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Difficulty: HardConstitutional Developments, Transfer of Power, and Partition of India

Arrange the following key historical events related to the constitutional developments and transfer of power in India in chronological order from earliest to latest.

  1. 1Conception of the Desai-Liaquat Pact outlining proposals for an interim coalition governance structure between Congress and the Muslim League.
  2. 2Announcement of the Cabinet Mission Proposals recommending a three-tier federal structure for undivided India.
  3. 3Swearing-in of the Interim Government of India headed by Jawaharlal Nehru.
  4. 4Unanimous adoption of the historic 'Objectives Resolution' by the Constituent Assembly of India.

Answer

The correct chronological sequence from earliest to latest is: (1) Desai-Liaquat Pact (January 1945), (2) Cabinet Mission Proposals (May 16, 1946), (3) Swearing-in of the Interim Government (September 2, 1946), and (4) Unanimous adoption of the Objectives Resolution (January 22, 1947).
The historical timeline progresses logically through the late independence struggle: First, the Desai-Liaquat Pact was framed in January 1945 as an early attempt at power-sharing. Next, the Cabinet Mission published its constitutional recommendations on May 16, 1946. This led directly to the formation of the Interim Government of India under Nehru on September 2, 1946. Finally, after the Constituent Assembly convened in December 1946, it formally adopted the landmark Objectives Resolution on January 22, 1947.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the precise date for the Desai-Liaquat Pact proposal.
The Desai-Liaquat Pact was drafted in January 1945.
Bhulabhai Desai (Congress) and Liaquat Ali Khan (Muslim League) negotiated an informal agreement proposing parity of representation in the central executive.
2
Determine the date of the Cabinet Mission Plan publication.
The Cabinet Mission Plan was published on May 16, 1946.
The three-member British delegation (Pethick-Lawrence, Cripps, Alexander) presented their constitutional plan for undivided India on this date.
3
Locate the date of the formation of the Interim Government.
The Interim Government was sworn in on September 2, 1946.
Viceroy Lord Wavell invited Jawaharlal Nehru to form the Interim Cabinet, which officially took charge in early September 1946.
4
Identify the date when the Objectives Resolution was unanimously passed by the Constituent Assembly.
The Objectives Resolution was adopted on January 22, 1947.
Though introduced on December 13, 1946, voting was postponed to await Muslim League joining, and it was eventually adopted unanimously in January 1947.

Key Concept

Chronology of Constitutional Initiatives and Executive Milestones (1945–1947)
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Topics

Constitutional Developments, Transfer of Power, and Partition of India