By 1949, the British Commonwealth was a group of eight countries, each having George VI as king. India, however, desired to become a republic, but not to leave the Commonwealth by doing so. This was accommodated by the creation of the title "Head of the Commonwealth" for the King, and India became a republic in 1950. Subsequently, many other nations including Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Ghana and Singapore ceased to recognise the monarch of the United Kingdom as their respective head of state, but recognised the British monarch as Head of the Commonwealth as members of the Commonwealth of Nations.