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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1947 - Partition - Radcliffe Award (1947)
Sir Cyril Radcliffe was professionally a:
A. Military commander
B. British barrister and jurist
C. Provincial governor
D. Civil engineer
Correct Answer: B
Radcliffe was a British lawyer and jurist selected to chair the boundary-making process.