The correct answer is B: 17 August 1947. The Radcliffe Award, which formally demarcated the boundary lines between India and Pakistan following the partition of British India, was officially announced on 17 August 1947. This announcement came two days after India and Pakistan had gained independence, which occurred on August 15 and August 14, respectively. Sir Cyril Radcliffe, the chairman of the two Boundary Commissions, was given the daunting task of drawing these highly contentious borders, leading to massive population displacements and communal violence.
Option A: 8 July 1947 is incorrect. This date is too early. The Boundary Commissions, chaired by Sir Cyril Radcliffe, were still in the process of gathering information and deliberating on the complex task of border demarcation during early July.
Option C: 14 August 1947 is incorrect. This date marks Pakistan's independence day. While the partition was a done deal by this point, the specifics of the boundary lines were kept under wraps until after the independence ceremonies to avoid further unrest.
Option D: 8 August 1947 is incorrect. This date is also before the official announcement of the Radcliffe Award. The decision to delay the announcement until after independence was a deliberate one by the British administration.