CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1947 - Partition - Radcliffe Award (1947)
Why did Radcliffe ultimately give the decisions himself?
A. The commissions never met
B. The four members could not reach an agreed boundary
C. The British Parliament rejected all recommendations
D. Congress withdrew every claim
Correct Answer: B
Deep disagreement between the paired members left the chairman to issue his own decision.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1947 - Partition - Radcliffe Award (1947)
The Bengal Boundary Commission's award had legal effect under which section of the Indian Independence Act?
A. Section 2
B. Section 3
C. Section 4
D. Section 9
Correct Answer: B
The Bengal report identifies section 3 as the statutory basis for the division of Bengal.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1947 - Partition - Radcliffe Award (1947)
The Punjab Boundary Commission's award had legal effect under which section of the Indian Independence Act?
A. Section 2
B. Section 3
C. Section 4
D. Section 8
Correct Answer: C
The Punjab report states that Radcliffe's decision represented the award by virtue of section 4.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1947 - Partition - Radcliffe Award (1947)
The delay in announcing the Award meant that it became public:
A. Before the partition decision
B. After independence
C. Before the 3 June Plan
D. After the first Indo-Pak war
Correct Answer: B
The new states learned the final detailed border after independence ceremonies had already taken place.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1947 - Partition - Radcliffe Award (1947)
The Radcliffe Award was officially published for general information on:
A. 14 August 1947
B. 15 August 1947
C. 17 August 1947
D. 23 August 1947
Correct Answer: C
The awards were made public on 17 August 1947, after both dominions had become independent.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1947 - Partition - Radcliffe Award (1947)
The separate Sylhet-related award was dated:
A. 10 August 1947
B. 12 August 1947
C. 13 August 1947
D. 17 August 1947
Correct Answer: C
The award concerning Sylhet and adjoining Assam areas was dated 13 August 1947.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1947 - Partition - Radcliffe Award (1947)
The final Punjab and Bengal awards were dated:
A. 3 June 1947
B. 12 August 1947
C. 15 August 1947
D. 17 August 1947
Correct Answer: B
Radcliffe signed the principal Punjab and Bengal awards in New Delhi on 12 August 1947.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1947 - Partition - Radcliffe Award (1947)
The short period available to Radcliffe was approximately:
A. Six months
B. One year
C. Five to six weeks
D. Two years
Correct Answer: C
Radcliffe had only a few weeks to settle extremely complex boundaries.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1947 - Partition - Radcliffe Award (1947)
The Boundary Commissions were expected to complete their work before:
A. 1 July 1947
B. 15 August 1947
C. 31 December 1947
D. June 1948
Correct Answer: B
Their terms required decisions as soon as possible before the transfer of power on 15 August.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1947 - Partition - Radcliffe Award (1947)
The demographic evidence most commonly used in the boundary proceedings came from the census of:
A. 1931
B. 1941
C. 1946
D. 1947
Correct Answer: B
The 1941 Census was the last full census available before partition and underlay majority calculations.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1947 - Partition - Radcliffe Award (1947)
Besides contiguous religious majorities, the commissions were instructed to consider:
A. Only military cantonments
B. Other factors
C. Only railway ownership
D. Only provincial revenues
Correct Answer: B
The phrase 'other factors' allowed consideration of communications, irrigation and other practical concerns.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1947 - Partition - Radcliffe Award (1947)
The main basis prescribed for drawing the boundary was:
A. Economic output alone
B. Contiguous majority areas of Muslims and non-Muslims
C. River boundaries only
D. Language alone
Correct Answer: B
The terms of reference made contiguous Muslim and non-Muslim majority areas the fundamental basis.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1947 - Partition - Radcliffe Award (1947)
In each Boundary Commission, the four members were broadly divided between nominees associated with:
A. Congress and the Muslim League
B. The British Army and Navy
C. Princely states and tribal areas
D. Labour and Conservative parties
Correct Answer: A
Two members represented the non-Muslim/Congress side and two represented the Muslim League side.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1947 - Partition - Radcliffe Award (1947)
Each provincial Boundary Commission consisted of Radcliffe and:
A. Two local judges
B. Four local judges
C. Six British officials
D. Eight provincial governors
Correct Answer: B
Each commission had four judicial members in addition to the common chairman.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1947 - Partition - Radcliffe Award (1947)
How many separate Boundary Commissions were chaired by Radcliffe?
A. One
B. Two
C. Three
D. Four
Correct Answer: B
There was one commission for Punjab and another for Bengal.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1947 - Partition - Radcliffe Award (1947)
Who was the Governor-General/Viceroy overseeing the partition arrangements in 1947?
A. Lord Wavell
B. Lord Mountbatten
C. Lord Linlithgow
D. Lord Irwin
Correct Answer: B
Lord Mountbatten was the last Viceroy and supervised the transfer-of-power arrangements.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1947 - Partition - Radcliffe Award (1947)
The Punjab and Bengal Boundary Commissions were formally constituted on:
A. 20 February 1947
B. 3 June 1947
C. 30 June 1947
D. 15 August 1947
Correct Answer: C
The Governor-General's announcement constituting both commissions was dated 30 June 1947.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1947 - Partition - Radcliffe Award (1947)
The Indian Independence Act received Royal Assent on:
A. 3 June 1947
B. 18 July 1947
C. 14 August 1947
D. 17 August 1947
Correct Answer: B
The Act received Royal Assent on 18 July 1947.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1947 - Partition - Radcliffe Award (1947)
The legal framework for establishing the new dominions and dividing Punjab and Bengal was provided by:
A. Government of India Act 1919
B. Indian Independence Act 1947
C. Pitt's India Act
D. Regulating Act 1773
Correct Answer: B
The Indian Independence Act 1947 provided the statutory framework for India and Pakistan and the provincial divisions.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1947 - Partition - Radcliffe Award (1947)
Which plan made the partition of Punjab and Bengal necessary?
A. August Offer
B. 3 June 1947 Plan
C. Cripps Proposals
D. Cabinet Mission Plan
Correct Answer: B
The 3 June Plan accepted partition and provided for Boundary Commissions if Punjab and Bengal voted for division.