• On August 15, 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru, as Prime Minister of India, hoisted the Indian national flag above the Lahori Gate of Red Fort in Delhi.
• The Constituent Assembly of India met at 11 p.m. on August 14, 1947. Rajendra Prasad presided over the session. 
• The governor-general and the ministers were sworn in. Jawaharlal Nehru took charge as the first Prime Minister of India on August 15, 1947, and was assisted by 15 other members. Sardar Patel served as the deputy prime minister till his death in December 1950.
• Lord Mountbatten, and later C. Rajagopalachari served as Governor-General till January 26, 1950, when India became a republic and elected Rajendra Prasad as its first president.

Independent India, however, had to face several challenges.

Challenges Ahead of Independent India

1.  Immediate Challenges

   • Territorial and Administrative Integration of Princely States: This is like putting together different pieces of a puzzle. Imagine our country is a puzzle, and some pieces are separate states. Territorial and administrative integration means bringing these states together and organizing how they will work as one nation.
   • Communal Riots: Communal riots are like big fights between different groups of people who belong to different communities or religions. It’s important to prevent these fights to keep everyone safe and ensure harmony among all communities.
   • Rehabilitation of Nearly 60 Lakh Refugees Migrated from Pakistan: This is about helping and settling around 60 lakh people who had to leave their homes in Pakistan and come to India. Rehabilitation means providing them with homes, jobs, and support to start a new life.
   • Protection of Muslims Living in India as well as Those Going to Pakistan from Communal Gangs: It’s like making sure that everyone, especially Muslims, is safe from groups of people who want to create conflicts based on religion. This includes protecting Muslims in India and those who might be going to Pakistan.
   • Avoiding War with Pakistan: This is about trying to find peaceful solutions and not getting into fights or wars with our neighboring country, Pakistan. It’s like choosing to talk and negotiate instead of fighting.
   • Communist Insurgency: Communist insurgency refers to challenges or conflicts with groups that follow certain political beliefs. It’s important to address these issues peacefully and find solutions that work for everyone.

2. Medium-Term Challenges

   • Framing of the Constitution for India: There was a need to create a set of rules or a guidebook that explained how our country should be run. It includes the rights and responsibilities of the people, how leaders are chosen, and the basic principles everyone should follow.
   • Building of a Representative, Democratic, and Civil Libertarian Political Order: This is about forming a government system where the people choose representatives to make decisions for the whole country. It’s democratic because everyone has a say in choosing these representatives. “Civil libertarian” means that individual freedoms and rights are protected, ensuring that people have the freedom to express themselves and make choices within certain limits.
   • Elections: Elections are like a big voting day where citizens get to choose their leaders. It’s a way for everyone to have a say in who should represent them in the government.
   • Abolition of Feudal Set Up in Agriculture, etc.: Abolition of feudal setup in agriculture means getting rid of a system where a few powerful individuals control and own most of the land, leaving others with less power. It’s like making sure that everyone has a fair share and opportunity in farming and related activities.

3. Long Term Challenges

   • National Integration: National integration means bringing people from different regions, cultures, and backgrounds together as one united nation. It’s like building a strong bond among citizens so that everyone feels connected and works together for the betterment of the country.
   • Economic Development: Economic development is about making the country’s economy stronger and better. It involves creating more jobs, improving businesses, and increasing the nation’s overall wealth. When the economy develops, people generally have better living standards and more opportunities. 
   • Poverty Alleviation: Poverty alleviation is the effort to reduce and eliminate poverty. It means helping people who are struggling financially so that they can have a better life. This might involve providing jobs, education, healthcare, and other support to uplift those living in poverty.

Radcliffe’s Boundary Award and the Communal Riots

(a) West Punjab which went toPakistan received 62,000 square miles of territory and 15.7 million people (census 1941), of whom 11.85 million were Muslims. 

(b) East Punjab (India’s share) received 37,000 square miles of land area, with a population of 12.6 million, of whom 4.37 million were Muslims.

(c) West Bengal became part of India with a territory of 28,000 square miles, and a population of 21.2 million, of whom 5.3 million were Muslims

(d) East Bengal, which constituted East Pakistan, got 49,400 square miles of territory and 39.10 million people.