- After WWII (1945), freedom struggle became tense
- Quit India impact and INA failure still felt
- Muslim League pushed demand for Partition
- Lord Wavell proposed the Wavell Plan
- Plan offered Dominion Status, not full freedom
- Rejected by both Congress and Muslim League
Key Points
Key Points: The Wavell Plan: A Step Towards Constitutional Resolution
Key Points: Events that Led to the Cabinet Mission
- Weak Britain after WWII: Economy and military shattered; Labour Party came to power
- Global pressure: USA & USSR supported India’s freedom
- Army & Navy unrest: INA impact; Naval revolt (1946); Air Force & signal corps strikes
- Administrative breakdown: Police and civil services showed disloyalty
- Mass public mood: Nationwide protests, strikes, hartals; unrest in princely states
- Labour & peasant movements: Postal, railway strikes; Tebhaga and land struggles
Key Points: Cabinet Mission in India
- Announced by PM Clement Attlee on 19 Feb 1946
- Aim: Transfer of power & decide future government of India
- Arrived in India in 1946
- Members:
Pethick-Lawrence (Secretary of State)
Sir Stafford Cripps
A.V. Alexander - Held talks with all major Indian leaders and parties
Key Points: Clauses of Cabinet Mission Plan
- Federal India: Centre controls Defence, Foreign Affairs, Communication
- Autonomous Provinces with groups (A, B, C)
- Constituent Assembly to frame Constitution
- Interim Government at Centre
- Freedom to stay in or leave the Commonwealth
Key Points: Rejection of the Demand for Pakistan
- Would not solve minority problem
- Included many non-Muslim areas unjustly
- Army, transport, communication meant for united India
- Princely States would face confusion
- Two parts of Pakistan far apart, hard to manage
Key Points: Reaction to the Cabinet Mission Plan
- Accepted Constituent Assembly part only
- Wanted optional grouping of provinces
- Rejected limited Interim Government
- Opposed parity with Muslim League
- Rejected League’s claim to nominate all Muslim members
Muslim League
- Accepted plan fully (June 1946)
- Supported grouping as step towards Pakistan
- Demanded Interim Government formation
Key Points: Conflict Between Congress and Muslim League
- 1946 Elections: Congress won majority; League feared domination.
- Interim Government: Formed under Nehru (Sept 1946); League stayed out initially.
- League Protest: Observed Sept 2 as Day of Mourning.
- League Joins Later: Joined Interim Govt (Oct 1946) but rejected collective responsibility.
- Constituent Assembly: Met on Dec 9, 1946 without League; India declared Sovereign Republic.
Key Points: Mountbatten Plan
- 1947: Mountbatten appointed Viceroy.
- 3 June Plan: India to be partitioned into India & Pakistan.
- Boundaries decided, plebiscites held.
- Power transferred on 15 Aug 1947.
- Accepted to avoid chaos and get freedom fast.
Key Points: The Indian Independence Act, 1947
- Passed: 18 July 1947
- Effective from: 15 August 1947
- India partitioned into India & Pakistan
- Both became independent Dominions
- British Parliament’s control ended
- Governor-General for each Dominion
- Constituent Assemblies became law-making bodies
- Princely States freed to join India/Pakistan
- Army & assets divided
- Secretary of State for India abolished
Key Points: Independence by an Act of Legislation
- 1947 Act ended British rule
- India & Pakistan formed (15 Aug 1947)
- India Republic: 26 Jan 1950
- Partition pain after freedom
- Nehru built modern India
- India: largest democracy
Important Questions [8]
- The Period Between 1920 to 1947 Was Marked with Major Events and Reforms that Finally Led to Us to Our Independence. in this Context, Answer the Following Questions: How Did the Congress and the Muslim League Respond to the Cabinet Mission Plan?
- The Period Between 1920 to 1947 Was Marked with Major Events and Reforms that Finally Led to Us to Our Independence. in this Context, Answer the Following Questions: Mention Any Four Clauses of the Cabinet Mission Plan.
- With Reference to the Transfer of Power to India, Answer the Following: Explain the Cabinet Mission’S Proposals Regarding the Setting up
- Name the Three Members of the Cabinet Mission.
- With Reference to the National Movement from 1930 to 1947, Answer the Following : State Any Four Clause of the Cabinet Mission Plant of 1946.
- State Any Two Provisions of the Indian Independence Act of 1947 that Was to Decide the Fate of the Princely States.
- With Reference to the Transfer of Power to India, Answer the Following: Mention Any Two Clauses of the India Independence Act, 1947.
- Look at the picture given and answer the following question: Mention any four provisions of the Indian Independence Act of 1947.
Concepts [10]
- The Wavell Plan: A Step Towards Constitutional Resolution
- Events that Led to the Cabinet Mission
- Cabinet Mission in India
- Clauses of Cabinet Mission Plan
- Rejection of the Demand for Pakistan
- Reaction to the Cabinet Mission Plan
- Conflict Between Congress and Muslim League
- Mountbatten Plan
- The Indian Independence Act, 1947
- Independence by an Act of Legislation
