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{{Short description|Governing body of India from September 1946 to August 1947}}
{{Short description|1946–1947 provisional government}}
{{Infobox government cabinet
{{Infobox government cabinet
|cabinet_name = Interim Government of India
|cabinet_name = Interim Government of India
|jurisdiction = [[Presidencies and provinces of British India|British India]]
|jurisdiction = [[British Raj|British India]]
|flag =File:British_Raj_Red_Ensign.svg
|flag =
|flag_border =
|date_formed = {{Start date|1946|09|02|df=y}}
|date_formed = {{Start date|1946|09|02|df=y}}
|date_dissolved = {{End date|1947|08|15|df=y}}
|date_dissolved = {{End date|1947|08|15|df=y}}
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|governor_general_title = [[Governor-General of India|Viceroy and <br>Governor-General]]
|governor_general_title = [[Governor-General of India|Viceroy and <br>Governor-General]]
|governor_general = {{Plainlist|
|governor_general = {{Plainlist|
* [[Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell|The Viscount Wavell]] <br>(1946-47)
* [[Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell|The Viscount Wavell]] <br>(1946–47)
* [[Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma|The Viscount Mountbatten of Burma]] <br>(1947)
* [[Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma|The Viscount Mountbatten of Burma]] <br>(1947)
}}
}}
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{{History of Bangladesh}}
{{History of Bangladesh}}
{{History of Pakistan}}
{{History of Pakistan}}
The '''Interim Government of India''', also known as the '''Provisional Government of India''', formed on 2 September 1946<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/education/story/interim-government/1/463170.html|title = India's first government was formed today: All you need to know}}</ref> from the newly elected [[Constituent Assembly of India]], had the task of assisting the transition of [[British Raj|British India]] to independence. It remained in place until 15 August 1947, the date of the independence (and partition) of [[Dominion of India|India]], and the creation of [[Dominion of Pakistan|Pakistan]].<ref name="A">{{cite book|title=Constitutional history of India, including the nationalist movement|pages=200–10|author=Vidya Dhar Mahajan|author-link=Vidya Dhar Mahajan|publisher=S. Chand|year=1971}}</ref><ref name="B">{{cite web|title=Office of the Historian – Countries – India|url=https://history.state.gov/countries/india|publisher=[[U.S. State Department]]|access-date=2009-08-16}}</ref><ref name="C">{{cite book|title=History of Modern India, 1707 A. D. to 2000 A. D.|author=Radhey Shyam Chaurasia|pages=300–400|publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Distributors|year=2002|isbn=978-81-269-0085-5}}</ref>
The '''Interim Government of India''', also known as the '''Provisional Government of India''', formed on 2 September 1946<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/education/story/interim-government/1/463170.html|title=India's first government was formed today: All you need to know|access-date=2016-05-27|archive-date=2017-12-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171225203558/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/education/story/interim-government/1/463170.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> from the newly elected [[Constituent Assembly of India]], had the task of assisting the transition of [[British Raj|British India]] to independence. It remained in place until 15 August 1947, the date of the independence (and [[Partition of India|partition]]) of British India, and the creation of the dominions of [[Dominion of India|India]] and [[Dominion of Pakistan|Pakistan]].<ref name="A">{{cite book|title=Constitutional history of India, including the nationalist movement|pages=200–10|author=Vidya Dhar Mahajan|author-link=Vidya Dhar Mahajan|publisher=S. Chand|year=1971}}</ref><ref name="B">{{cite web|title=Office of the Historian – Countries – India|url=https://history.state.gov/countries/india|publisher=[[U.S. State Department]]|access-date=2009-08-16}}</ref><ref name="C">{{cite book|title=History of Modern India, 1707 A. D. to 2000 A. D.|author=Radhey Shyam Chaurasia|pages=300–400|publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Distributors|year=2002|isbn=978-81-269-0085-5}}</ref>


==Formation==
==Formation==
After the end of the [[World War II|Second World War]], the British authorities in India released all political prisoners who had participated in the [[Quit India movement]]. The [[Indian National Congress]], which had long fought for self rule, agreed to participate in elections for a [[constituent assembly]], as did the [[All-India Muslim League|Muslim League]]. The newly elected government of [[Clement Attlee]] dispatched the [[1946 Cabinet Mission to India]] to formulate proposals for the formation of a government that would lead to an independent India.<ref name="C"/>
After the end of the [[World War II|Second World War]], the British authorities in India released all political prisoners who had participated in the [[Quit India movement]]. The [[Indian National Congress]], which had long fought for self rule, agreed to participate in elections for a [[constituent assembly]], as did the [[All-India Muslim League|Muslim League]]. The newly elected government of [[Clement Attlee]] dispatched the [[1946 Cabinet Mission to India]] to formulate proposals for the formation of a government that would lead to an independent India.<ref name="C"/>


The elections for the Constituent Assembly were not direct elections, as the members were elected from each of the provincial legislative assemblies. In the event, the Indian National Congress won a majority of the seats, some 69 per cent, including almost every seat in areas with a majority Hindu electorate. The Congress had clear majorities in eight of the eleven provinces of [[British India]].<ref>{{Harv|Judd|2004|p=172}}</ref> The Muslim League won the seats allocated to the Muslim electorate.
The elections for the Constituent Assembly were not direct elections, as the members were elected from each of the provincial legislative assemblies. In the event, the Indian National Congress won a majority of the seats, some 69 per cent, including almost every seat in areas with a majority Hindu electorate. The Congress had clear majorities in eight of the eleven provinces of [[British India]].<ref>{{Citation | last1=Judd | first1=Dennis | year=2004 | title=The Lion and the Tiger: The Rise and Fall of the British Raj, 1600–1947 | publisher=Oxford University Press | isbn=0-19-280358-1 | page=172}}</ref> The Muslim League won the seats allocated to the Muslim electorate.


==Viceroy's Executive Council==
==Viceroy's Executive Council==
The [[Viceroy's Executive Council]] became the executive branch of the interim government. Originally headed by the Viceroy of India, it was transformed into a council of ministers, with the powers of a [[prime minister]] bestowed on the vice-president of the Council, a position held by the Congress leader [[Jawaharlal Nehru]]. After independence, all members would be Indians, apart from the Viceroy, in August to become the [[Governor-General of India|Governor-General]], [[Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma|Lord Mountbatten]], who would hold only a ceremonial position, and the [[Commander-in-Chief, India]],<ref name="C"/> [[Claude Auchinleck|Sir Claude Auchinleck]], replaced after independence by [[Rob Lockhart|General Sir Rob Lockhart]].
The [[Viceroy's Executive Council]] became the executive branch of the interim government. Originally headed by the Viceroy of India, it was transformed into a council of ministers, with the powers of a [[prime minister]] bestowed on the vice-president of the Council, a position held by the Congress leader [[Jawaharlal Nehru]]. After independence, all members would be Indians, apart from the Viceroy, in August to become the [[Governor-General of India|Governor-General]], [[Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma|Lord Mountbatten]], who would hold only a ceremonial position, and the [[Commander-in-Chief, India]],<ref name="C"/> [[Claude Auchinleck|Sir Claude Auchinleck]], replaced after independence by [[Rob Lockhart|General Sir Rob Lockhart]].


The senior Congress leader [[Vallabhbhai Patel]] held the second-most powerful position in the Council, heading the [[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Department of Home Affairs]], [[Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India)|Department of Information and Broadcasting]].<ref name="D">{{cite book|title=The History of British India: A Chronology|author=John F. Riddick|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|pages=100–150|year=2006|isbn=978-0-313-32280-8}}</ref> The [[Sikh]] leader [[Baldev Singh]] was responsible for the [[Ministry of Defence (India)|Department of Defence]] and [[Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari]] was named to head the [[Ministry of Human Resource Development (India)|Department of Education and arts]].<ref name="D"/> [[Asaf Ali]], a Muslim Congress leader, headed the [[Ministry of Railways (India)|Department of Railways and Transport]]. [[Scheduled Caste]] leader [[Jagjivan Ram]] headed the [[Ministry of Labour and Employment (India)|Department of Labour]], while [[Rajendra Prasad]] headed the [[Ministry of Agriculture (India)|Department of Food and Agriculture]] and [[John Mathai]] headed the Department of Industries and Supplies.<ref name="D"/>
The senior Congress leader [[Vallabhbhai Patel]] held the second-most powerful position in the Council, heading the [[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Department of Home Affairs]], [[Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India)|Department of Information and Broadcasting]].<ref name="D">{{cite book|title=The History of British India: A Chronology|author=John F. Riddick|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|pages=100–150|year=2006|isbn=978-0-313-32280-8}}</ref> The [[Sikh]] leader [[Baldev Singh]] was responsible for the [[Ministry of Defence (India)|Department of Defence]] and [[Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari]] was named to head the [[Ministry of Human Resource Development (India)|Department of Education and arts]].<ref name="D"/> [[Asaf Ali]], a Muslim Congress leader, headed the [[Ministry of Railways (India)|Department of Railways and Transport]]. [[Scheduled Caste]] leader [[Jagjivan Ram]] headed the [[Ministry of Labour and Employment (India)|Department of Labour]], while [[Rajendra Prasad]] headed the [[Ministry of Agriculture (India)|Department of Food and Agriculture]] and [[John Matthai]] headed the Department of Industries and Supplies.<ref name="D"/>


Upon the Muslim League joining the interim government, the second highest-ranking League politician, [[Liaquat Ali Khan]], became the head of the [[Ministry of Finance (India)|Department of Finance]]. [[Abdur Rab Nishtar]] headed the Departments of Posts and Air and [[Ibrahim Ismail Chundrigar]] headed the [[Ministry of Commerce and Industry (India)|Department of Commerce]].<ref name="D"/> The League nominated a Scheduled Caste Hindu politician, [[Jogendra Nath Mandal]], to lead the [[Ministry of Law and Justice (India)|Department of Law]].<ref name="D"/>
Upon the Muslim League joining the interim government, the second highest-ranking League politician, [[Liaquat Ali Khan]], became the head of the [[Ministry of Finance (India)|Department of Finance]]. [[Abdur Rab Nishtar]] headed the Departments of Posts and Air and [[Ibrahim Ismail Chundrigar]] headed the [[Ministry of Commerce and Industry (India)|Department of Commerce]].<ref name="D"/> The League nominated a Scheduled Caste Hindu politician, [[Jogendra Nath Mandal]], to lead the [[Ministry of Law and Justice (India)|Department of Law]].<ref name="D"/>


==Cabinet of the Interim Government of India==
==Cabinet of the Interim Government of India==
{{more citations needed|section|date=August 2018}}<!--there is a citation at the end of the second table, but not all the names listed here are included, nor are the names of the offices-->

===First Interim Cabinet===
===First Interim Cabinet===
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
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| [[Indian National Congress]]
| [[Indian National Congress]]
|-
|-
| Arts, Education and Health
| Arts, Education and Health<br/>Industries and Supplies
! style="background:{{party color|Indian National Congress}};"|
! style="background:{{party color|Indian National Congress}};"|
| [[C. Rajagopalachari]]
| [[C. Rajagopalachari]]
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| Commerce
| Commerce
! style="background:{{party color|Indian National Congress}};"|
! style="background:{{party color|Indian National Congress}};"|
| [[C.H. Bhabha]]
| [[C. H. Bhabha]]
| [[Indian National Congress]]
| [[Indian National Congress]]
|-
|-
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|-
|-
| Finance
| Finance
| style="background:{{party color|Indian National Congress}};"|
| style="background:{{party color|All-India Muslim League}};"|
| [[John Matthai]]
| [[Liaquat Ali Khan]]
| [[Indian National Congress]]
| [[All-India Muslim League]]
|-
| Industries and Supplies
! style="background:{{party color|Indian National Congress}};"|
| [[C. Rajagopalachari]]
| [[Indian National Congress]]
|-
|-
| Labour
| Labour
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|-
|-
|
|
| [[Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma|The Viscount Mountbatten of Burma]] (21 February 1947 -)
| [[Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma|The Viscount Mountbatten of Burma]] (21 February 1947 – 14 August 1950)
|-
|-
| [[Commander-in-Chief, India|Commander-in-Chief]]
| [[Commander-in-Chief, India|Commander-in-Chief]]
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| [[Vallabhbhai Patel]]
| [[Vallabhbhai Patel]]
| [[Indian National Congress]]
| [[Indian National Congress]]

|-
|-
| Agriculture and Food
| Agriculture and Food
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| [[All-India Muslim League]]
| [[All-India Muslim League]]
|-
|-
| Industries & Supplies
| Industries and Supplies
! style="background:{{party color|Indian National Congress}};"|
! style="background:{{party color|Indian National Congress}};"|
| [[John Mathai]]
| [[John Matthai]]
| [[Indian National Congress]]
| [[Indian National Congress]]
|-
|-
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| [[All-India Muslim League]]
| [[All-India Muslim League]]
|-
|-
| [[Minister of Railways (India)|Railways]] and Communications<br/>Post and Air
| Railways and Communications<br/>Post and Air
! style="background:{{party color|All-India Muslim League}};"|
! style="background:{{party color|All-India Muslim League}};"|
| [[Abdur Rab Nishtar]]
| [[Abdur Rab Nishtar]]
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| Works, Mines and Power
| Works, Mines and Power
! style="background:{{party color|Indian National Congress}};"|
! style="background:{{party color|Indian National Congress}};"|
| [[C.H. Bhabha]]
| [[C. H. Bhabha]]
| [[Indian National Congress]]
| [[Indian National Congress]]
|-
|-
|colspan="4"|
|colspan="4"|
The above is the reconstituted cabinet of 15 October 1946, when Muslim League called off its boycott of participation in the interim government.<ref>V. Krishna Ananth. [https://books.google.com/books?id=X62Sc3muOyQC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false ''India Since Independence: Making Sense of Indian Politics'']. Pearson Education India. 2010. pp 28–30.</ref>
The above is the reconstituted cabinet of 15 October 1946, when Muslim League called off its boycott of participation in the interim government.<ref>V. Krishna Ananth. [https://books.google.com/books?id=X62Sc3muOyQC ''India Since Independence: Making Sense of Indian Politics'']. Pearson Education India. 2010. pp 28–30.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-09-03 |title=Explained: When India's interim government was formed in 1946 |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/september-2-when-indias-interim-govt-was-formed-in-1946-5959889/ |access-date=2022-03-12 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Ankit |first=Rakesh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lPqNDwAAQBAJ&q=interim+government+of+india |title=India and the Interregnum: Interim Government, September 1946 – August 1947 |date=2018-12-13 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-909560-5 |language=en}}</ref>
|}
|}


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[[Category:Government of British India]]
[[Category:Government of British India]]
[[Category:History of the government of India]]
[[Category:History of the government of India]]
[[Category:History of the government of Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Indian independence movement]]
[[Category:Indian independence movement]]
[[Category:1940s in India]]
[[Category:1940s in Indian politics]]
[[Category:1946 in India]]
[[Category:1946 in India]]
[[Category:1947 in India]]
[[Category:1947 in India]]

Revision as of 10:54, 3 November 2024

Interim Government of India

Cabinet of British India
Nehru with members of the Interim government faction leaving Viceroy's House after swearing in on 2 September 1946
Date formed2 September 1946 (1946-09-02)
Date dissolved15 August 1947 (1947-08-15)
People and organisations
EmperorGeorge VI
Viceroy and
Governor-General
Head of GovernmentJawaharlal Nehru (as Vice President of Executive Council)
No. of ministers15
Member parties
Status in legislatureCoalition
History
Successor

The Interim Government of India, also known as the Provisional Government of India, formed on 2 September 1946[1] from the newly elected Constituent Assembly of India, had the task of assisting the transition of British India to independence. It remained in place until 15 August 1947, the date of the independence (and partition) of British India, and the creation of the dominions of India and Pakistan.[2][3][4]

Formation

After the end of the Second World War, the British authorities in India released all political prisoners who had participated in the Quit India movement. The Indian National Congress, which had long fought for self rule, agreed to participate in elections for a constituent assembly, as did the Muslim League. The newly elected government of Clement Attlee dispatched the 1946 Cabinet Mission to India to formulate proposals for the formation of a government that would lead to an independent India.[4]

The elections for the Constituent Assembly were not direct elections, as the members were elected from each of the provincial legislative assemblies. In the event, the Indian National Congress won a majority of the seats, some 69 per cent, including almost every seat in areas with a majority Hindu electorate. The Congress had clear majorities in eight of the eleven provinces of British India.[5] The Muslim League won the seats allocated to the Muslim electorate.

Viceroy's Executive Council

The Viceroy's Executive Council became the executive branch of the interim government. Originally headed by the Viceroy of India, it was transformed into a council of ministers, with the powers of a prime minister bestowed on the vice-president of the Council, a position held by the Congress leader Jawaharlal Nehru. After independence, all members would be Indians, apart from the Viceroy, in August to become the Governor-General, Lord Mountbatten, who would hold only a ceremonial position, and the Commander-in-Chief, India,[4] Sir Claude Auchinleck, replaced after independence by General Sir Rob Lockhart.

The senior Congress leader Vallabhbhai Patel held the second-most powerful position in the Council, heading the Department of Home Affairs, Department of Information and Broadcasting.[6] The Sikh leader Baldev Singh was responsible for the Department of Defence and Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari was named to head the Department of Education and arts.[6] Asaf Ali, a Muslim Congress leader, headed the Department of Railways and Transport. Scheduled Caste leader Jagjivan Ram headed the Department of Labour, while Rajendra Prasad headed the Department of Food and Agriculture and John Matthai headed the Department of Industries and Supplies.[6]

Upon the Muslim League joining the interim government, the second highest-ranking League politician, Liaquat Ali Khan, became the head of the Department of Finance. Abdur Rab Nishtar headed the Departments of Posts and Air and Ibrahim Ismail Chundrigar headed the Department of Commerce.[6] The League nominated a Scheduled Caste Hindu politician, Jogendra Nath Mandal, to lead the Department of Law.[6]

Cabinet of the Interim Government of India

First Interim Cabinet

Office Name Party
Viceroy and Governor-General of India
President of the Executive Council
The Viscount Wavell
Commander-in-Chief Sir Claude Auchinleck
Vice President of the Executive Council
External Affairs and Commonwealth Relations
Jawaharlal Nehru Indian National Congress
Home Affairs
Information and Broadcasting
Vallabhbhai Patel Indian National Congress
Agriculture and Food Rajendra Prasad Indian National Congress
Arts, Education and Health
Industries and Supplies
C. Rajagopalachari Indian National Congress
Commerce C. H. Bhabha Indian National Congress
Defence Baldev Singh Indian National Congress
Finance Liaquat Ali Khan All-India Muslim League
Labour Jagjivan Ram Indian National Congress
Law Syed Ali Zaheer Indian National Congress
Railways and Communications
Post and Air
Asaf Ali Indian National Congress
Works, Mines and Power Sarat Bose Indian National Congress

Reconstituted Cabinet

Office Name Party
Viceroy and Governor-General of India
President of the Executive Council
The Viscount Wavell (15 October 1946 – 20 February 1947)
The Viscount Mountbatten of Burma (21 February 1947 – 14 August 1950)
Commander-in-Chief Sir Claude Auchinleck
Vice President of the Executive Council
External Affairs and Commonwealth Relations
Jawaharlal Nehru Indian National Congress
Home Affairs
Information and Broadcasting
Vallabhbhai Patel Indian National Congress
Agriculture and Food Rajendra Prasad Indian National Congress
Commerce Ibrahim Ismail Chundrigar All-India Muslim League
Defence Baldev Singh Indian National Congress
Finance Liaquat Ali Khan All-India Muslim League
Industries and Supplies John Matthai Indian National Congress
Education C. Rajagopalachari Indian National Congress
Health Ghazanfar Ali Khan All-India Muslim League
Labour Jagjivan Ram Indian National Congress
Law Jogendra Nath Mandal All-India Muslim League
Railways and Communications
Post and Air
Abdur Rab Nishtar All-India Muslim League
Works, Mines and Power C. H. Bhabha Indian National Congress

The above is the reconstituted cabinet of 15 October 1946, when Muslim League called off its boycott of participation in the interim government.[7][8][9]

Activities

Although until August 1947 British India remained under the sovereignty of the United Kingdom, the interim government proceeded to establish diplomatic relations with other countries, including the United States.[3] Meanwhile, the Constituent Assembly, from which the Interim Government was drawn, began the task of drafting a constitution for independent India.

See also

References

  1. ^ "India's first government was formed today: All you need to know". Archived from the original on 2017-12-25. Retrieved 2016-05-27.
  2. ^ Vidya Dhar Mahajan (1971). Constitutional history of India, including the nationalist movement. S. Chand. pp. 200–10.
  3. ^ a b "Office of the Historian – Countries – India". U.S. State Department. Retrieved 2009-08-16.
  4. ^ a b c Radhey Shyam Chaurasia (2002). History of Modern India, 1707 A. D. to 2000 A. D. Atlantic Publishers & Distributors. pp. 300–400. ISBN 978-81-269-0085-5.
  5. ^ Judd, Dennis (2004), The Lion and the Tiger: The Rise and Fall of the British Raj, 1600–1947, Oxford University Press, p. 172, ISBN 0-19-280358-1
  6. ^ a b c d e John F. Riddick (2006). The History of British India: A Chronology. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 100–150. ISBN 978-0-313-32280-8.
  7. ^ V. Krishna Ananth. India Since Independence: Making Sense of Indian Politics. Pearson Education India. 2010. pp 28–30.
  8. ^ "Explained: When India's interim government was formed in 1946". The Indian Express. 2019-09-03. Retrieved 2022-03-12.
  9. ^ Ankit, Rakesh (2018-12-13). India and the Interregnum: Interim Government, September 1946 – August 1947. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-909560-5.