Cabinet Mission Plan (1946)

11. The Cabinet Mission was sent to India for which of the following? [68th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2022]

To establish a national government
To work out a constitutional arrangement for the transfer of power
To work out the details of Jinnah's demand for Pakistan

Correct Answer: (c) 2 only

Solution:Cabinet Mission was sent to India in 1946 to work out a constitutional arrangement for the transfer of power. It was neither sent to establish the National Government nor to work out the details of Jinnah's demand for Pakistan.

12. Given below are two statements, one is labeled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R): [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2018]

Assertion (A): In 1946, the Muslim League withdrew its acceptance of the Cabinet Mission Plan.
Reason (R): The Muslim League joined the interim government formed in 1946.

Select the correct answer from the codes given below:

(a) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(b) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(c) (A) is true, but (R) is false.
(d) (A) is false, but (R) is true.

Correct Answer: (b) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).

Solution:The Cabinet Mission of 1946 came to India to discuss the transfer of power from the British Government to the Indian leadership, with the aim of preserving India's unity and granting it independence. Formulated at the initiative of Clement Attlee, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, the mission had Lord Pethick-Lawrence, the Secretary of State for India, Sir Stafford Cripps, President of the Board of Trade, and A.V. Alexander, the First Lord of the Admiralty. Lord Wavell, the Viceroy of India, did not participate in every step but was present. The mission arrived on March 24, 1946. According to the Mission, the representation of the Provincial Legislatures was to be broken up into three sections:

Section A: Madras, United Provinces, Central Province and Berar, Bombay, Bihar, and Orissa.
Section B: Punjab, Sindh, NWFP.
Section C: Assam and Bengal.

A part from this, the Provinces of Chief Commissioners, Delhi, Ajmer-Marwar, and Coorg will be included in category (A) and Baluchistan will be included in category (B). The Congress accepted the proposals related to the Constituent Assembly. But since the Muslim League had been given disproportionate representation, it rejected the idea of the interim government. The Muslim League first approved the Plan, but when Congress declared that it could change the scheme through majority in the Constituent Assembly, they rejected the plan. Muslim League, on repeated request by Lord Wavell, joined the Interim Government on 13 October, 1946.

13. Which one of the following leaders of the Congress was totally in favour of the Cabinet Mission Plan? [U.P.U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2001 I.A.S. (Pre) 1999]

(a) Mahatma Gandhi
(b) Jawaharlal Nehru
(c) Sardar Patel
(d) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad

Correct Answer: (a) Mahatma Gandhi

Solution:The opinions of the topmost Congress leaders of the time bear ample testimony to the fact that the Cabinet Plan was not devoid of reality. Mahatma Gandhi was totally in favour of the Cabinet Mission Plan. According to Gandhiji, "It is the best document the British Government could have produced in the circumstances."

14. Which Congress President negotiated with both Cripps Mission and Lord Wavell? [47th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2005]

(a) Abul Kalam Azad
(b) Jawaharlal Nehru
(c) J.B. Kripalani
(d) C. Rajagopalachari

Correct Answer: (a) Abul Kalam Azad

Solution:Abul Kalam Azad negotiated with both Cripps Mission and Lord Wavell. He presided over Congress from 1940 to 1946.

15. Who was the President of the Indian National Congress during the visit of the Cabinet Mission to India? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2008]

(a) Jawaharlal Nehru
(b) J.B. Kripalani
(c) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
(d) Sarojini Naidu

Correct Answer: (c) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad

Solution:Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was the President of Congress during the arrival of the Cabinet Mission to India. He was authorized by the Congress Working Committee for discussions with the Mission. He negotiated with the members of the Cabinet Mission on 6 April 1946.

16. Cabinet Mission was presided over by: [45th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2001]

(a) Lord Attlee
(b) Strafford Cripps
(c) Lord Wavell
(d) Sir P. Lawrence

Correct Answer: (d) Sir P. Lawrence

Solution:End of World War II saw the Labour Party under Mr. Attlee won elections in England (U.K.). Mr. Attlee was sympathetic towards India’s demand for freedom. The British Prime Minister Clement Attlee announced on February 19, 1946 the dispatch of the Mission for Constitutional reforms. The Cabinet Mission arrived in Delhi on 24 March, 1946. The Cabinet Mission to India consisted of the Secretary of State for India Mr. Pethick Lawrence, Sir Stafford Cripps (President of the Board of Trade) and A.V. Alexander (First lord of the admiralty).

17. The 'Cabinet-Mission' of 1946 was led by: [U.P.P.C.S. (Re. Exam) (Pre) 2015]

(a) Sir Pethick-Lawrence
(b) Lord Linlithgow
(c) Lord Wavell
(d) Sir John Simon

Correct Answer: (a) Sir Pethick-Lawrence

Solution:End of World War II saw the Labour Party under Mr. Attlee won elections in England (U.K.). Mr. Attlee was sympathetic towards India’s demand for freedom. The British Prime Minister Clement Attlee announced on February 19, 1946 the dispatch of the Mission for Constitutional reforms. The Cabinet Mission arrived in Delhi on 24 March, 1946. The Cabinet Mission to India consisted of the Secretary of State for India Mr. Pethick Lawrence, Sir Stafford Cripps (President of the Board of Trade) and A.V. Alexander (First lord of the admiralty).

18. Who was not the member of the Cabinet Mission?

Correct Answer: (b) Wavell

Solution:End of World War II saw the Labour Party under Mr. Attlee won elections in England (U.K.). Mr. Attlee was sympathetic towards India’s demand for freedom. The British Prime Minister Clement Attlee announced on February 19, 1946 the dispatch of the Mission for Constitutional reforms. The Cabinet Mission arrived in Delhi on 24 March, 1946. The Cabinet Mission to India consisted of the Secretary of State for India Mr. Pethick Lawrence, Sir Stafford Cripps (President of the Board of Trade) and A.V. Alexander (First lord of the admiralty).

19. Who amongst the following headed the 1946 Cabinet Mission? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2015]

(a) Hugh Gaitskell
(b) Sir John Simon
(c) Sir Pethick-Lawrence
(d) None of the above

Correct Answer: (c) Sir Pethick-Lawrence

Solution:End of World War II saw the Labour Party under Mr. Attlee won elections in England (U.K.). Mr. Attlee was sympathetic towards India’s demand for freedom. The British Prime Minister Clement Attlee announced on February 19, 1946 the dispatch of the Mission for Constitutional reforms. The Cabinet Mission arrived in Delhi on 24 March, 1946. The Cabinet Mission to India consisted of the Secretary of State for India Mr. Pethick Lawrence, Sir Stafford Cripps (President of the Board of Trade) and A.V. Alexander (First lord of the admiralty).

20. Who arrived in India, in 1946 after Second World War? [U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2004]

(a) Cripps Mission
(b) Cabinet Mission
(c) Wavell Mission
(d) Simon Commission

Correct Answer: (b) Cabinet Mission

Solution:End of World War II saw the Labour Party under Mr. Attlee won elections in England (U.K.). Mr. Attlee was sympathetic towards India’s demand for freedom. The British Prime Minister Clement Attlee announced on February 19, 1946 the dispatch of the Mission for Constitutional reforms. The Cabinet Mission arrived in Delhi on 24 March, 1946. The Cabinet Mission to India consisted of the Secretary of State for India Mr. Pethick Lawrence, Sir Stafford Cripps (President of the Board of Trade) and A.V. Alexander (First lord of the admiralty).