Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1946 - Constitutional Proposals - Cabinet Mission Plan
Why was Assam especially controversial under the grouping scheme?
A. It was placed in Muslim-majority Section C with Bengal despite opposition from many Assamese Congress leaders
B. It was excluded from all sections
C. It was joined with Punjab
D. It was made a princely state
Correct Answer: A
Congress objected that Assam could be dominated within a Bengal-Assam group.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1946 - Constitutional Proposals - Cabinet Mission Plan
Which feature most closely resembled a Pakistan arrangement without granting full sovereignty?
A. A strong all-India unitary cabinet
B. Sections B and C with common executives and legislatures under a limited Union
C. Abolition of Bengal and Punjab
D. Direct British rule of Muslim provinces
Correct Answer: B
The Muslim-majority groups could exercise extensive common authority while the Union remained limited.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1946 - Constitutional Proposals - Cabinet Mission Plan
From the Pakistan Movement perspective, the Plan is important because it:
A. Ended the demand for Pakistan permanently
B. Demonstrated that Muslim political power could not be secured through paper safeguards alone and exposed the limits of a united constitutional settlement
C. Transferred Pakistan to Jinnah in May 1946
D. Abolished Muslim-majority provinces
Correct Answer: B
The Plan's failure reinforced the Muslim League's conclusion that a separate sovereign state was necessary.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1946 - Constitutional Proposals - Cabinet Mission Plan
The grouping system represented a compromise between:
A. A fully unitary India and immediate British annexation
B. Congress's demand for unity and the Muslim League's demand for Pakistan
C. Princely rule and military dictatorship
D. Adult franchise and separate electorates
Correct Answer: B
The scheme retained one Union while permitting Muslim-majority provinces to operate in powerful regional groups.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1946 - Constitutional Proposals - Cabinet Mission Plan
Which principle made the proposed Union weaker than the federation under the Government of India Act 1935?
A. The Union had all residuary powers
B. Provinces held residuary powers and the Union had only three compulsory subjects
C. Provincial governors controlled foreign affairs
D. The Union had no legislature
Correct Answer: B
The Cabinet Mission's centre was deliberately narrow, while provinces retained the bulk of authority.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1946 - Constitutional Proposals - Cabinet Mission Plan
Why did the Cabinet Mission avoid immediate universal adult-franchise elections for the Constituent Assembly?
A. Britain rejected all elections in principle
B. They would cause an unacceptable delay in constitution-making
C. Only princely rulers were allowed to vote
D. The Muslim League requested nomination only
Correct Answer: B
The Mission used existing provincial legislatures as the most practicable means of avoiding delay.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1946 - Constitutional Proposals - Cabinet Mission Plan
Which statement best captures the Congress-League interpretive conflict?
A. Both wanted a permanently weak centre and compulsory groups
B. Congress treated the Constituent Assembly as sovereign, while the League insisted that the Plan's grouping safeguards remain binding
C. Congress demanded Pakistan while the League opposed it
D. Both rejected the Constituent Assembly itself from the start
Correct Answer: B
The dispute was not merely over entry into the Assembly but over whether the Plan's federal limitations could later be changed.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1946 - Constitutional Proposals - Cabinet Mission Plan
The most immediate cause of the Cabinet Mission Plan's breakdown was disagreement over:
A. The language of the national anthem
B. The meaning and enforceability of provincial grouping
C. The location of the capital
D. The abolition of the army
Correct Answer: B
Congress and the League accepted the Plan with incompatible interpretations of the grouping clauses.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1946 - Constitutional Proposals - Cabinet Mission Plan
The Muslim League's attitude toward the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly was to:
A. Lead the proceedings
B. Boycott it
C. Nominate the chairman
D. Merge with Congress
Correct Answer: B
The Muslim League boycotted the Assembly because the constitutional dispute remained unresolved.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1946 - Constitutional Proposals - Cabinet Mission Plan
The Constituent Assembly first met on:
A. 9 December 1946
B. 16 May 1946
C. 20 February 1947
D. 15 August 1947
Correct Answer: A
The Constituent Assembly convened in New Delhi on 9 December 1946.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1946 - Constitutional Proposals - Cabinet Mission Plan
The Muslim League initially responded to the Congress-led Interim Government by:
A. Joining it immediately without conditions
B. Remaining outside and observing protest
C. Dissolving itself
D. Supporting a unitary constitution
Correct Answer: B
The League initially stayed out, though it later entered the Interim Government.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1946 - Constitutional Proposals - Cabinet Mission Plan
The Congress-led Interim Government took office on:
A. 2 September 1946
B. 9 December 1946
C. 20 February 1947
D. 3 June 1947
Correct Answer: A
The Interim Government headed by Jawaharlal Nehru assumed office on 2 September 1946.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1946 - Constitutional Proposals - Cabinet Mission Plan
Direct Action Day was observed on:
A. 16 August 1946
B. 14 August 1947
C. 23 March 1940
D. 3 June 1947
Correct Answer: A
The Muslim League designated 16 August 1946 as Direct Action Day.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1946 - Constitutional Proposals - Cabinet Mission Plan
After withdrawing acceptance, the Muslim League called for:
A. Civil disobedience against provincial taxes only
B. Direct Action
C. A boycott of all elections forever
D. Immediate accession to Britain
Correct Answer: B
The League decided to use Direct Action to press its demand for Pakistan.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1946 - Constitutional Proposals - Cabinet Mission Plan
The Muslim League withdrew its acceptance of the Cabinet Mission Plan on:
A. 25 June 1946
B. 10 July 1946
C. 29 July 1946
D. 2 September 1946
Correct Answer: C
At its Bombay meeting on 29 July 1946, the League withdrew acceptance and sanctioned Direct Action.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1946 - Constitutional Proposals - Cabinet Mission Plan
The Muslim League interpreted Nehru's 10 July statement as evidence that:
A. Congress would fully enforce compulsory grouping
B. Congress intended to alter or disregard essential parts of the Plan
C. Britain had accepted Pakistan
D. The princely states had joined the League
Correct Answer: B
The League feared Congress would use its strength in the Constituent Assembly to weaken the grouping safeguards.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1946 - Constitutional Proposals - Cabinet Mission Plan
Which Congress leader's 10 July 1946 press conference intensified the crisis over the Plan?
A. Mahatma Gandhi
B. Jawaharlal Nehru
C. Sardar Patel
D. Maulana Azad
Correct Answer: B
Nehru stated that the Constituent Assembly would be sovereign and not permanently bound by external limitations.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1946 - Constitutional Proposals - Cabinet Mission Plan
Congress accepted participation in the Constituent Assembly but strongly disputed:
A. The end of British paramountcy
B. The compulsory character of provincial grouping
C. The creation of any constitution
D. The inclusion of defence at the Union level
Correct Answer: B
Congress objected to provinces being bound initially into Sections B and C against their wishes.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1946 - Constitutional Proposals - Cabinet Mission Plan
Why did Muhammad Ali Jinnah initially persuade the Muslim League to accept the Plan?
A. It immediately created a fully sovereign Pakistan
B. The weak centre and Muslim-majority groupings could provide the constitutional basis for Pakistan-like autonomy
C. It abolished the Muslim League
D. It guaranteed Congress rule in Punjab
Correct Answer: B
Jinnah saw the limited Union and Sections B and C as offering substantial Muslim autonomy and a possible constitutional foundation for Pakistan.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1946 - Constitutional Proposals - Cabinet Mission Plan
The All-India Muslim League formally accepted the Cabinet Mission Plan on:
A. 6 June 1946
B. 10 July 1946
C. 29 July 1946
D. 16 August 1946
Correct Answer: A
The Muslim League Council accepted the 16 May scheme on 6 June 1946.