Partition of India and Independence

Total Questions: 50

1. On February 20, 1947, Prime Minister Attlee announced the British Government's decision to withdraw from India latest by [68th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2022]

Correct Answer: (a) June 1948
Solution:On 20 February 1947, British Prime Minister Clement Attlee, announced in the House of Commons that the British would leave India by 30 June, 1948. Hence option (a) is correct.

2. Which plan became the platform of Indian Independence? [U.P. U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2006]

Correct Answer: (c) Mountbatten Plan
Solution:Lord Mountbatten came to India in March, 1947, with the purpose to give complete independence to India. He decided 15 August 1947 as the date for power transfer. He made a plan of partition of India under instructions of Attlee which was considered as Mountbatten Plan.

The 3rd June 1947 Plan, commonly known as the Mountbatten Plan, outlined the framework for the partition and transfer of power in India.

The British government proposed several key principles aimed at addressing communal divisions and ensuring a smooth transition. These provisions laid the foundation for the creation of two independent dominions, India and Pakistan.
Key Provisions include:

  • Partition of India: The plan proposed the division of British India into two dominions, India and Pakistan. However, Independence for Bengal was denied. Accession of Hyderabad to Pakistan was also rejected.
  • Autonomy and Sovereignty: Both new dominions were to be granted full autonomy and sovereignty, allowing them to draft their own constitutions.
  • • Princely States: The princely states were given the option to join either India or Pakistan, based on geographical contiguity and the wishes of their people.
  • Constituent Assemblies: Separate constituent assemblies were to be established for India and Pakistan to frame their respective constitutions.
  • Boundary Commissions: Boundary commissions were set up to demarcate the borders between India and Pakistan, particularly in the provinces of Punjab and Bengal.
  • Punjab and Bengal Legislative Assemblies: These assemblies would vote in separate groups (Hindus and Muslims) on partition, with a simple majority determining if these provinces would be partitioned.
  • Sindh: Sindh would decide its own course through a legislative decision.
  • Referendums: Referendums would be held in the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Sylhet district to determine their future.
  • Independence Date: Independence was set for August 15, 1947.

3. The British Parliament passed the Indian Independence Act in [Uttarakhand U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2007,U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2012]

Correct Answer: (b) July 1947
Solution:As per the Mountbatten Plan (June 3, 1947), the British Parliament passed the Indian Independence Act on July 18, 1947. In this Act, India and Pakistan were decided as two dominion states with effect from 15 August 1947.

4. The Indian Independence Act, 1947 came into force on [U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) 2014]

Correct Answer: (c) July 18, 1947
Solution:As per the Mountbatten Plan (June 3, 1947), the British Parliament passed the Indian Independence Act on July 18, 1947. In this Act, India and Pakistan were decided as two dominion states with effect from 15 August 1947.

5. The formula for transfer of sovereignty to India in 1947 was known as [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1994]

Correct Answer: (d) Mountbatten Plan
Solution:As per the Mountbatten Plan (June 3, 1947), the British Parliament passed the Indian Independence Act on July 18, 1947. In this Act, India and Pakistan were decided as two dominion states with effect from 15 August 1947.

6. "Mountbatten Plan" regarding the partition of India was officially declared on: [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2014]

Correct Answer: (d) June 03, 1947
Solution:Mountbatten Plan regarding the partition of India was officially declared on June 3, 1947. The British Government accorded formal approval to the Mountbatten Plan by enacting the Indian Independence Act.

7. The Mountbatten Plan became the basis for: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2013]

Correct Answer: (e) Both b & c
Solution:Lord Mountbatten came to India in March, 1947, with the purpose to give complete independence to India. He decided 15 August 1947 as the date for power transfer. He made a plan of partition of India under instructions of Attlee which was considered as Mountbatten Plan.

The 3rd June 1947 Plan, commonly known as the Mountbatten Plan, outlined the framework for the partition and transfer of power in India. The British government proposed several key principles aimed at addressing communal divisions and ensuring a smooth transition. These provisions laid the foundation for the creation of two independent dominions, India and Pakistan.
Key Provisions include:

  • Partition of India: The plan proposed the division of British India into two dominions, India and Pakistan. However, Independence for Bengal was denied. Accession of Hyderabad to Pakistan was also rejected.
  • Autonomy and Sovereignty: Both new dominions were to be granted full autonomy and sovereignty, allowing them to draft their own constitutions.
  • • Princely States: The princely states were given the option to join either India or Pakistan, based on geographical contiguity and the wishes of their people.
  • Constituent Assemblies: Separate constituent assemblies were to be established for India and Pakistan to frame their respective constitutions.
  • Boundary Commissions: Boundary commissions were set up to demarcate the borders between India and Pakistan, particularly in the provinces of Punjab and Bengal.
  • Punjab and Bengal Legislative Assemblies: These assemblies would vote in separate groups (Hindus and Muslims) on partition, with a simple majority determining if these provinces would be partitioned.
  • Sindh: Sindh would decide its own course through a legislative decision.
  • Referendums: Referendums would be held in the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Sylhet district to determine their future.
  • Independence Date: Independence was set for August 15, 1947.

8. Consider the following statements: [U.P.P.S.C. (GIC) 2010 U.P. Lower Sub. (Spl.) (Pre) 2003]

Assertion (A) : Britain made India free in 1947.

Reason (R)   : Britain had become weak during the second World War.

In the context of the above two statements, which of the following is/are correct?

Correct Answer: (a) Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Solution:Assertion (A) and Reason (R) both are correct and (R) is correct explanation of (A). Britishers were weak after the Second World War and after evaluating the National Movement of India it is clear that people of various castes, religions, organisations and parties contributed to the independence.

9. Given below are two statements, one labelled as Assertion (A) and the other labelled as Reason (R). [I.A.S. (Pre) 1996]

Assertion (A): The British sovereignty continued to exist in free India.
Reason (R): The British sovereign appointed the last Governor-General of free India.

In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct?

Correct Answer: (d) (A) is false, but (R) is true.
Solution:The Indian Independence Act was presented in the House of Commons in British Parliament on July 4, 1947. It received royal assent on July 18, 1947. According to its provisions, the British Government would not continue any control on any dominion from August 15, 1947.

The second statement is correct, as the British Sovereign appointed the last Governor-General of free India. Thus, Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.

10. The Indian Independence Bill received the Royal Assent on [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2014]

Correct Answer: (a) July 18, 1947
Solution:The Indian Independence Act of 1947 was an implementation of the Mountbatten Plan. The Indian Independence Act was presented in the House of Commons of the British Parliament on July 4, 1947, by the then Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Clement Attlee.

The Indian Independence Act was passed by the House of Commons on July 15, 1947, and the next day by the House of Lords. Finally, it received royal assent on July 18, 1947.