Border history · 1886–2023

India borders over time

CShapes records 7 changes to the borders of India between 1886 and 2023. It has been independent since August 15, 1947. Its territory covers 3,152,041 km², less than the 4,652,716 km² it covered in 1886. The largest single change came on August 15, 1947, when it lost about 1,181,318 km².

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Border changes
7
Area today
3,152,041 km²
Largest change
−1,181,318 km² (1947)
Status
Independent since 1947
January 5, 1949 – presentChoose a period to see its borders. The dashed line is the period before.

Timeline of India's borders

Each period is one border version in CShapes, with its area and the change from the period before.

  1. January 1, 1886 – November 11, 1893

    4,652,716 km²First recorded versionRuled by United KingdomWorld map in 1886

  2. November 12, 1893 – December 31, 1898

    4,819,801 km²+167,085 km²Ruled by United KingdomWorld map in 1894

  3. January 1, 1899 – July 2, 1914

    4,819,801 km²±0 km²Ruled by United KingdomWorld map in 1899

  4. July 3, 1914 – February 12, 1931

    4,894,462 km²+74,661 km²Ruled by United KingdomWorld map in 1915

  5. February 13, 1931 – March 31, 1937

    4,894,462 km²±0 km²Ruled by United KingdomWorld map in 1931

  6. April 1, 1937 – August 14, 1947

    4,227,515 km²−666,947 km²Ruled by United KingdomWorld map in 1937

  7. August 15, 1947 – January 4, 1949

    3,046,197 km²−1,181,318 km²IndependentWorld map in 1948

  8. January 5, 1949 – present

    3,152,041 km²+105,844 km²IndependentWorld map in 1949

What changed

Independence, transfers between rulers, and border changes recorded for this country.

  1. India gains about 167,085 km² of territory.
  2. India gains about 74,661 km² of territory.
  3. India loses about 666,947 km² of territory.
  4. India becomes independent from United Kingdom.
  5. India gains about 105,844 km² of territory.