Partition And Its Aftermath

1.Mass Migration: The partition of British India into two independent dominions, India and Pakistan, led to one of the largest mass migrations in human history. An estimated 10 to 15 million people were uprooted from their homes, leading to immense human suffering.

2.Communal Violence: The partition ignited widespread communal riots, resulting in the death of an estimated 500,000 to 1 million people. The newly formed government had to work assiduously to restore peace and order.

3.Rehabilitation: India had to focus on rehabilitating millions of refugees who had lost their homes and loved ones.

Economic Challenges

1.Underdevelopment: After years of colonial rule, India’s economy was primarily agrarian with a weak industrial base. There was a need to boost industrialisation and modernise agriculture.

2.Poverty: A large proportion of the population lived below the poverty line. Addressing this was imperative for the new government.