Clement Attlee Announcement: 20 February 1947, the day when Britain accepted defeat, PM Attlee had announced to liberate India.

News India Live, Digital Desk: In view of Britain’s weakening economic condition after the Second World War and the increasing public anger in India, the British government decided that it was no longer in their power to rule India. Attlee had announced that the British would hand over power to the Indians by 30 June 1948. 4 big things about Attlee’s announcement (Key Highlights) Deadline: Attlee made it clear that the British government would leave India before June 1948. This was the first time that the British had given a definite date for their withdrawal. Appointment of Lord Mountbatten: On the same day it was also announced that Lord Mountbatten would be made the new Viceroy of India in place of Lord Wavell. He was given the special responsibility of completing the process of transfer of power. Who will be handed over power?: The declaration said that if the Indian parties (Congress and Muslim League) do not agree on a constitution, then the British government will decide who will be handed over power—be it the central government or the existing provincial governments. Future of the princely states: It was also made clear that British Paramountcy would end, but it would be given to the princely states. It will not be handed over to anyone automatically. Why was independence achieved before the scheduled date? Although Attlee had given the date of June 1948, India became independent only on 15 August 1947. The main reasons behind this were: Communal riots: Hindu-Muslim riots across the country had made the situation explosive. Mountbatten’s haste: Mountbatten believed that the more delay there was, the more the situation would go out of control. Therefore, he started the process of partition and independence 10 months in advance. Winston Churchill’s opposition. The interesting thing is that this decision of Attlee was strongly opposed by former Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Churchill was against liberating India, but Attlee’s Labor Party made India’s independence its priority.