The Indian Independence Act 1947 was the most historic legislation passed by the British Parliament that ended nearly 200 years of British colonial rule in India. The Act received Royal Assent on July 18, 1947, and came into effect on August 15, 1947. It was based on the Mountbatten Plan (also known as the June 3rd Plan) that was announced by the last Viceroy of India, Lord Mountbatten, on June 3, 1947. The Act provided for the creation of two independent dominions — India and Pakistan. It marked the end of British sovereignty over Indian territories and transferred all powers to the newly formed governments of both nations.
The Indian Independence Act 1947 was introduced in the British House of Commons by Prime Minister Clement Attlee and was drafted on the basis of the Mountbatten Plan. The Act abolished the title of Emperor of India from the British Crown. It also dissolved the office of the Secretary of State for India and the India Office in London. Under this Act, both India and Pakistan were given the freedom to frame their own constitutions. Until new constitutions were adopted, both countries would be governed by the Government of India Act 1935 with necessary modifications. The Act also gave the princely states the option to join either India or Pakistan or remain independent. Lord Mountbatten became the first Governor-General of independent India, while Muhammad Ali Jinnah became the first Governor-General of Pakistan. The Act also provided for the division of assets, armed forces, and civil services between the two new dominions. The Boundary Commission headed by Sir Cyril Radcliffe was appointed to demarcate the boundaries between India and Pakistan in the provinces of Punjab and Bengal.
30 MCQs on Indian Independence Act 1947 – Indian History
Q1. When did the Indian Independence Act 1947 receive Royal Assent from the British Crown?
A) June 3, 1947
B) July 18, 1947
C) August 15, 1947
D) August 14, 1947
Q2. The Indian Independence Act 1947 was based on which plan?
A) Wavell Plan
B) Cabinet Mission Plan
C) Mountbatten Plan (June 3rd Plan)
D) Cripps Mission Plan
Q3. Who was the British Prime Minister when the Indian Independence Act 1947 was passed?
A) Winston Churchill
B) Clement Attlee
C) Neville Chamberlain
D) Anthony Eden
Q4. The Indian Independence Act 1947 provided for the creation of how many independent dominions?
A) One
B) Two
C) Three
D) Four
Q5. Who was the last Viceroy of British India?
A) Lord Wavell
B) Lord Linlithgow
C) Lord Mountbatten
D) Lord Irwin
Q6. On which date did India officially become independent under the Indian Independence Act 1947?
A) August 14, 1947
B) August 15, 1947
C) July 18, 1947
D) January 26, 1947
Q7. On which date did Pakistan officially become independent under the Indian Independence Act 1947?
A) August 15, 1947
B) August 14, 1947
C) July 18, 1947
D) June 3, 1947
Q8. Who became the first Governor-General of independent India?
A) C. Rajagopalachari
B) Jawaharlal Nehru
C) Lord Mountbatten
D) Rajendra Prasad
Q9. Who became the first Governor-General of Pakistan?
A) Liaquat Ali Khan
B) Muhammad Ali Jinnah
C) Lord Mountbatten
D) Iskander Mirza
Q10. Until new constitutions were framed, the Indian Independence Act 1947 stated that both dominions would be governed by which act?
A) Government of India Act 1919
B) Government of India Act 1935
C) Indian Councils Act 1909
D) Charter Act 1833
Q11. The Indian Independence Act 1947 abolished which title from the British Royal Crown?
A) King of England
B) Emperor of India
C) Defender of the Faith
D) Sovereign of the Seas
Q12. Which office was dissolved under the Indian Independence Act 1947?
A) Office of the Prime Minister
B) Office of the Secretary of State for India
C) Office of the Commander-in-Chief
D) Office of the Chief Justice
Q13. Who headed the Boundary Commission that demarcated the borders between India and Pakistan?
A) Lord Mountbatten
B) Sir Cyril Radcliffe
C) Sir Stafford Cripps
D) Clement Attlee
Q14. The Radcliffe Line divided which two provinces between India and Pakistan?
A) Sindh and Baluchistan
B) Punjab and Bengal
C) NWFP and Assam
D) Madras and Bombay
Q15. The Indian Independence Act 1947 gave the princely states which option?
A) They had to join India
B) They had to join Pakistan
C) They could join India, Pakistan, or remain independent
D) They were automatically dissolved
Q16. Who was the first Prime Minister of independent India?
A) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
B) Jawaharlal Nehru
C) Rajendra Prasad
D) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
Q17. Who was the first Prime Minister of Pakistan?
A) Muhammad Ali Jinnah
B) Liaquat Ali Khan
C) Khawaja Nazimuddin
D) Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy
Q18. How many sections (clauses) did the Indian Independence Act 1947 contain?
A) 10
B) 15
C) 20
D) 25
Q19. The Mountbatten Plan was announced on which date?
A) March 22, 1947
B) June 3, 1947
C) July 18, 1947
D) August 15, 1947
Q20. The Indian Independence Act 1947 was passed by which legislative body?
A) Indian Constituent Assembly
B) British Parliament
C) Indian National Congress
D) United Nations General Assembly
Q21. Which of the following was NOT a provision of the Indian Independence Act 1947?
A) Creation of two dominions
B) Abolition of the title Emperor of India
C) Establishment of a republican form of government in India
D) Option for princely states to join either dominion
Q22. The Constituent Assembly of each new dominion was given the power to do what under the Indian Independence Act 1947?
A) Only pass budgets
B) Frame its own constitution and legislate for the country
C) Only handle defense matters
D) Only manage foreign affairs
Q23. Who was appointed as the Chairman of the Boundary Commission for Punjab?
A) Lord Mountbatten
B) Sir Cyril Radcliffe
C) Justice Din Muhammad
D) Justice Mehr Chand Mahajan
Q24. The Indian Independence Act 1947 ended the suzerainty of the British Crown over which entities?
A) Only British India provinces
B) Only princely states
C) Both British India provinces and princely states
D) Only the Indian National Congress
Q25. Lord Mountbatten arrived in India as the last Viceroy on which date?
A) February 20, 1947
B) March 22, 1947
C) June 3, 1947
D) July 18, 1947
Q26. Which Indian leader was responsible for integrating the princely states into the Indian Union after the Indian Independence Act 1947?
A) Jawaharlal Nehru
B) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
C) Maulana Azad
D) Rajendra Prasad
Q27. The Indian Independence Act 1947 was introduced in the British House of Commons on which date?
A) June 3, 1947
B) July 4, 1947
C) July 18, 1947
D) August 1, 1947
Q28. Who was the last Secretary of State for India whose office was abolished by the Indian Independence Act 1947?
A) Sir Stafford Cripps
B) Lord Pethick-Lawrence
C) Earl of Listowel
D) Leo Amery
Q29. Under the Indian Independence Act 1947, who had the power to modify the Government of India Act 1935 for governance purposes?
A) British Parliament
B) Governor-General of each dominion
C) Supreme Court of India
D) Secretary of State for India
Q30. The Radcliffe Award for the boundary between India and Pakistan was announced on which date?
A) August 12, 1947
B) August 15, 1947
C) August 17, 1947
D) August 20, 1947
Correct Answers
- B) July 18, 1947
- C) Mountbatten Plan (June 3rd Plan)
- B) Clement Attlee
- B) Two
- C) Lord Mountbatten
- B) August 15, 1947
- B) August 14, 1947
- C) Lord Mountbatten
- B) Muhammad Ali Jinnah
- B) Government of India Act 1935
- B) Emperor of India
- B) Office of the Secretary of State for India
- B) Sir Cyril Radcliffe
- B) Punjab and Bengal
- C) They could join India, Pakistan, or remain independent
- B) Jawaharlal Nehru
- B) Liaquat Ali Khan
- C) 20
- B) June 3, 1947
- B) British Parliament
- C) Establishment of a republican form of government in India
- B) Frame its own constitution and legislate for the country
- B) Sir Cyril Radcliffe
- C) Both British India provinces and princely states
- B) March 22, 1947
- B) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
- B) July 4, 1947
- C) Earl of Listowel
- B) Governor-General of each dominion
- C) August 17, 1947
Conclusion
The Indian Independence Act 1947 was the final chapter of British colonial rule in India. This single piece of legislation gave birth to two new nations — India and Pakistan. It transferred all governing powers from the British Crown to the newly formed dominion governments. The Act also set the stage for the framing of independent constitutions by both countries. India adopted its constitution on January 26, 1950, and became a sovereign republic. The Act remains one of the most studied legislations in Indian constitutional and political history.
For students preparing for UPSC, SSC, State PSC, Railways, and other competitive examinations, the Indian Independence Act 1947 is a heavily tested topic. These 30 MCQs cover all the major provisions of the Act including the Mountbatten Plan, Radcliffe Line, princely states, and the creation of the two dominions. Practicing these questions will help you build a strong foundation in modern Indian History and improve your exam scores.