Question

In the year 1946, a three-tiered confederation for transfer of power to India was proposed by the ________.

• A. Regulating Act
• B. Rowlatt Act
• C. Simon Commission
• D. Cabinet Mission

Answer 1

Answer:

D. Cabinet Mission

The Cabinet Mission of 1946

• The Cabinet Mission was a high-powered mission sent to India by the British government in March 1946.

• Its primary objective was to discuss the transfer of power from the British to the Indian leadership.

• The mission consisted of three British cabinet ministers:

  • Lord Pethick-Lawrence (Secretary of State for India and the mission's chairman)

  • Sir Stafford Cripps (President of the Board of Trade)

  • A. V. Alexander (First Lord of the Admiralty)

Key Proposals and Recommendations:

• The mission proposed a three-tiered structure for independent India, aiming to maintain the unity of the country while granting significant autonomy.

• This structure consisted of:

  1. A Union of India, which would deal with defense, foreign affairs, and communications.

  2. Provinces, which would have residual powers and significant autonomy.

  3. Princely States, which would also have considerable autonomy and could join the Union or remain independent.

• The mission suggested a Constituent Assembly to frame India's future constitution.

• It also recommended a weak central government with limited powers, with the provinces enjoying substantial autonomy.

• While the Congress accepted the plan, the Muslim League initially rejected it, demanding a separate Pakistan. Later, the League accepted the plan but with reservations, leading to further political deadlock.

• The plan ultimately failed due to disagreements between the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League over the interpretation and implementation of the mission's proposals.