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Question

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

Regarding the proposals put forward by the Cabinet Mission Plan (1946) to resolve the constitutional deadlock and facilitate the transfer of power in India, which of the following statements are correct?

  1. It proposed a three-tier administrative framework with the grouping of British Indian provinces into Sections A, B, and C.Answer
  2. It rejected the Muslim League's demand for a fully sovereign, independent state of Pakistan.Answer
  3. C
    It provided for the direct election of Constituent Assembly members by universal adult suffrage across British India.
  4. D
    It completely barred provinces from opting out of their assigned administrative groups after the framing of the constitution.

Answer

The correct statements are that the plan proposed a three-tier administrative framework with provincial grouping into Sections A, B, and C, and that it explicitly rejected the demand for a separate fully sovereign state of Pakistan.
The Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946 presented a compromise formula for the transfer of power. It advocated a three-tier political structure comprising the Union, three provincial groupings (Sections A, B, and C), and individual provinces. Furthermore, the Mission rejected the creation of a separate sovereign Pakistan, concluding that partition would not solve the minority problem and would disrupt administrative, defense, and communications infrastructure.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the structural proposal of the Cabinet Mission Plan (1946).
Confirm that the plan recommended a central Union controlling defense, foreign affairs, and communications, while grouping provinces into Sections A (non-Muslim majority), B (North-West Muslim majority), and C (North-East Muslim majority).
This establishes the validity of the three-tier administrative arrangement.
2
Evaluate the plan's stance on the demand for Pakistan.
Recognize that the Cabinet Mission rejected a fully independent Pakistan to preserve Indian administrative unity and protect sizeable minorities.
This confirms the rejection of full partition at that stage.
3
Examine the mode of election for the Constituent Assembly and provincial group exit rights.
Identify that election to the Constituent Assembly was indirect via Provincial Assemblies and that provinces retained the right to opt out of groups after the first general election under the new constitution.
This invalidates the assertions of direct universal suffrage and permanent group lock-in.

Key Concept

Cabinet Mission Plan 1946 Provisions
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Topics

Constitutional Developments, Transfer of Power, and Partition of India