Question

The Cripps Mission of 1942 promised India :

• A. Complete Independence after the war.
• B. A Constituent Assembly after the war
• C. Complete independence within five years.
• D. Separate electorates for all communities

Answer 1

Answer:

B. A Constituent Assembly after the war

The Cripps Mission

• The Main Proposal: The British government sent Sir Stafford Cripps to India in March 1942, the mission promised the setup of an elected Constituent Assembly right after World War II to let Indians frame their own constitution.

• The Status Offered: It did not offer full independence (ruling out A and C). Instead, it proposed Dominion Status, which meant self-governance but with a lingering allegiance to the British Crown.

• Why it Failed: Indian leaders wanted immediate executive power, especially over defense during the war. Furthermore, the proposal allowed provinces to opt out of the new constitution and form separate unions, which the Indian National Congress fiercely opposed as it threatened to fracture the country.

• Because the promises were delayed and restricted, Mahatma Gandhi famously called the mission's offer a "post-dated cheque on a crashing bank."