The Partition of India was actually the partition of British India which led to the setting up of a Muslim-controlled Pakistan and a Hindu-dominated India. It was the Mountbatten Plan or the 3 June plan that actually proposed the partition of India. On 18th July 1947 the Indian Independence act was passed by the British Parliament that finalised the partition. A Partition Council also came into existence that included Congress leaders. The formation of such a committee was suggested in the Mountbatten Plan.

Consequently on August 14, 1947 the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan came into being. On August 15, 1947 the Union of India was set up which later came to be known as Republic of India. India witnessed several complex tribulations. The Partition thus led to the birth of two dominions. The partition also included the geographical division of the Bengal province of British India into East Pakistan and West Bengal (India). Similar Punjab was also divided into West Punjab and East Punjab. West Punjab was annexed to Pakistan and Islamabad was declared the country`s capital. East Punjab became a part of India.

There were various reasons that led to the partition of India. Firstly, the Hindus and Muslim in the country developed bitterness towards the British. This was one of the prominent problems faced by the British during their rule. Moreover, the birth of Indian National Congress led by Jawaharlal Nehru demanded equal opportunity and freedom from the colonial rule. Thus, the British wanted to make the Muslims their allies to oppose the apparent threat of the Hindu educated class. In order to gain support from the Muslims, the British supported the All-India Muslim Conference. They infused the notion that the Muslims were a separate political entity. In addition to that the Muslims were given separate electorates in local government all over British India by 1900s. With such moves the British followed a divide-and-rule policy in India.

This made the Muslims demand for their own state in order to protect their Islamic heritage. The All-India Muslim League declared its desire for a separate state in 1940. As a result, relations between the two groups began to deteriorate in the country. The birth of two dominions posed several questions regarding the position and status of the two states. The Government of India had been a single International entity that had been enjoying membership of fifty-one international bodies and being bound by numerous treaties, conventions and agreements. Thus, the set up of two independent Dominions posed a question as to which Dominion would inherit the international obligations and privileges of pre-partition India. In addition to that which Dominion would constitute the Successor State as far as the membership of the United Nations Organization was concerned.

The questions regarding the status of the two dominions after the Partition of India were referred to the Secretary of State. The view summed up that the new Dominion of India would continue the international personality of existing India and she would succeed as a matter of International Law to membership of the U.N.O. Nevertheless, the Muslim League leaders remained unconvinced and demanded that Pakistan should get the position of an original member of the United Nations Organization. The question was therefore referred to the U.N.O. for the decision of Dr Ivan Kerno, Assistant Secretary-General for Legal Affairs of the United Nations Organization. Dr Kerno examined the situation and pointed out that a new state is forming breaking off from an existing State. Thus, depending on this analysis, there would be no change in the international status of India. Furthermore, he laid down that Pakistan will be a new non-member State. The new Dominion of India would continue as an original member State of the United Nations with all rights and obligations of membership.

On 7th August Jinnah along with his old associations went to Karachi. The Constituent Assembly of Pakistan met on 11th August and elected Jinnah as its President. Lord Mountbatten went to Karachi on 13 August and on the following day addressed the Pakistan Constituent Assembly. He attended the inauguration ceremony at Karachi. The birth of Pakistan was an eventful occasion in history. Officially, Pakistan became a Dominion on 15 August 1947, Jinnah was sworn in as Governor-General and Liaqat AH Khan was sworn in as the new Pakistan Cabinet.

Jinnah and the League leaders, after the acceptance of partition agreed that Muslim League members from the non-Pakistan provinces would participate in the Constituent Assembly. Liaqat Ali Khan appealed to the members to take part in framing of the future constitution of the Union of India. The constitution should be framed while keeping in view about the security of the rights of Musalmans by means of adequate and effective safeguards in the constitution. Thus, the Muslim League members from the non-Pakistan provinces attended the fourth session of the Constituent Assembly, on 14 July. Moreover, the Assembly was no longer bound by the provisions in the Cabinet Mission plan. It was free to have a federation of its own choice, with a Center. On the meeting of the Constituent Assembly, Nehru called upon the members to take a pledge of dedication to the service of India.

One of the immediate impacts of Partition of India was communal turbulence. There were riots all over the subcontinent. India, too, was in need of consolidation. There were several such issues that demanded immediate attention.