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

Explanation

Swaraj Party was an Indian political party founded by members of the Indian National Congress, notably Motilal Nehru and Chittaranjan Das, in late 1922-early 1923. They were termed Pro-changers, while their opponents were dubbed No-changers.

Option (a) is correct: The idea of a constituent assembly to draft a constitution for India was first mooted by the Swaraj Party in 1934. M.N. Roy, a pioneer of the idea of a constitution based on the will of the people, had also suggested this concept in 1934. The demand was later adopted by the Indian National Congress during its 1936 session and gained prominence in Indian politics.

Explanation

The Government of India Act, 1947 was the legal framework that formalized the partition of British India into two independent dominions, India and Pakistan, marking the end of British rule. Lord Mountbatten, as the last Viceroy of India, oversaw the implementation of the Act, ensuring the transfer of power and the division of territories on August 15, 1947. A is false: British sovereignty did not continue in free India after August 15, 1947. India became a dominion within the Commonwealth, and sovereignty transferred to the Indian people. R is true: Lord Mountbatten, the last British Governor-General, was appointed for a transitional period post-independence, but this does not imply the continuation of British sovereignty.

Explanation

Referring to the 1930-32 meetings as three separate conferences is technically incorrect because they were essentially three sessions of the same conference, aiming to address the same issues, such as constitutional reforms and representation. The Indian National Congress boycotted the First and Third Conferences but participated in the Second, represented by Gandhi. The fragmented nature of Indian representation and the British Government’s control over the proceedings also reduced their significance.

Explanation

Acharya Narendra Dev was a prominent leader of the Congress Socialist Party (CSP), formed in 1934 as a socialist wing within the Indian National Congress. He, along with leaders like Jayaprakash Narayan and Ram Manohar Lohia, advocated for socialism as a means of achieving socio-economic equality in India. The CSP worked within the Congress framework to influence its policies toward socialism and economic justice.

Explanation

The Cabinet Mission, consisting of three British Cabinet members--Lord Pethick-Lawrence(chairman), Sir Stafford Cripps, and A.V. Alexander--arrived in India in 1946 to negotiate with Indian leaders to find out ways and means for a negotiated, peaceful transfer of power to India.

Option (c) is correct: While the Mission did propose the provincial grouping, it did not accept the demand for creation of Pakistan. Options (a), (b) and (d) are incorrect: The Mission proposals included:

Provincial Grouping: Group A(Hindu-majority provinces (e.g., Madras, Bombay, UP)), Group B: (Muslim-majority provinces (e.g., Punjab, Sind, NWFP, Baluchistan)) and Group C(Bengal and Assam). Each group could frame its own constitution. Interim Government: Interim coalition government until the Constitution was in place. The coalition included representatives from major parties (Congress and Muslim League). members (296 from provinces, 93 from princely states), elected by provincial assemblies.