Dominion of India | ||||||||||
भारत अधिराज्य Bhārata Adhirājya |
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Anthem Jana Gana Mana Royal anthem God Save the King |
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Capital | New Delhi | |||||||||
Government | Constitutional monarchy | |||||||||
Monarch | ||||||||||
• | 1947–1950 | George VI | ||||||||
Governor-General | ||||||||||
• | 1947–1948 | Louis Mountbatten | ||||||||
• | 1948–1950 | Chakravarthy Rajagopalachari | ||||||||
Prime Minister | ||||||||||
• | 1947–1950 | Jawaharlal Nehru | ||||||||
Legislature | Constituent Assembly | |||||||||
Historical era | Cold War | |||||||||
• | Indian Independence Act | 15 August 1947 | ||||||||
• | Indo-Pakistani War | 22 October 1947 | ||||||||
• | Republican constitution adopted | 26 January 1950 | ||||||||
Area | ||||||||||
• | 1950 | 3,287,263 km² (1,269,219 sq mi) | ||||||||
Currency | Indian rupee | |||||||||
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The Dominion of India (Hindi: भारत अधिराज्य, Bhārata Adhirājya), also known as the Union of India, was an independent state that existed between 15 August 1947 and 26 January 1950. It was transformed into the Republic of India by the promulgation of the Constitution of India on 26 January 1950.
George VI was the king (the head of state) and was represented by the Governor-General of India. However, the governor-general was not designated viceroy, as had been customary under the British Raj. Two governors-general held office in India during the Dominion period (after the office of Viceroy was abolished by the Indian Independence Act 1947): Mountbatten of Burma (1947–48) and Chakravarti Rajagopalachari (1948–50). Jawaharlal Nehru held office as prime minister of India throughout this period.
The Partition of British India on 14/15 August 1947 led to the creation of two sovereign states, both dominions: Pakistan (which later split into the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the People's Republic of Bangladesh) and India (later the Republic of India).
The Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution of India, drafted by a committee headed by Dr Rajendra Prasad, on 26 November 1949. India became a federal, democratic republic after its constitution came into effect on 26 January 1950. Rajendra Prasad became the first President of India.