At the time of independence in 1947, into which two new dominions was the Indian subcontinent officially partitioned?

Introduction / Context:
The partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947 is a landmark event in modern South Asian history. It created new political boundaries, caused massive population movements and continues to influence relations in the region. Competitive exams frequently ask factual questions about this event because it marks the formal end of British colonial rule and the birth of new nation states. This question focuses on the basic but very important fact of which two dominions were created at the moment of partition in 1947.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Year of reference is 1947, when British India gained independence.
• The question uses the phrase Indian subcontinent but refers specifically to British India as a political entity.
• We are asked about the two new dominions formed at that time.
• The options list various combinations of countries in South Asia.

Concept / Approach:
Historically, on 15 August 1947, British rule in India ended and two independent dominions were created under the Indian Independence Act 1947. These were the Dominion of India and the Dominion of Pakistan. Pakistan initially consisted of two geographically separated wings, West Pakistan and East Pakistan. Bangladesh did not exist as a separate country in 1947 and came into being much later in 1971 after the Bangladesh Liberation War. Understanding this chronology helps to eliminate misleading options in the question.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Indian Independence Act 1947 provided for the partition of British India into two dominions. Step 2: Note that these two dominions were India and Pakistan, each with its own Governor General and administrative structure under the British Commonwealth framework. Step 3: Recognise that Pakistan at that time included both West Pakistan, roughly corresponding to present day Pakistan, and East Pakistan, which is present day Bangladesh. Step 4: Since Bangladesh became a separate nation only in 1971, any option pairing Pakistan and Bangladesh together for 1947 is historically incorrect. Step 5: Among the options, the only historically accurate pair of dominions at the moment of partition is India and Pakistan.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this information through standard history textbooks or official documents about the Indian Independence Act. They clearly state that the dominions created on 15 August 1947 were named India and Pakistan. Diplomatic records, maps from 1947 and historical timelines also confirm that Bangladesh was not an independent state at that time. This cross checking supports the selection of India and Pakistan as the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
India and Tibet: Tibet was never a part of British India in the sense of being partitioned out as a dominion in 1947, so this option is incorrect. Pakistan and Bangladesh: Bangladesh emerged in 1971, not in 1947, so this pair does not match the year mentioned in the question. India and Bangladesh: As already noted, Bangladesh did not yet exist as a separate nation in 1947. India and Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka, then Ceylon, became independent separately in 1948, and was not a part of the 1947 partition of British India.

Common Pitfalls:
Students may sometimes confuse later historical developments with the events of 1947, especially because the map of South Asia changed again in 1971. Another pitfall is loosely using the term subcontinent to include many modern countries and then assuming that all of them were part of the same partition event. For exam purposes, fix in your memory that the 1947 partition created two dominions only: India and Pakistan, with East Pakistan later becoming Bangladesh. Keeping the timeline clear will help avoid these errors.

Final Answer:
At independence in 1947, the Indian subcontinent was partitioned into the two dominions of India and Pakistan.