The term “dominion” means “that which is mastered or ruled”. It refers to countries that were once members of the British Empire but with their own government i.e. self-governing countries from the British Empire.
Dominion Status granted to nations were Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Newfoundland and later The Irish Free State (now known as the Republic of Ireland).
Background
Dominion status was given to these nations through several acts from the British Parliament, starting in 1867 with the Dominion of Canada Act in 1867.
This gave these countries the ability to enjoy a substantial amount of autonomy, while remaining a part to the British Empire. They were governed by their own parliaments and could manage their domestic affairs, whereas Britain was in charge of defense and foreign policy.
India’s Demand for Dominion Status
India had also asked for Dominion Status to achieve her independence from the British Rulers. The Indian National Congress first made such a demand in 1917 and it was to this effect that in 1928 it presented its scheme for a constitution – ‘Nehru Report’, and in this a demand was also made for Dominion Status. The demand for Dominion Status in the Nehru report was due to its belief that like all other Dominions, India was entitled to control her external affairs to an ample extent, except by the intervention of London and was even deserving of it due to her aptitude for the government as responsibly as the Dominions did; and was surely a step nearer to total independence.
The Government of India Act 1935 conferred some measure of self-government to India and other such colonies in Africa & Asia on a much inferior level to that of Dominion Status after various attempts of talk between both.
The real independence of India from British Rule and Administration however was obtained only in 1947, by the passage of the Indian Independence Act from the British Parliament.