Category 30 · Modern History

Independence and the New-Born Nation

11 micro topics in Modern History for UPSC Prelims, in book order: First Day of Independent India and the First Government; Radcliffe Boundary Award and the Communal Riots; and 9 more.

1. 30.1

   First Day of Independent India and the First Government

   India became independent at midnight on 14-15 August 1947, when Jawaharlal Nehru delivered the "tryst with destiny" speech in the Constituent Assembly. Nehru took charge as the first Prime Minister with a ministry of 15 other…

2. 30.2

   Radcliffe Boundary Award and the Communal Riots

   The Boundary Commission under Sir Cyril Radcliffe drew the lines that divided the Punjab and Bengal in a few weeks in 1947, using old maps and the census of 1941. Its report was ready by 12…

3. 30.3

   Division of Resources: Civil Government, Finances and Defence

   Partition required the division of the civil government, the cash balances and public debt, and the armed forces with their equipment. A Partition Council under the Governor-General managed the division of the services, a Joint Defence…

4. 30.4

   Assassination of Gandhi

   Mahatma Gandhi was shot dead by Nathuram Godse on the evening of 30 January 1948 at Birla House in New Delhi, during his usual prayer meeting. Nehru broadcast that the light had gone out of their…

5. 30.5

   Rehabilitation of Refugees and the Delhi Pact on Minorities

   Partition displaced millions who had not left their homes voluntarily, and neither government organised an orderly exchange of population. India created a Ministry of Relief and Rehabilitation and settled refugees in camps, new colonies and towns.…

6. 30.6

   Communists and Independence

   In December 1947 the Communist Party of India called independence fake and in 1948 its Second Congress at Calcutta adopted the Ranadive line of revolution against the Nehru government. The insurgency stayed local to Hyderabad and…

7. 30.7

   Evolution of British Policy Towards the Indian States, 1740-1935

   Britain's policy towards the 562 princely states moved through stages: equality with subordination (1740-65), ring fence (1765-1813), subordinate isolation (1813-57), subordinate union (1857-1935) and a stillborn equal federation under the Act of 1935. The doctrine of…

8. 30.8

   Integration of the Indian States, 1947-49

   Sardar Patel, helped by V.P. Menon, persuaded most princely states to accede to India on defence, communications and external affairs before 15 August 1947. Junagadh, Hyderabad and Jammu and Kashmir remained outside and were settled by…

9. 30.9

   Making of the Constitution: Constituent Assembly and Its Work

   The Constituent Assembly, formed under the Cabinet Mission Plan, first met on 9 December 1946, adopted the Objectives Resolution on Nehru's motion, and under the Drafting Committee chaired by B.R. Ambedkar completed the Constitution on 26…

10. 30.10

    Evolution of Nationalist Foreign Policy: Panchsheel and Non-Alignment

    India's foreign policy took shape before 1947 through anti-imperialism, Pan-Asian feeling, solidarity with colonial peoples and opposition to fascism, and after independence Nehru built it on Panchsheel and non-alignment. Panchsheel, the five principles of peaceful coexistence,…

11. 30.11

    First General Elections, 1951-52

    The first general elections of independent India, held from 15 October 1951 to early 1952, were conducted by the Election Commission under Chief Election Commissioner Sukumar Sen on universal adult franchise for about 173 million voters.…

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Frequently asked questions

Which topics are in Independence and the New-Born Nation?

Independence and the New-Born Nation has 11 micro topics in Modern History: First Day of Independent India and the First Government; Radcliffe Boundary Award and the Communal Riots; Division of Resources: Civil Government, Finances and Defence; Assassination of Gandhi; Rehabilitation of Refugees and the Delhi Pact on Minorities; Communists and Independence; Evolution of British Policy Towards the Indian States, 1740-1935; Integration of the Indian States, 1947-49; Making of the Constitution: Constituent Assembly and Its Work; Evolution of Nationalist Foreign Policy: Panchsheel and Non-Alignment; First General Elections, 1951-52.

Is Independence and the New-Born Nation important for UPSC Prelims?

Independence and the New-Born Nation is a part of the UPSC Prelims Modern History syllabus map on MaargX UPSC. Each of its 11 published topics has key terms, a Mains angle and practice questions.