Textbook
A Brief History of Modern India
The most-used exam book for modern India; dense, well organised and revision-friendly.
Dominion of India
Modern state
Level 2
★ Major power
1947 – 1950
Independent dominion from 15 August 1947 until the Constitution came into force.
- Capital
- New Delhi
- Region
- Pan-Indian
- Duration
- 3 years
- Main period
- Dominion of India
Approximate extent.
At a glance
Move along the chart to read any year; click a ruler or event to open the map there.
Rulers
- Lord Mountbatten Governor-General1947 – 1948
- Jawaharlal Nehru Prime Minister1947 – 1950
- C. Rajagopalachari Governor-General1948 – 1950Only Indian Governor-General.
Selected rulers; gaps in the list are not gaps in the dynasty.
Key events
| Year | Event | Place |
|---|---|---|
| 1947 | Independence and Partition India becomes independent on 15 August 1947. India and Pakistan became independent dominions amid mass migration and violence. |
New Delhi |
| 1948 | Assassination of Mahatma Gandhi | Delhi |
| 1948 | Hyderabad integrated (Operation Polo) The Nizam surrendered and Hyderabad joined the Indian Union. |
Hyderabad |
| 1949 | Constitution of India adopted 26 November 1949. |
New Delhi |
Personalities
📚 Recommended reading on the Dominion of India
Popular history
The Great Partition
A humane, clear-eyed history of the Partition of 1947.
Popular history
India After Gandhi
The history of the Republic, from 1947 to the present.
Popular history
Freedom at Midnight
A dramatic, page-turning narrative of independence and Partition.
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Contemporaries
Powers that coexisted with the Dominion of India for a significant part of its history. The bar shows when, within its own span.
Sultanate of the Maldives ★
Islands · c. 1153 – 1968
Overlap: 3 years
Mewar (Sisodia) ★
West · 1326 – 1949
Overlap: 2 years
Kingdom of Mysore ★
South · 1399 – 1950
Overlap: 3 years
Portuguese Estado da Índia ★
Coastal · 1505 – 1961
Overlap: 3 years
Hyderabad State (Nizams) ★
Deccan · 1724 – 1948
Overlap: 1 years
Kingdom of Nepal ★
Himalaya · 1816 – 2008
Overlap: 3 years
Kingdom of Bhutan ★
Himalaya · 1907 – present
Overlap: 3 years
Pakistan (West & East) ★
Northwest · 1947 – 1971
Overlap: 3 years
Dominion of Ceylon ★
Sri Lanka · 1948 – 1972
Overlap: 2 years
Kachwahas of Amber (Jaipur)
West · c. 1128 – 1949
Overlap: 2 years
Marwar (Rathore)
West · c. 1226 – 1949
Overlap: 2 years
Koch Kingdom (Kamata / Cooch Behar)
Northeast · 1515 – 1949
Overlap: 2 years
Portuguese Diu
Coastal · 1535 – 1961
Overlap: 3 years
Portuguese Daman
Coastal · 1559 – 1961
Overlap: 3 years
French India
Coastal · 1668 – 1954
Overlap: 3 years
Chandernagore
Coastal · 1673 – 1950
Overlap: 3 years
Pondichéry
Coastal · 1674 – 1954
Overlap: 3 years
Gaekwad State (Baroda)
West · 1721 – 1949
Overlap: 2 years
Mahé
Coastal · 1721 – 1954
Overlap: 3 years
Travancore
South · 1729 – 1949
Overlap: 2 years
Holkar State (Indore)
Central · 1731 – 1948
Overlap: 1 years
Scindia State (Gwalior)
Central · 1731 – 1948
Overlap: 1 years
Yanam
Coastal · 1731 – 1954
Overlap: 3 years
Karaikal
Coastal · 1739 – 1954
Overlap: 3 years
British Ceylon
Sri Lanka · 1796 – 1948
Overlap: 1 years
Kingdom of Afghanistan
Northwest · 1926 – 1973
Overlap: 3 years