Independence and Partition of India Questions and Answers

I. Short Answer Questions

1. State two important reasons that prompted the British to withdraw from India.

Ans: 

1. Britain was economically and militarily weakened after the Second World War and was no longer in a position to continue its rule over India.
2. Revolts and unrest in the armed forces and administrative services, especially the INA influence and the Royal Indian Naval Revolt of 1946, showed that the British could no longer rely on Indian forces to maintain their rule.

2. How did the outcome of the Second World War help India's demand for self-government?

Ans: 

• The Second World War weakened Britain economically and militarily, making it difficult for her to continue ruling India.
• After the war, the United States and the Soviet Union supported India's demand for freedom.
• The British people and soldiers were also unwilling to continue spending resources on suppressing the Indian freedom movement.

3. What was the implication of the Group 'B' States proposed by the Cabinet Mission Plan?

Ans: Group 'B' consisted of the Muslim-majority provinces of Punjab, NWFP and Sind. Its implication was that the grouping of these provinces could eventually lead to the formation of Pakistan, as it brought together the major Muslim-majority areas into one group.

4. What was mentioned in the Cabinet Mission Plan regarding Provincial Autonomy?

Ans: 

• The Cabinet Mission Plan provided that the Provinces would enjoy full autonomy in all subjects except the Union subjects.
• The Union Government would deal only with Defence, Foreign Affairs and Communications.

5. What arguments did the Cabinet Mission give to reject Jinnah's proposal of Pakistan?

Ans: 

• The creation of Pakistan would not solve the problem of minorities, as large numbers of Hindus and Muslims would still remain on both sides.
• The inclusion of non-Muslim majority areas of Punjab, Bengal and Assam in Pakistan could not be justified.
• The army, railways, postal and communication systems had been developed on an all-India basis and partition would create serious difficulties.
• East and West Pakistan would be separated by a large distance, making administration difficult.

6. What was said in the Cabinet Mission Plan about the division of power between the Federal Government and the Provinces?

Ans: 

• The Cabinet Mission Plan proposed a Federal Union for India.
• The Federal Government was to control only Defence, Foreign Affairs and Communications.
• All other subjects and residuary powers were to belong to the Provinces, which would enjoy full autonomy.

7. Why did the Muslim League accept Cabinet Mission proposals?

Ans: 

• The Muslim League accepted the Cabinet Mission Plan because the grouping of provinces placed the Muslim-majority provinces in Groups B and C, which could later facilitate the creation of Pakistan.
• The League felt that the proposed arrangement safeguarded Muslim interests and gave them considerable political influence.
• Therefore, it accepted the plan as it seemed to provide a basis for achieving its long-term objective of Pakistan.

8. What was the reaction of the Congress to the Cabinet Mission Plan?

Ans: 

• The Congress accepted the Cabinet Mission Plan with reservations.
• It accepted the proposal for a Constituent Assembly to frame the Constitution of India.
• However, it opposed the idea of compulsory grouping of provinces and maintained that provinces should be free to decide whether or not to join a group.

9. Who was elected as the President of the Constituent Assembly in 1946? Name the last Viceroy of India. State one of his proposals with regard to the Princely States.

Ans: 

• Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as the President of the Constituent Assembly in 1946.
• The last Viceroy of India was Lord Mountbatten.
• One of his proposals was that the Princely States were free to join either India or Pakistan.

10. What was the most important but tragic provision of the Mountbatten Plan?

Ans: The most important but tragic provision of the Mountbatten Plan (3 June 1947) was the partition of India into two independent Dominions — India and Pakistan.

11. To whom was the power to be transferred according to the Mountbatten Plan?

Ans: According to the Mountbatten Plan, power was to be transferred to two independent Dominions — India and Pakistan.

12. Mention any two reasons why the Congress finally accepted the Partition of India.

Ans: 

• The country was witnessing serious communal riots and violence, and partition was considered necessary to avoid a civil war.
• The Muslim League was obstructing the working of the Interim Government, making joint administration difficult.
• Congress leaders felt that a strong Centre in a smaller India was better than a weak Centre in a united India.
• Acceptance of partition would lead to immediate independence.

13. Mention any two provisions of the Indian Independence Act, 1947.

Ans: 

• The Act provided for the creation of two independent Dominions — India and Pakistan — with effect from 15 August 1947. It ended the authority of the British Parliament over India.
• The Punjab and Bengal were to be partitioned between India and Pakistan.
• The Princely States became free to join either India or Pakistan.

14. What did the Indian Independence Act 1947 state about:

(i) Bengal and Punjab;

Ans: 

• The Act provided for the partition of Bengal and Punjab between India and Pakistan.
• Boundary Commissions were appointed to demarcate the boundaries of the two provinces.

(ii) North West Frontier Province; and

Ans: 

• The Act provided that the future of the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) would be decided by a referendum.
• The people of the province were to choose whether they wished to join India or Pakistan.

(iii) Sylhet District of Assam?

Ans: 

• The Act provided that the future of the Sylhet District of Assam would be decided by a referendum.
• The people were to decide whether Sylhet would remain in Assam (India) or join East Bengal (Pakistan).

15. Name the first Governor-General of independent India and the first Indian Governor-General of India.

Ans: 

• The first Governor-General of independent India was Lord Mountbatten.
• The first Indian Governor-General of India was C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji).

II. Structured Questions

1. The Cabinet Mission Plan proposed a two-tiered federal union of British Provinces and Princely States. With reference to this, describe the following:

(a) Name the persons who constituted the Cabinet Mission. What was the purpose of sending the Cabinet Mission to India in 1946?

Ans: Members of the Cabinet Mission:

• Lord Pethick-Lawrence
• Sir Stafford Cripps
• A. V. Alexander

Purpose of sending the Cabinet Mission:

• The Cabinet Mission was sent to India in 1946 to find a solution to the constitutional deadlock between the Congress and the Muslim League.
• It was sent to devise a scheme for the transfer of power and to help Indians frame a constitution for a free India.
• It also aimed at securing an agreement among Indian leaders regarding the future constitutional structure of the country.

(b) The federal structure proposed by the Cabinet Mission Plan.

Ans: 

• The Cabinet Mission proposed a Federal Union of India consisting of British Indian Provinces and the Princely States.
• The Federal (Union) Government was to control only Defence, Foreign Affairs and Communications.
• All other subjects and residuary powers were to belong to the Provinces, which would enjoy full autonomy.
• The Provinces were to be grouped into three sections (Groups A, B and C) for certain common subjects.

(c) The option given to the Princely States.

Ans: 

• The Cabinet Mission Plan provided that the Princely States could join the proposed Federal Union of India.
• They would send their representatives to the Constituent Assembly.
• The States were to retain autonomy in their internal affairs, except for matters entrusted to the Union Government.
• Thus, the Princely States were given the option to become part of the proposed federal structure.

2. The attempt of the British to pacify the Congress and the Muslim League was clearly visible in the Cabinet Mission proposals but in reality neither could be pleased. With reference to this, explain:

(a) Any three proposals of the Cabinet Mission.

Ans: 

• A Federal Union of India was to be formed, comprising British Indian Provinces and the Princely States.
• The Union Government was to control only Defence, Foreign Affairs and Communications, while all other powers were to belong to the Provinces.
• The Provinces were to be grouped into three sections (Groups A, B and C).
• A Constituent Assembly was to be set up to frame the Constitution of India.
• An Interim Government representing major political parties was to be formed.

(b) The reasons for the Muslim League's acceptance and later rejection of the Cabinet Mission Plan.

Ans: Reasons for acceptance:

• The Muslim League accepted the Plan because the grouping of Muslim-majority provinces in Groups B and C seemed to provide a basis for the future creation of Pakistan.
• It felt that the Plan safeguarded Muslim interests and gave Muslims considerable political influence.

Reasons for later rejection:

• The League feared that the Congress would weaken or abolish the system of compulsory grouping.
• When the Congress accepted the Plan with its own interpretation, the League felt that its interests were threatened.
• Therefore, the Muslim League withdrew its acceptance of the Plan and demanded Pakistan more strongly.

(c) Why did the Congress refuse to participate in the formation of the Interim Government under the Cabinet Mission Plan?

Ans: 

• The Congress initially refused to participate because the Muslim League insisted that it alone had the right to nominate all Muslim members to the Interim Government.
• The Congress opposed this claim and maintained that it represented all communities, including Muslims.
• It was also dissatisfied with certain provisions of the Cabinet Mission Plan, particularly the compulsory grouping of provinces.
• Therefore, the Congress was unwilling to join the Interim Government on those terms.

3. Mountbatten formula was to divide India but to retain maximum unity. In the light of the statement, answer the following questions:

(a) State the basis of the Partition of India.

Ans: 

• The partition of India was based on the Two-Nation Theory, which held that Hindus and Muslims were two separate nations.
• According to the Mountbatten Plan, the Muslim-majority areas were to form Pakistan, while the remaining areas were to constitute India.

(b) State any three features of the Mountbatten Plan.

Ans: 

• India was to be partitioned into two independent Dominions — India and Pakistan.
• The provinces of Punjab and Bengal were to be partitioned between the two Dominions.
• The Princely States were given the option to join either India or Pakistan.
• A referendum was to be held in the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP).
• The Sylhet District of Assam was to decide its future through a referendum.
• A separate Constituent Assembly for Pakistan was to be formed.

(c) Why did the Congress accept the Mountbatten Plan?

Ans: 

• The country was facing widespread communal riots and violence, and partition was considered necessary to avoid a civil war.
• The Muslim League was obstructing the working of the Interim Government, making joint administration difficult.
• Congress leaders felt that a strong Centre in a smaller India was preferable to a weak Centre in a united India.
• Acceptance of the Plan would ensure immediate independence for India.
• They believed that partition was the only practical solution to the political deadlock.

4. The Indian Independence Act was unique in history, because never before had such a large population of the world achieved Independence through legislation. In this context answer the following questions:

(a) State three main provisions of the Indian Independence Act.

Ans: 

• The Act provided for the creation of two independent Dominions — India and Pakistan — with effect from 15 August 1947.
• The Punjab and Bengal were to be partitioned between India and Pakistan.
• The authority of the British Parliament over India came to an end.
• The Princely States became free to join either India or Pakistan.
• The office of the Secretary of State for India was abolished.

(b) Who was appointed the first Governor-General for each of the two Dominions?

Ans: 

• Lord Mountbatten was appointed the first Governor-General of India.
• Muhammad Ali Jinnah was appointed the first Governor-General of Pakistan.

(c) Mention the areas where plebiscites were to be held. What was the position of His Majesty's government in the new set-up in India?

Ans: Areas where plebiscites/referendums were to be held:

• North-West Frontier Province (NWFP)
• Sylhet District of Assam

Position of His Majesty's Government:

• The authority of His Majesty's Government and the British Parliament over India came to an end.
• From 15 August 1947, India and Pakistan became independent Dominions and were free to govern themselves.