Cabinet Mission Plan MCQs (1946) with Explanation for Competitive Exams

Ans:- (B) March 1946

Explanation:- The Cabinet Mission arrived in Delhi on March 24, 1946. The British government sent The Cabinet Mission to India to find out ways and means for a negotiated, peaceful transfer of power to India.

Ans:- (C) Clement Attlee

Explanation:-

The Cabinet Mission was a high-powered mission sent in February 1946 by British Prime Minister Clement Attlee. Clement Attlee was not a member of the Cabinet Mission.

The mission consisted of three members:

• Sir Pethick-Lawrence: Secretary of State for India.
• Stafford Cripps: President of the Board of Trade.
• A.V. Alexander: First Lord of the Admiralty.

Ans:- (B) To find out ways and means for a negotiated, peaceful transfer of power to India.

Explanation:- 

• The primary objective of the Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946 was to establish a framework for the transfer of power from British rule to Indian leadership in a peaceful and negotiated manner.
• The plan proposed the creation of a Constituent Assembly to draft a new constitution and suggested a federal structure for the government, but it did not immediately grant independence.
• It did not propose partitioning India into two countries, rather it rejected the demand for a full-fledged Pakistan.

Ans:- (A) Clement Attlee

Explanation:- 

Ans:- (C) Sir Pethick-Lawrence

Explanation:- 

• The mission comprises three British cabinet members – Pethick Lawrence, Stafford Cripps, & and A.V. Alexander.
• Sir Pethick-Lawrence was the Secretary of State for India and headed the 1946 Cabinet Mission.

Ans:- (C) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad

Explanation:- 

• The President of the Indian National Congress when the Cabinet Mission visited India was Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.
• He served as Congress president for five consecutive years from 1940 to 1945.
• He was the longest-serving President of Congress before India’s Independence.
• Azad opposed the partition of India.

Ans:- (A) Lord Wavell

Explanation:- 

• Lord Wavell was the Viceroy of British India during the Cabinet Mission.
• He served as the Viceroy from 1944 to 1947.
• Some important events during his tenure were—–
• C. R Formula (1944)
• End of Second World War (1945).
• Proposal of Cabinet Mission Plan (1946)
• Direct Action Day (1946)
• Interim Government by the Congress (1946)
• Announcement of the end of British rule in India by Clement Attlee on February 20, 1947.

Ans:- (C) Immediate independence for India

Explanation:- 

• The Cabinet Mission Plan did not recommend immediate independence for India.
• Instead, it proposed a phased transfer of power, with the formation of a Constituent Assembly to draft a new constitution and the establishment of a federal structure with provinces grouped into sections.

Ans:- (B) Three

Explanation:- 

The Cabinet Mission Plan proposed grouping the provinces of British India into three groups:

• Group A: Consisting of Hindu-majority provinces, including Madras, Bombay, United Provinces, Bihar, Central Provinces, and Orissa.
• Group B: Consisting of Muslim-majority provinces in the northwest, including Punjab, Sindh, North-West Frontier Province, and Baluchistan.
• Group C: Consisting of Muslim-majority provinces in the northeast, including Bengal and Assam.

Ans:- (D) Punjab

Explanation:- 

Ans:- (D) Agriculture

Explanation:-  The Cabinet Mission Plan proposed a Union government with limited powers, focusing on three main subjects: Defence, External Affairs, and Communications. Agriculture was not a Union subject under this plan, rather it remained in the control of provinces

Ans:- (C) Conditional acceptance followed by rejection

Explanation:- 

• The Muslim League accepted the Cabinet Mission Plan on June 6, 1946, because it saw the grouping of provinces as a step towards the eventual creation of Pakistan.
• However, the League withdrew the acceptance of the long-term plan on July 29, 1946, when it became clear that the  Congress opposed the idea of compulsory grouping. So, the Muslim league realised that grouping would not automatically lead to partition.
• The rejection led to increased tensions and the eventual call for Direct Action Day by the Muslim League on July 29, 1946.

Ans:- (C) Acceptance of Pakistan

Explanation:-  The Cabinet Mission Plan did not accept the idea of a full-fledged Pakistan. Instead, it proposed a plan to keep India united while offering a federal structure with grouped provinces and an interim government.

Ans:- (C) Disagreement between the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League

Explanation:- 

• The Cabinet Mission Plan ultimately failed due to disagreements between the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League.
• The Congress was opposed to the idea of grouping provinces based on religion, which they feared would lead to the partition of India.
• Meanwhile, the Muslim League rejected the plan when it became clear that it would not lead directly to the creation of Pakistan. So, the lack of consensus between these two major political groups led to the failure of the Cabinet Mission Plan.

Ans:- (B) Direct Action Day called by the Muslim League

Explanation:- 

• The failure of the Cabinet Mission Plan led to the Muslim League calling for Direct Action Day on August 16, 1946, to achieve Pakistan.
• This was a direct response to the failure of the Cabinet Mission plan.
• Direct Action Day resulted in widespread communal riots and violence in the country between Hindus and Muslims and accelerated the move towards the partition of India.

Ans:- (A) Only 1

Explanation:- 

• It recommended a federal Government: This statement is correct. The Cabinet Mission Plan proposed a federal structure with a central government and grouped provinces, allowing for a division of powers between the Union and the provincial governments.
• It enlarged the powers of the Indian Courts: This statement is incorrect. The Cabinet Mission Plan did not specifically address the powers of Indian Courts.
• It provided for more Indians in the ICS: This statement is also incorrect. The Cabinet Mission Plan did not include provisions specifically related to increasing the number of Indians in the Indian Civil Service (ICS).

Ans:- (B) It envisaged a strong central government

Explanation:- 

• ” It envisaged a strong central government” is an incorrect statement because the Cabinet Mission Plan did not envisage a strong central government.
• Instead, it proposed a weak central government with limited powers, focusing on only three subjects: Defence, Foreign Affairs, and Communications. The plan aimed to provide significant autonomy to the provinces within a federal structure, allowing them to handle most other matters independently.
• The other statements were correct as they were the Cabinet Mission Plan’s recommendations.

Ans:- (D) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad

Explanation:- Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, who was the President of the Indian National Congress at the time, was in favor of the Cabinet Mission Plan. He believed that the Cabinet Mission Plan provided a framework to keep India united and to achieve independence without partition.

Ans:- (B) Cabinet Mission

Explanation:- 

The Cabinet Mission arrived in India in 1946 after the end of the Second World War.

• Cripps Mission (1942) was proposed during World War II. It proposed Dominion Status after the war, but it was rejected by the Indian National Congress.
• Wavell Plan (1945) was also known as the Simla Conference. It aimed to discuss a new executive council for India but failed due to disagreements between the Congress and the Muslim League.
• Simon Commission (1927) was established by the British Government in November 1927 to review the Government of India Act of 1919 and make recommendations for constitutional reform but faced widespread opposition in India because it did not include any Indian members.

Ans:- (D) Cabinet Mission

Explanation:- 

The Cabinet Mission proposed a three-tier polity for India in 1946. The plan suggested a federal structure consisting of three levels:

1. Union Government: Responsible for defense, foreign affairs, and communications.
2. Group of Provinces: Provinces were grouped into three sections (A, B, and C) with some autonomy and the ability to collaborate on regional matters.
3. Provincial Governments: Individual provinces with significant powers over other local matters.

Ans:- (D) Cabinet Mission

Explanation:-

• The quotation refers to the Cabinet Mission, which made its proposals in May 1946.
• The mission aimed to preserve the unity of India and proposed a federal union that would include both British provinces and princely states.
• The Cabinet Mission planned to establish a federal government with limited powers, focusing on defense, foreign affairs, and communications, while allowing provinces significant autonomy.
• The Cabinet Mission’s goal was to ensure a peaceful transfer of power from British rule to Indian leadership.