When Lord Mountbatten became the first Governor-General of India, who among the following became the Governor-General for Pakistan ?

1. The Mountbatten Plan (June 3 Plan) (basic)

When Lord Mountbatten arrived as the last Viceroy of India in March 1947, his primary mission was to find a way to transfer power while keeping India united. However, the ground reality was grim; communal riots were tearing the social fabric apart, and the earlier Cabinet Mission Plan had failed to bring the Congress and the Muslim League onto the same page. This led to the formulation of the Mountbatten Plan, famously announced on June 3, 1947, which served as the final blueprint for India’s independence and its tragic partition.

The core of the plan was built on first principles of self-determination (albeit limited). Instead of the British deciding the fate of the provinces, the plan allowed the people’s representatives to choose. For instance, the Provincial Legislative Assemblies of Bengal and Punjab were asked to meet in two separate groups—one representing Muslim-majority districts and the other representing the rest. If either group voted for partition by a simple majority, the province would be divided D. D. Basu, THE MAKING OF THE CONSTITUTION, p.18. This process eventually led to the creation of West Punjab and East Bengal (later Bangladesh) as parts of Pakistan, while East Punjab and West Bengal remained with India Rajiv Ahir, SPECTRUM, p.495.

One of the most significant shifts in this plan was the advancement of the date of independence. Originally, the British had set June 1948 as the deadline, but Mountbatten moved it forward to August 15, 1947. To facilitate this rapid exit, the British proposed granting Dominion Status to the two new nations. This allowed for an immediate transfer of power under the existing framework of the Government of India Act, 1935, without waiting for the new Constituent Assemblies to finish drafting their respective constitutions Rajiv Ahir, SPECTRUM, p.495.

The plan was a bitter pill for many. Leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, who had long opposed partition, eventually conceded its inevitability. He felt that the "unabated communal violence" had left the Congress with no strength to resist the division if they wanted to prevent a total collapse of order History, class XII (Tamilnadu state board), p.101. Thus, the Mountbatten Plan was accepted, and Sir Cyril Radcliffe was appointed to lead the Boundary Commissions that would literally draw the lines separating the two new dominions Rajiv Ahir, SPECTRUM, p.823.

Sources: Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu, THE MAKING OF THE CONSTITUTION, p.17-18; A Brief History of Modern India, Rajiv Ahir (SPECTRUM), Independence with Partition, p.495, 823; History, class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Reconstruction of Post-colonial India, p.101

2. Indian Independence Act, 1947 (intermediate)

The Indian Independence Act of 1947 was the final legal seal on the British Raj. While the 'Mountbatten Plan' of June 3 provided the political roadmap, this Act was the actual statute passed by the British Parliament to give that plan legal effect. Introduced on July 4, 1947, it received the Royal Assent with 'amazing speed' on July 18, 1947 D. D. Basu, THE MAKING OF THE CONSTITUTION, p.18. Its primary achievement was the creation of two independent Dominions—India and Pakistan—and the total surrender of the British Parliament's authority over them. Most importantly, it transformed the Constituent Assembly into a fully sovereign body, meaning it was no longer restricted by British laws and could even repeal British Acts, including the Independence Act itself Rajiv Ahir, Making of the Constitution for India, p.615. One of the most complex provisions of the Act was the Lapse of Paramountcy. For decades, the British Crown exercised 'suzerainty' over nearly 600 Princely States, managing their external affairs and defense while the Princes ruled internally Majid Husain, India–Political Aspects, p.12. Section 7(1)(b) of the Act declared that this suzerainty simply lapsed on August 15. Legally, this created a vacuum: the Princely States were technically free to remain independent or join either Dominion D. D. Basu, OUTSTANDING FEATURES OF OUR CONSTITUTION, p.51. This 'lapse' is what necessitated the Herculean efforts of Sardar Patel to integrate these states into the Indian Union. Finally, the Act provided a temporary governance framework. Until each new Dominion could draft its own Constitution, they were to be governed as nearly as possible according to the Government of India Act, 1935, with necessary modifications. To represent the Crown during this transition, each Dominion was to have a Governor-General. While Lord Mountbatten became the first Governor-General of the Dominion of India, Muhammad Ali Jinnah took the mantle for Pakistan, ending the British hope for a common head of state for both nations.

Sources: Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu, THE MAKING OF THE CONSTITUTION, p.18; A Brief History of Modern India, Rajiv Ahir (Spectrum), Making of the Constitution for India, p.615; Geography of India, Majid Husain, India–Political Aspects, p.12; Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu, OUTSTANDING FEATURES OF OUR CONSTITUTION, p.51

3. Understanding 'Dominion Status' in 1947 (intermediate)

To understand Dominion Status, think of it as a 'bridge' or a transitional phase between being a British colony and a fully independent Republic. Historically, India was a 'Dependency' (colony) until August 15, 1947 M. Laxmikanth, Indian Polity, Preamble of the Constitution, p.43. While the 1929 Simon Commission had promised this status, it was famously omitted from the 1935 Act, finally being conceded only through the Indian Independence Act of 1947 D. D. Basu, Introduction to the Constitution of India, THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND, p.11. In this status, the British Monarch remained the symbolic head, but the actual power shifted entirely to the local cabinets.

The 1947 Act introduced several structural changes to operationalize this. The office of the Viceroy was abolished, replaced by a Governor-General for each dominion. This Governor-General was no longer an agent of the British government but a constitutional head appointed by the King on the advice of the respective dominion’s cabinet M. Laxmikanth, Indian Polity, Historical Background, p.9. Crucially, the British Monarch was deprived of the right to veto bills or reserve them for approval, signaling the end of external legislative control.

Feature	Colony/Dependency (Pre-1947)	Dominion (1947-1950)	Republic (Post-1950)
Head of State	Viceroy (Agent of Crown)	Governor-General (Constitutional Head)	President (Elected)
Allegiance	Subordinate to British Parliament	Allegiance to Crown (symbolic)	No allegiance to Crown
Legislative Power	King/Veto power exists	Dominion Cabinet advises GG	Sovereign Parliament

While Lord Mountbatten became the first Governor-General of the Dominion of India, the situation in Pakistan was different. Although Mountbatten initially hoped to serve as a common head for both, M.A. Jinnah insisted on being the first Governor-General of Pakistan D. D. Basu, Introduction to the Constitution of India, THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND, p.11. India remained a dominion until the adoption of the Constitution on January 26, 1950, while Pakistan retained this status until 1956 M. Laxmikanth, Indian Polity, Preamble of the Constitution, p.43.

Sources: Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Historical Background, p.9; Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth, Preamble of the Constitution, p.43; Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu, THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND, p.10-11

4. The Boundary Commission and Radcliffe Line (intermediate)

The demarcation of the borders between India and Pakistan was perhaps one of the most hurried and consequential administrative acts in modern history. Following the Mountbatten Plan of June 3, 1947, the British government appointed two Boundary Commissions—one for Punjab and one for Bengal. Both were chaired by Sir Cyril Radcliffe, a British lawyer who had never visited India before and possessed no prior knowledge of its complex social or geographical landscape History, class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Reconstruction of Post-colonial India, p.101. This "neutrality" was seen as an asset by the British, but it proved to be a significant constraint in practice.

The commission's task was daunting. Radcliffe arrived in India on July 8, 1947, and was given a mere six weeks to finish a task that should have taken years. Each commission consisted of four judges—two Muslims and two non-Muslims—who rarely agreed, effectively leaving the final decision-making power solely in Radcliffe's hands. Working with out-of-date maps and 1941 census data, he had to draw a line that would partition the subcontinent Rajiv Ahir, A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.), Challenges Before the New-born Nation, p.593.

While religious demography (identifying Muslim-majority and non-Muslim-majority areas) was the primary factor, Radcliffe was also instructed to consider "other factors" to ensure the new nations remained functional. These factors included:

• Natural Boundaries: Using rivers as logical stopping points.
• Infrastructure: Maintaining the integrity of railway lines, roadways, and communication networks.
• Economic Viability: Ensuring that industrial centers weren't completely severed from their raw material sources.
• Irrigation: Attempting to keep the complex canal systems of the Punjab intact, though this proved nearly impossible Rajiv Ahir, A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.), Challenges Before the New-born Nation, p.593.

The resulting Radcliffe Line created a border that traverses incredibly diverse terrain—from the marshy Rann of Kutch in Gujarat, through the Rajasthan desert, across the fertile Punjab plains, and into the high mountains of Jammu and Kashmir Geography of India, Majid Husain, India–Political Aspects, p.35. Because the boundaries were announced only after independence on August 17, 1947, millions of people found themselves on the "wrong" side of the border overnight, leading to unprecedented chaos and migration.

Feature	Details of the Boundary Commission
Chairman	Sir Cyril Radcliffe (British Lawyer)
Composition	2 Muslims and 2 non-Muslim judges for each commission (Punjab & Bengal)
Timeline	Approximately 6 weeks (July to mid-August 1947)
Primary Basis	Religious demography (Majority population)

Sources: History, class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Reconstruction of Post-colonial India, p.101; A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.), Challenges Before the New-born Nation, p.593; Geography of India, India–Political Aspects, p.35

5. Integration of Princely States (exam-level)

When the British prepared to leave in 1947, they left behind a legal minefield. While the 'Provinces' of British India were partitioned between India and Pakistan, the 562 Princely States occupied a unique legal gray area. Under the Indian Independence Act of 1947, the 'Paramountcy' of the British Crown lapsed. This meant these states were technically free to remain independent or join either of the two new Dominions D. D. Basu, Introduction to the Constitution of India, OUTSTANDING FEATURES OF OUR CONSTITUTION, p.50. The threat of 'Balkanization'—the breaking up of India into dozens of tiny, unstable countries—was very real. To prevent this, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Minister in charge of the States' Ministry, and his Secretary V.P. Menon, crafted a masterful strategy. They appealed to the rulers' patriotism and common sense, offering them an Instrument of Accession. Initially, the rulers were asked to surrender only three subjects to the Union: Defence, External Affairs, and Communications. These were areas where the states had already lacked control under British rule, making the transition feel less like a conquest and more like a partnership Rajiv Ahir, A Brief History of Modern India, The Indian States, p.607.

Feature	British Indian Provinces	Princely States
Accession	Automatic/Compulsory	Voluntary (at the Ruler's option)
Authority	Full Federal authority	Limited by the Instrument of Accession
Residuary Powers	With the Federation/Provinces	Remained with the State

While 136 states joined by August 15, 1947, others like Junagadh, Hyderabad, and Jammu & Kashmir remained holdouts. In the case of Jammu & Kashmir, Maharaja Hari Singh eventually signed the same standard Instrument of Accession on October 26, 1947, as other rulers had done, following an invasion by tribesmen backed by Pakistan D. D. Basu, Introduction to the Constitution of India, Jammu and Kashmir, p.300. This 'Patel Scheme' eventually evolved into the complete integration of these states into the administrative and constitutional fabric of India, turning a patchwork of kingdoms into a unified Republic.

Sources: Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu, OUTSTANDING FEATURES OF OUR CONSTITUTION, p.50-51; A Brief History of Modern India, Rajiv Ahir (SPECTRUM), The Indian States, p.607; Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu, Jammu and Kashmir, p.300

6. Post-Independence Leadership: India vs. Pakistan (exam-level)

At the stroke of midnight on August 14-15, 1947, British rule ended, and power was transferred to the two new independent Dominions of India and Pakistan. Under the Indian Independence Act of 1947, both nations were initially established as dominions, meaning they retained a Governor-General as a constitutional (nominal) head representing the British Crown until their respective constitutions were finalized M. Laxmikanth, Historical Background, p.9. However, the two nations took divergent paths in selecting their first heads of state, reflecting different strategic and symbolic priorities.

In India, the leadership prioritized administrative continuity. Despite the long struggle against British rule, India invited Lord Mountbatten to continue as the first Governor-General of the Dominion of India Rajiv Ahir, Independence with Partition, p.496. This choice was intended to facilitate a smoother transition during the chaos of partition. The actual executive authority was wielded by the Council of Ministers, with Jawaharlal Nehru being sworn in as the first Prime Minister and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel as the Deputy Prime Minister Rajiv Ahir, Challenges Before the New-born Nation, p.591. This constitutional arrangement remained in place until January 26, 1950, when India became a Republic and Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as the first President.

Pakistan, conversely, sought to establish a distinct and assertive identity from the outset. While Mountbatten had initially hoped to serve as a common Governor-General for both nations to oversee the division of assets and boundaries, Muhammad Ali Jinnah (M.A. Jinnah) rejected this proposal, insisting on holding the position for Pakistan himself Rajiv Ahir, Independence with Partition, p.496. Consequently, Jinnah became the first Governor-General of Pakistan, while Liaquat Ali Khan took office as the first Prime Minister. This move ensured that Pakistan had a head of state who was not shared with India, though the lack of a common institutional link made resolving partition-related disputes, such as the Punjab massacre and boundary awards, significantly more difficult.

Feature	Dominion of India	Dominion of Pakistan
First Governor-General	Lord Mountbatten (later C. Rajagopalachari)	Muhammad Ali Jinnah
First Prime Minister	Jawaharlal Nehru	Liaquat Ali Khan
Political Philosophy	Continuity and transitionary stability	Assertion of sovereign individuality

Sources: Indian Polity, Historical Background, p.9; A Brief History of Modern India, Independence with Partition, p.496; A Brief History of Modern India, Challenges Before the New-born Nation, p.591

7. Solving the Original PYQ (exam-level)

This question tests your understanding of the Indian Independence Act of 1947 and the constitutional transition from British rule to Dominion Status. Having just studied the transfer of power, you know that while the British crown remained the formal head, the two new nations required their own Governor-Generals to represent the King. A crucial building block here is the divergent political strategies of the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League: while India opted for continuity under Lord Mountbatten to facilitate a smooth transition, the Muslim League sought a distinct identity from the very first day of independence.

To arrive at the correct answer, reason through the constitutional roles established at the time. Although Mountbatten lobbied to be the joint Governor-General for both India and Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah insisted on assuming the office himself to safeguard Pakistan's interests as a sovereign state. Therefore, while Mountbatten became the first Governor-General of the Dominion of India, (B) M.A. Jinnah became the first Governor-General of Pakistan. Notice the nuance: Jinnah chose the position of Governor-General (the constitutional head) rather than the Premiership, which is a unique deviation from the parliamentary norm seen in India where the local leader (Nehru) became Prime Minister.

UPSC often uses functional traps to confuse students. Option (C) Liaquat Ali Khan is the most common pitfall; he was indeed a pivotal figure but served as the first Prime Minister (Head of Government), not the Governor-General (Head of State). Option (D) Shaukat Ali is a chronological distractor, as he was a leader of the Khilafat Movement decades earlier. Finally, option (A) is incorrect because Mountbatten's authority was rejected by the Muslim League for the Pakistani side, as noted in Britannica and Frontline. Recognizing these distinctions between executive and constitutional roles is key to mastering modern history PYQs.