CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1947 - Partition - Radcliffe Award (1947)
Which outcome illustrates the use of administrative and geographic factors over simple religious percentages?
A. Chittagong Hill Tracts to East Bengal
B. Lahore to Pakistan
C. Amritsar to India
D. Rawalpindi to Pakistan
Correct Answer: A
The Hill Tracts had an overwhelming non-Muslim population but were linked geographically to Chittagong.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1947 - Partition - Radcliffe Award (1947)
The most important analytical weakness of the phrase 'other factors' was that it:
A. Had an exact mathematical formula
B. Was undefined and open to competing interpretation
C. Applied only to Bengal
D. Required a referendum in every village
Correct Answer: B
The lack of a precise definition contributed to deadlock and controversy.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1947 - Partition - Radcliffe Award (1947)
Which factor best explains why religious majority alone did not determine every allocation?
A. The terms expressly permitted consideration of other factors
B. The census was legally prohibited
C. No population data existed
D. Only rivers could be used
Correct Answer: A
Communications, canals, ports, administrative viability and geography could modify a pure majority approach.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1947 - Partition - Radcliffe Award (1947)
Which was NOT a prescribed primary criterion of the commissions?
A. Contiguous Muslim-majority areas
B. Contiguous non-Muslim-majority areas
C. Other relevant factors
D. Personal wealth of individual landowners
Correct Answer: D
The process dealt with territorial majorities and practical factors, not personal wealth.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1947 - Partition - Radcliffe Award (1947)
Which was NOT directly divided by a Radcliffe Boundary Commission?
A. Punjab
B. Bengal
C. Sindh
D. Sylhet-related Assam territory
Correct Answer: C
Sindh became part of Pakistan without a Radcliffe provincial boundary commission.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1947 - Partition - Radcliffe Award (1947)
Which term correctly distinguishes the two concepts?
A. The Radcliffe Award was the decision; the Radcliffe Line was the resulting boundary
B. The Award was a census and the Line was a political party
C. Both refer only to Punjab
D. Both refer only to Bengal
Correct Answer: A
The Award consisted of the formal decisions and schedules; the Line refers to the border they produced.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1947 - Partition - Radcliffe Award (1947)
The Bengal portion of the Radcliffe Line today largely forms the international border between India and:
A. Nepal
B. Bangladesh
C. Myanmar only
D. Sri Lanka
Correct Answer: B
East Bengal became East Pakistan and later Bangladesh, making the old line an India-Bangladesh boundary.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1947 - Partition - Radcliffe Award (1947)
The Sylhet report stated that no other part of which province would be transferred?
A. Punjab
B. Assam
C. Bengal
D. Sindh
Correct Answer: B
After identifying the transferred Sylhet territory, Radcliffe specified that no other Assam area would be transferred.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1947 - Partition - Radcliffe Award (1947)
Why did Radcliffe reject a simple transfer of all Muslim-majority Sylhet areas?
A. It would create serious administrative and communication problems
B. There was no referendum
C. Assam was part of Punjab
D. Britain opposed all transfers
Correct Answer: A
He sought a workable north-south division and tried to avoid severing communications and isolating areas.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1947 - Partition - Radcliffe Award (1947)
For the Kusiyara boundary, the controlling line was the:
A. Northern bank
B. Southern bank
C. Centre line of the main channel
D. Nearest railway line
Correct Answer: C
The award specified the centre line of the main stream or channel.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1947 - Partition - Radcliffe Award (1947)
The Sylhet Award used which river as part of the boundary?
A. Kusiyara
B. Sutlej
C. Ravi
D. Jhelum
Correct Answer: A
The line followed the River Kusiyara in an important sector.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1947 - Partition - Radcliffe Award (1947)
Which area of the former Sylhet district substantially remained with Assam/India?
A. Karimganj area
B. Sylhet city
C. Moulvibazar as a whole
D. Habiganj as a whole
Correct Answer: A
The boundary retained the Karimganj-side territory and related areas in Assam.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1947 - Partition - Radcliffe Award (1947)
Under the final Sylhet boundary, most of Sylhet was transferred to:
A. West Bengal
B. East Bengal
C. Bihar
D. Tripura State
Correct Answer: B
Most of the district joined East Bengal and therefore Pakistan.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1947 - Partition - Radcliffe Award (1947)
The result of the Sylhet referendum favoured:
A. Remaining wholly in Assam
B. Joining East Bengal
C. Joining Burma
D. Becoming independent
Correct Answer: B
A majority voted for Sylhet's transfer to East Bengal.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1947 - Partition - Radcliffe Award (1947)
The Sylhet referendum asked whether the district should remain in Assam or join:
A. West Bengal
B. East Bengal
C. Punjab
D. Burma
Correct Answer: B
Voters chose between remaining in Assam/India and joining East Bengal/Pakistan.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1947 - Partition - Radcliffe Award (1947)
The Bengal Award concerning Sylhet was issued separately because Sylhet was then part of:
A. Punjab
B. Assam
C. Bihar
D. Orissa
Correct Answer: B
Sylhet was administratively part of Assam and required a separate post-referendum boundary report.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1947 - Partition - Radcliffe Award (1947)
The Bengal commissioners were unable to agree on:
A. Only the Calcutta question
B. Any of the major disputed issues
C. The identity of the chairman
D. The date of independence
Correct Answer: B
Their differences covered all major boundary questions, leaving Radcliffe to decide.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1947 - Partition - Radcliffe Award (1947)
The main Bengal parties presenting arguments included Congress, the Muslim League and:
A. Bengal Provincial Hindu Mahasabha and New Bengal Association
B. Unionist Party only
C. Khaksar Movement only
D. Justice Party of Madras
Correct Answer: A
The Bengal report identifies these organizations among the principal parties.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1947 - Partition - Radcliffe Award (1947)
Radcliffe tried to reduce avoidable disruption of Bengal's:
A. Railways and river systems
B. Tea gardens only
C. Military cantonments only
D. Universities only
Correct Answer: A
He acknowledged that some severance was unavoidable but tried to limit damage to rail and river communications.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1947 - Partition - Radcliffe Award (1947)
The Bengal boundary eventually met the Bay of Bengal along the boundary between:
A. Khulna and 24 Parganas
B. Dacca and Mymensingh
C. Noakhali and Tippera
D. Chittagong and Burma
Correct Answer: A
The southern line followed the Khulna–24 Parganas district boundary to the Bay of Bengal.