The Interim Government of India, also known as the Provisional Government of India, formed on 2 September 1946 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.
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.
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. 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 of India, Lord Mountbatten, who would hold only a ceremonial position, and the Commander-in-Chief, India, 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. 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. 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.
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. The League nominated a Scheduled Caste Hindu politician, Jogendra Nath Mandal, to lead the Department of Law.
Interim Government
As per the mid-June 1946 Cabinet Mission Plan, the Executive Council was expanded to consist of only Indian members except the Viceroy and the Commander-in-Chief intended to form the Interim Government of India until the transfer of power. The Viceroy, Viscount Wavell extended invitations for 14 members.
The Interim Government began to function from 2 September 1946 once the Indian National Congress members took their seats. However, the All-India Muslim League refused to participate until 26 October 1946. The Interim Government served until transfer of power to the Dominion of India and the Dominion of Pakistan on 15 August 1947.
Cabinet of the Interim Government of India PortraitNameTerm of officeArchibald Wavell, 1st Viscount Wavell Viceroy and Governor-General of India2 September 194621 February 1947Louis Mountbatten, 1st Viscount Mountbatten of Burma Viceroy and Governor-General of India21 February 194715 August 1947
Commander-in-Chief, India PortraitNameTerm of officePolitical party 1 General Sir Claude Auchinleck Commander-in-Chief, India 2 September 1946 15 August1947
Vice-President of the Executive Council
PortraitNameTerm of officePolitical party 1 Jawaharlal Nehru Vice-President of the Executive Council External Affairs & Commonwealth Relations 2 September 1946 15 August1947 Indian National Congress
Minister of Home Affairs (India) Portfolio Home Affairs Information & Broadcasting
PortraitNameTerm of officePolitical party 1 Vallabhbhai Patel 2 September 1946 15 August1947 Indian National Congress
Minister of Defence (India) Portfolio Defence
PortraitNameTerm of officePolitical party 1 Baldev Singh 2 September 1946 15 August1947 Indian National Congress
Ministry of Commerce Portfolio Ministry of Commerce and Industry (India)
PortraitNameTerm of officePolitical party 1 John Matthai 2 September 1946 15 August1947 Indian National Congress
Minister of Education (India) PortraitNameTerm of officePolitical party 1 C. Rajagopalachari 2 September 1946 15 August1947 Indian National Congress
Ministry of Power (India) PortraitNameTerm of officePolitical party1Sarat Chandra Bose2 September 19462 September 1946Indian National Congress2C. H. Bhabha2 September 194615 August 1947 Portfolio Works, Mines and Power
Minister of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare
PortraitNameTerm of officePolitical party 1 Rajendra Prasad 2 September 1946 15 August1947 Indian National Congress
Portfolio Ministry of Food and Agriculture (India)
Minister of Railways (India) Portfolio Railways and Transport PortraitNameTerm of officePolitical party 1 Asaf Ali 2 September 1946 15 August1947 Indian National Congress
Ministry of Labour (India) Portfolio Labour PortraitNameTerm of officePolitical party 1 Jagjivan Ram 2 September 1946 15 August1947 Indian National Congress
Minister of Finance (India) Portfolio Finance
PortraitNameTerm of officePolitical party 1 Liaquat Ali Khan 2 September 1946 15 August1947 All-India Muslim League
Ministry of Commerce and Industry (India) Portfolio Ministry of Commerce and Industry (India) PortraitNameTerm of officePolitical party 1 Ibrahim Ismail Chundrigar 2 September 1946 15 August1947 All-India Muslim League
Minister of Health (India) PortraitNameTerm of officePolitical party 1 Ghazanfar Ali Khan 2 September 1946 15 August1947 All-India Muslim League
Ministry of communication (India)
PortraitNameTerm of officePolitical party 1 Abdur Rab Nishtar 2 September 1946 15 August1947 All-India Muslim League
Ministry of Law and Justice (India) PortraitNameTerm of officePolitical party 1 Jogendra Nath Mandal 2 September 1946 15 August1947 All-India Muslim League
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. Meanwhile, the Constituent Assembly, from which the Interim Government was drawn, began the task of drafting a constitution for independent India.
See also Viceroy's Executive Council Council of State (India) Government of British Raj Imperial Legislative Council Central Legislative Assembly
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