PREVIOUSLY ASKED IN:
PSC Miscellaneous Prelims 2018
Answer
1946
Explanation
The Cabinet Mission arrived in India on March 24, 1946. It was sent by the British Government (under Prime Minister Clement Attlee) to discuss the peaceful transfer of power from the British to the Indian leadership. The mission consisted of three British cabinet members: Lord Pethick-Lawrence, Sir Stafford Cripps, and A.V. Alexander. Based on its recommendations, the Constituent Assembly of India was formed to draft the Constitution.
Key Points
- > The Cabinet Mission plan was formulated in 1946.
- > The three members were Lord Pethick-Lawrence, Sir Stafford Cripps, and A.V. Alexander.
- > It was initiated by the then British PM Clement Attlee.
- > The Constituent Assembly was established exactly as per the Cabinet Mission Plan.
- > It proposed a weak Centre and strong provinces (Federal structure).
- > The Cripps Mission (1942) and August Offer (1940) were earlier failed attempts.
- > It rejected the Muslim League's demand for a separate fully independent state of Pakistan initially.
Additional Information
Late Stages of the Indian Freedom Struggle
| Year | Event | Key Proposal/Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 1940 | August Offer | Proposed Dominion Status |
| 1942 | Cripps Mission | Promised a Constituent Assembly after WWII |
| 1942 | Quit India Movement | Mass civil disobedience demanding British exit |
| 1946 | Cabinet Mission | Formation of Constituent Assembly & Interim Govt |
| 1947 | Mountbatten Plan | Partition and Independence of India |
Memory Tips
- PAC Mnemonic: The three members of the Cabinet Mission were Pethick-Lawrence, Alexander, and Cripps.
- Chronology: Remember that the Cabinet Mission (1946) came after World War II ended, leading directly to Independence (1947).