Question 57 from UPSC CSE 2015 - Modern History

Question

With reference to the Cabinet Mission, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. It recommended a federal government.
2. It enlarged the powers of the Indian courts.
3. It provided for more Indians in the ICS.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: A. 1 only

Strategy: Focus on core recommendations of the Cabinet Mission. It proposed a federal structure with a weak center, primarily handling defense, foreign affairs, and communications. This makes statement 1 correct. Statements 2 and 3 are easily eliminated as the Cabinet Mission neither dealt with judicial powers nor made recommendations about the composition of the Indian Civil Service (ICS). Only option A remains valid.

Key Info: The Cabinet Mission was sent to India in 1946 by the British Government to discuss and plan the transfer of power. Its key recommendations were:

- A federal government for India, with a weak central authority limited to foreign affairs, defence, and communications, and more autonomy for provinces and groups of provinces. This was envisaged as a means to keep India united while accommodating communal concerns.
- The Constituent Assembly was to be constituted for framing the Constitution, with members elected indirectly by provincial assemblies and with representation for the princely states.
- The Mission did not make any recommendations on expanding Indian Civil Service (ICS) recruitment to include more Indians, nor did it mention enlarging the powers of Indian courts.
- The proposal included the grouping of provinces into Section A (predominantly Hindu provinces), Section B (Muslim-majority north-west provinces), and Section C (Muslim-majority north-east and Assam), with each group having the right to set up their own executives and legislatures.
- The Cabinet Mission Plan was ultimately not accepted in its entirety, but it set the framework for the Constituent Assembly's work, leading to India's independence.

No judicial or civil service reforms were part of its mandate or recommendations.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option B: 2 and 3

IASCODEX · Answer

Option C: 1 and 3

IASCODEX · Answer

Option D: None

With reference to the Cabinet Mission, which of the following statements is/are correct? It recommended a federal government. It enlarged the powers of the Indian courts. It provided for more Indians in the ICS. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

With reference to the Cabinet Mission, which of the following statements is/are correct?

It recommended a federal government.

It enlarged the powers of the Indian courts.

It provided for more Indians in the ICS.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.