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

With regard to the mechanics of territorial division during the transfer of power in 1947, consider the following statements regarding the Boundary Commissions:

1. Two separate Boundary Commissions were established for Punjab and Bengal, both headed by Sir Cyril Radcliffe as Chairman.
2. The terms of reference instructed the Commissions to demarcate boundaries based on contiguous majority areas of Muslims and non-Muslims, while also taking into account 'other factors'.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A
    1 only
  2. B
    2 only
  3. Both 1 and 2Answer
  4. D
    Neither 1 nor 2

Answer

Both 1 and 2 are correct.
The answer stating that both statements are correct is accurate because in June 1947, two Boundary Commissions were established—one for Bengal and one for Punjab—each consisting of four judges (two nominated by Congress and two by the Muslim League) with Sir Cyril Radcliffe serving as the common Chairman. Furthermore, their official mandate specified demarcating boundaries based on contiguous religious majority areas as well as incorporating 'other factors' like canal systems, railway lines, and socio-economic geography.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze Statement 1 regarding the leadership and structure of the Boundary Commissions.
Confirm that two separate commissions (one for Punjab and one for Bengal) were appointed on June 30, 1947, with Sir Cyril Radcliffe serving as the joint Chairman of both.
Establishing the leadership structure is essential to evaluating historical administrative setups during partition.
2
Analyze Statement 2 regarding the terms of reference of the Boundary Commissions.
Confirm that the commissions were explicitly directed to demarcate boundaries on the basis of ascertaining contiguous majority areas of Muslims and non-Muslims, and in doing so, to take into account 'other factors' (such as natural boundaries, communication networks, and irrigation canals).
Understanding the terms of reference explains how partition lines were determined.
3
Combine the evaluations to select the correct choice.
Since both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are accurate, the option stating 'Both 1 and 2' is correct.
Both statements reflect historical facts surrounding the 1947 partition mechanism.

Key Concept

Radcliffe Boundary Commissions of 1947 and their Terms of Reference
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Topics

Constitutional Developments, Transfer of Power, and Partition of India