Independence and Partition of India

Question 1

cabinet mission plan

Answer 1

Clement Attlee, the new British PM declared in the house of Commons on Feb 19, 1946, that a Cabinet Mission would be sent to India to facilitate the process of transfer of power

Question 2

cabinet members

Answer 2

1. Pethic Lawrence, Secretary of State
2. Sir Stafford Cripps, President of Board of Trade
3. AV Alexander, First Lord of Admiralty

Question 3

clauses of cabinet mission plan

Answer 3

1. federal union
2. powers of the union
3. provincial autonomy
4. grouping of provinces
5. formation of constituent assemblies
6. representation of minorities
7. formation of an interim government
8. freedom to join commonwealth
9. transfer of power

Question 4

meaning of Federal Union

Answer 4

there was to be a federal union of the British provinces and princely states. The union government should deal with:
1. foreign affairs
2. defence
3. communication
union govt should have the power to raise the finances for the above subjects

Question 5

Powers of Union

Answer 5

the union would have its own executive and legislature consisting of members elected by all the provinces

Question 6

provincial autonomy

Answer 6

the provinces would enjoy full autonomy for all subjects other than union subjects

Question 7

grouping of provinces

Answer 7

1. group A: madras, bombay, central provinces, united provinces, bihar, odisha
2. group B: punjab, north west frontier province, sind

group C: bengal, assam, (delhi, ajmer-marwar, coorg to join group A) (Baluchistan to join group B)

Question 8

composition of constituent assembly

Answer 8

389 members
1. 296 from british provinces
2. 93 from elected princely states

members would be elected by Provincial Legislative Assemblies

Question 9

interim government

Answer 9

an interim government was formed at the centre with 14 members. the viceroy would reconstitute his executive council consisting of representatives of all communities

Question 10

reaction of the congress to CMP

Answer 10

accepted the proposals with reservations. it accepted only that part of the scheme which dealt with the constitution making.
rejected the viceroy’s offer to form an interim government because of its limited status and powers and also because the principle of parity with the Muslim League was not acceptable to it

Question 11

reaction of the muslim league to CMP

Answer 11

accepted it in its entirety in June 1946 because it felt that the grouping of muslim majority was the way to form Pakistan. the league asked WAVELL, the viceroy, to constitute an interim govt.

Question 12

when did Mountbatten assume office of Viceroy and Governer-general

Answer 12

1947

Question 13

why was Mountbatten appointed

Answer 13

1. his immediate task was to restore peace between two warring sections- the congress and muslim league- both in his executive council and country at large
2. realised that CMP would not work in India and a partition was inevitable

Question 14

when was Mountbatten plan announced

Answer 14

June 3, 1947

Question 15

main points of Mountbatten plan

Answer 15

1. partition
2. relations between two new dominions (can decide themselves)
3. boundary commission (to settle boundaries of two dominions)
4. princely states (free to associate themselves with either of the dominions, or remain independent)
5. Bengal and Punjab partition
6. Sindh (own decision)
7. NWFP (a plebiscite was to be held there whether the people wanted to join India or Pakistan)
8. Muslim majority of Sylhet was to decide whether they would join East Bengal or Assam
9. existing constituent assembly may continue to work, but the constitution would not apply to Pakistan
10. transfer of power to take place earlier than June 1948

Question 16

when did the British Parliament pass an act for the transfer of power

Answer 16

August 15, 1947

Question 17

reaction to mountbatten plan

Answer 17

the nationalists deplored the partition of India
Muslim league was not fully satisfied with the way Pakistan was divided

Question 18

reason for accepting Mountbatten plan

Answer 18

1. large scale communal riots engulfed the city. the only way to solve it was the partition of India.
2. the league had joined the interim government to obstruct and not to cooperate. experience of working with the league convinced the congress that it could not have a join administration with the league.
3. a smaller India with strong central authority was better than a larger india with weak central Authority
4. the British were instigating the rulers of Indian States to remain independent. partition was the price of immediate independence
5. further delay of transfer of power would cause civil war in India
6. partition would rid the constitution of separate electorates and other undemocratic procedures

Question 19

when was the Indian independence Act given Royal Assent

Answer 19

July 18, 1947

Question 20

main provisions of Indian Independence Act

Answer 20

1. two new dominions
2. provisions of partition
3. governor-general for each dominion
4. constituent assemblies to serve as central legislatures
5. end of jurisdiction of british parliament
6. princely states became independent to associate themselves with either of the dominions
7. treaties and agreements between the british were lapsed
8. division of army and assets
9. office of secretary of state and Interest of existing officers

Question 21

what were the provisions of partitions

Answer 21

1. both bengal and punjab would be divided if desired so by the people. the hindu and muslim majority would decide through a majority vote.
2. a plebiscite would be held in NWFP and Sylhet in East Bengal whether they would like to join India or Pakistan

Question 22

end of jurisdiction of British parliament

Answer 22

1. legislative authority of british parliament would cease from Aug 15, 1947
2. abolition of ‘Emperor of India’ by british monarch
3. till new constitution was formed, each of the dominions and all provinces were to be governed in accordance with the Act of 1935
4. Governor-general was given the powers to modify or adopt the government of India act 1935 by Mar 31. 1948
5. the right to veto laws was taken away from the king and given to the governor-general