AN INTERACTIVE HISTORY OF INDEPENDENCE
16th August 1947.
India, one day after independence.
A new Dominion, not yet a republic. Explore former British provinces, acceded states with separate governments, and territories still outside India.
Independence did not complete unification.
On 16 August 1947, British paramountcy had ended. Most princes had agreed to accession on limited subjects—defence, external affairs and communications—but their administrations remained separate. Building the Union required further negotiations, popular movements, merger agreements and, in some cases, military force. Each territory’s card separates what was true that day from what happened later. India became a republic on 26 January 1950.
Explore the evidence for all 226 map features ↗These former British-administered provinces formed part of the Dominion of India from 15 August 1947. They did not need princely accession instruments. Punjab and Bengal were partitioned; the outlines shown are a later boundary reference.
An accepted accession meant joining the Dominion of India. Initially, India generally took responsibility for defence, external affairs and communications, while the ruler retained internal administration. Later mergers transferred broader governing powers. Blue follows the cited accounts; some individual instruments remain unverified.
These territories had not acceded to India by the end of 16 August 1947. This does not necessarily mean they were independent or had joined Pakistan. Their later routes into India differed, including agreements, administrative inclusion and military action; see each territory’s story.
These areas remained under French or Portuguese rule on 16 August 1947 and were outside the Dominion of India. Their later transfers followed different paths, including negotiated cession and military takeover, rather than princely accession.
The evidence does not establish a clear accession status for this whole map feature on 16 August 1947, or the territory had a special constitutional relationship. Some features combine multiple jurisdictions or have uncertain identities. Hatching does not mean “outside India”; consult the dossier.
Boundary reference, not a verified 1947 reconstruction. Outlines use a 1941 dataset within its later Indian external outline; some states remain grouped. Princely-state colours show reported accession status at the end of 16 August 1947; uncertain or mixed cases are hatched. Accession did not itself merge a state’s administration. Sources & limitations ↗
A note on the date. This period map includes the boundary announced on 17 August. Its pins identify locations; switch to Territory boundaries for interactive outlines. Read the method ↗
Independence was a beginning.
Explore the difference between accession, administration and merger. These were separate steps, often years apart.
History, with the footnotes.
Every displayed territory has a research dossier and source links. Uncertain identities and conflicting dates stay visible.
the atlas ↗