in the context of the 1947 Act's provisions.
- India ceased to be a dependency.
Prior to the 1947 Act, British India was a dependency of the British Crown. The primary objective and outcome of the Indian Independence Act 1947 was to grant independence and sovereignty. By establishing the Dominion of India, the Act formally ended British rule and dependency status. This was a direct and fundamental change brought about by the Act.
- The Crown was the source of authority till new Constitution was framed.
The Indian Independence Act 1947 ended British paramountcy and the authority of the British Crown over the Indian states and British India. While the King remained the Head of State for the new Dominions, represented by the Governor-General, the ultimate source of governmental authority shifted. Power was transferred to the constituent assemblies and the new governments of the Dominions. The Crown was no longer the governing authority in the way it was before independence. Therefore, this statement, suggesting the Crown remained the source of authority, describes a situation that the Act effectively ended, not a situation it created or maintained.
- The Governor-General was the constitutional head of Indian Dominion.
The Indian Independence Act 1947 provided for the appointment of a Governor-General for each of the new Dominions by the King. The Act stipulated that the Governor-General would act as the constitutional head, acting on the advice of the respective Dominion's Cabinet. This established the framework for responsible government in the interim period, making the Governor-General a constitutional, not an executive, head. This was a significant change brought about by the Act.
Identifying the Statement NOT Reflecting a Change by the 1947 Act
Based on the analysis:
- Option 2 ("India ceased to be a dependency") is a correct change brought by the Act.
- Option 4 ("The Governor-General was the constitutional head...") is a correct change brought by the Act.
- Option 3 ("The Crown was the source of authority...") describes a pre-Act scenario that the Act ended, thus it is not a change brought *about* by the Act.
- Option 1 ("The Government of India Act, 1919 was amended...") is factually incorrect regarding which Act was adapted for the interim constitution by the 1947 Act. The Act adapted the 1935 Act.
Both Option 1 and Option 3 describe conditions or actions that were not consequences of the 1947 Act. However, Option 1 makes a specific, verifiable claim about the legislative basis for the interim constitution that the Act supposedly established (amending the 1919 Act), which is incorrect. The Act adapted the 1935 Act. This makes Option 1 the clearest statement that is NOT a change brought about by the Indian Independence Act, 1947.
Conclusion
The statement that the Government of India Act, 1919, was amended to provide an interim Constitution is incorrect. The Indian Independence Act 1947 provided for the adaptation of the Government of India Act, 1935, for this purpose. Therefore, this is NOT a change brought about by the Indian Independence Act of 1947.
| Statement | Relationship to Indian Independence Act 1947 |
|---|---|
| GOI Act 1919 amended for interim Constitution | Incorrect. The 1935 Act was adapted. NOT a change. |
| India ceased to be a dependency | Correct. A fundamental change brought by the Act. |
| Crown was source of authority till new Constitution | Incorrect. The Act ended Crown authority. NOT a change (rather, the opposite of a change). |
| Governor-General constitutional head of Dominion | Correct. A change brought by the Act. |
Revision Table: Key Provisions of the Indian Independence Act 1947
| Provision | Description |
|---|---|
| Termination of British Rule | Ended British sovereignty over India on August 15, 1947. |
| Creation of Two Dominions | Partitioned British India into two independent Dominions: India and Pakistan. |
| Boundary Commission | Established to demarcate the boundaries between India and Pakistan. |
| Governor-General | Appointed for each Dominion as the constitutional head, representing the King. |
| Constituent Assemblies | Vested with sovereign power and the right to frame Constitutions. Also acted as legislative bodies. |
| Interim Governance | Provided for governance as per the adapted Government of India Act, 1935. |
| End of Paramountcy | Ended British paramountcy over the Indian princely states. |
| Abolition of Secretary of State | Office of Secretary of State for India was abolished. |
Additional Information on Indian Constitutional Development
Understanding the context of the Indian Independence Act 1947 requires looking at previous constitutional developments:
- Government of India Act 1919: Introduced diarchy in provinces, responsible government beginnings.
- Government of India Act 1935: Proposed an All-India Federation (which didn't fully materialize), provincial autonomy, diarchy at the centre. This Act formed the basis for the interim governance after 1947, with suitable adaptations.
- Cripps Mission (1942): Proposed Dominion status after the war, conditional on acceptance by all provinces/states.
- Cabinet Mission Plan (1946): Proposed a union of India, dealing with grouping of provinces, constitution-making body.
- Mountbatten Plan (June 3, 1947): Announced the partition of India and the transfer of power, which was then enacted by the Indian Independence Act 1947.
The Indian Independence Act 1947 was the culmination of these processes, leading to the end of British rule and the birth of independent India and Pakistan.
Similar Questions
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Subhas Chandra Bose started the ‘Azad Hind Radio’ in which of the following countries?
Which political party formally accepted the Cabinet Mission Plan on 6 th June, 1946, which had rejected the demand for a sovereign Pakistan?
Consider the following statements :
After forming the Indian National Army, Subhas Chandra Bose
1. Recruited a large number of soldiers from the Indian Prisoners of War in Japanese camp
2. Introduced a women’s detachment named after the Rani of Jhansi
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
The Sylhet Referendum was held in?
Important Questions from Freedom to Partition (1939-1947)
The princely states that were unwilling to join the Indian Union until July 1947 included:
a. Baroda
b. Travancore
c. Bikaner
d. Bhopal
The first major nation wide Satyagraha launched by Mahatma Gandhi was against:
Who was the Chairman of the Partition Council?
With reference to 8th August, 1942 in Indian history, which one of the following statements is correct?
- Arrange the following significant events in the history of India's independence struggle in chronological order, from earliest to latest:
1. Cripps Mission
2. Wavell Plan
3. Quit India Movement
4. Cabinet Mission
5. August Offer
6. Royal Indian Navy Mutiny
Which of the following sequences is correct?
