Indian National Movement III (1930-1947): UPSC Previous Year Questions (Modern History)

Explanation

The Government of India Act was passed by the British parliament in 1935 and came into effect in 1937. It was based on a report by a Joint Select Committee, led by Lord Linlithgow, set up the two houses of the British parliament. Some of the key features of the Act were:

The creation of a ‘Federation of India’ that consisted of two levels: a central executive and parliament, and below it, provinces and princely states. Hence, Statement 1 is correct. It discarded the ‘dyarchy’ system at the provincial level and allowed for the emergence of popularly elected provincial legislatures. Dyarchy was introduced at the central level, key subjects like defence and foreign affairs were under the direct control of the Governor General. Hence, Statement 2 is incorrect. A federal court was established. The franchise was expanded to 14% of the population from 3%. Separate electorates were provided for Muslims, Sikhs and others, but not to Depressed Classes. The governor enjoyed critical emergency powers.

Explanation

Cripps Mission (1942) headed by Stafford Cripps was sent to India with constitutional proposals to seek Indian support for World War II. Because of the reverses suffered by Britain in South-East Asia, the Japanese threat to invade India seemed real now and Indian support became crucial.

Statement (1) is incorrect: After the war the Constituent Assembly would be formed with members from Provinces (elected through proportional representation and not nominated) and Princely states (nominated). A new Constitution making body and the Government would negotiate a treaty for transfer of Power.

Statement (2) is correct: The proposal allowed any Province unwilling to accept the new Constitution to have the right to remain outside the Indian Union and negotiate a separate arrangement with Britain regarding its future. This provision was later seen as a precursor to the partition of India.

Explanation

Option (a) is correct: The Quit India Resolution was passed by the All India Congress Committee (AICC) on 8th August 1942 at Gowalia Tank Maidan (now August Kranti Maidan) in Bombay, marking the launch of the Quit India Movement against British rule. Key Features of the Resolution:

Demanded immediate end to British rule in India.

Proposed the formation of a provisional government after British withdrawal. Declared that India would not support Britain in World War II unless granted independence. Gandhi’s famous call: "Do or Die" encouraged mass civil disobedience.

Explanation

In November 1945 officers of the Indian National Army (INA) were court-martialed at the Red Fort in Delhi. Among the senior officers tried were Major General Shah Nawaz Khan, Colonel Prem Kumar Sahgal, and Colonel Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon, trusted allies of Subhas Chandra Bose. Amid widespread protests and unrest across India, the British eventually released them. Jawaharlal Nehru, along with Bhulabhai Desai and Tej Bahadur Sapru, were part of the defence team of the INA officers in court.

Explanation

A high-powered mission of three British Cabinet members-Lord Pethick-Lawrence (the Secretary of State for India), Sir Stafford Cripps(President of the Board of Trade) and A. V. Alexander(the First Lord of the Admiralty) reached Delhi on 24th March 1946.

Statement 1 is correct: The Cabinet Mission proposed a Three-tier executive and legislature at provincial, section and union levels which essentially means a federal government. All subjects other than Union subjects and residuary power would vest in the provinces of British India. Statements 2 and 3 are incorrect: The plan did not include the enlargement of the powers of the Indian Court nor provided for more Indians in the ICS.

Explanation

The Radcliffe Committee was appointed by the British government in 1947 tasked with demarcating the borders between the newly independent nations of India and Pakistan. The division primarily focused on the regions of Punjab and Bengal, where large Hindu and Muslim populations coexisted. The resulting Radcliffe Line was announced on August 17, 1947, two days after India’s independence. The border division led to massive population displacement, causing widespread violence and communal riots, with millions of people migrating across the new borders, resulting in significant loss of life and property.

Explanation

In 1942, the British Government sent the Cripps Mission to India to secure Indian support for Britain’s war effort during World War II. The Cripps Proposals offered India dominion status after the war and promised a constituent assembly to frame a new constitution, but these were largely seen as insufficient and vague. The Congress (led by Mahatma Gandhi) demanded immediate independence and rejected the Cripps Proposals. When the British government failed to provide clear and concrete plans for independence, Gandhi called for a mass movement of civil disobedience, demanding that the British "Quit India".

Explanation

In 1937, after the Government of India Act, 1935, which allowed for provincial autonomy, the Indian National Congress (INC) formed ministries in eight out of eleven provinces in India. Lord Linlithgow, the Viceroy of India, declared India’s involvement in World War II on behalf of the British government. As a result of this unilateral declaration Congress ministries resigned as a protest against the British government’s failure to consult Indian leaders regarding India’s participation in the war.

Explanation

The Quit India Resolution was ratified in a Congress meeting at Gowalia Tank on 8th August 1942. Apart from the Quit India Movement, other resolutions involved the Civil Disobedience Movement against British Rule. Mantra of "Do or Die" was adopted in this Session by Gandhiji. The British Govt responded to the call of Gandhi by arresting all major Congress leaders the very next day. Gandhi, Nehru, Patel, etc. were all behind the bars. This left the movement in the hands of the younger leaders like Jayaprakash Narayan and Ram Manohar Lohia, besides many regional leaders also rose up to lead this movement in their respective regions.

Explanation

The Quit India Movement was one of the largest anti-colonial movements. It started on August 8, 1942, under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi. The immediate causes were the failure of Cripps mission, hardships caused during World War II and the Japanese knocking at the doors of Indian borders. Even before the movement could formally be launched all major leaders of congress were put behind the bars by the British. In this situation various secret and underground activities under the leadership to younger congress leaders kept the movement going. In this environment, Usha Mehta, a young congress leader started an underground Radio to give fuel to the movement.