Question

Write a short note on cabinet mission.

Answer 1

Hint: the cabinet mission was a powerful mission sent to India by the Atlee ( British prime minister) government in February $1946$ . It had three members of British cabinet- Petty Lawrence, Stafford Cripps and A.W. Alexander. The objective of the cabinet is to discuss the transfer of power from British to India leadership.

Complete answer:
Aims of cabinet mission:
1. Agreement with Indian leaders to draft a constitution for India.
2. Formulation of a constituent body (Constituent Assembly of India).
3. Form a board of directors with support from major Indian political parties.

Important reasons for failure of cabinet mission:
1. The congress party needed a strong center with minimal power for the provinces.
The Muslim league wanted strong political guarantees for Muslims as parity in the legislature.
2. Congress was not interested in the idea of grouping provinces together based on a Hindu- Muslim majority and competing for control at the center. It was against the idea of a weak center. The Muslim league did not demand any changes to the proposals.
3. Because the plan was not accepted, the mission proposed a new plan in June $1946$ . this plan saw the division of India into Hindu- majority India and Muslim- majority India, which would later be renamed Pakistan. A list of princely states was created which could join unions or remain independent.

Note recommendation of mission: India unity must be maintained. He proposed a very free alliance in all of India under one center that only controls defense, foreign policy and communications. The unions will have the necessary powers to raise funds to manage these enterprises