Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1942 - Constitutional Proposals - Cripps Mission
Who was to retain operational command of the armed forces?
A. The Commander-in-Chief
B. The Congress president
C. The Muslim League president
D. The Speaker of the Assembly
Correct Answer: A
All sides accepted that wartime military operations would remain under the British Commander-in-Chief.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1942 - Constitutional Proposals - Cripps Mission
The most difficult interim issue in the negotiations became:
A. The date of the 1937 elections
B. The name of the Indian Union
C. The boundaries of Burma only
D. The powers and composition of the wartime national government
Correct Answer: D
Hansard explained that the final breakdown centred on the temporary government before the new constitution.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1942 - Constitutional Proposals - Cripps Mission
Congress demanded that the wartime government should function as a:
A. Provincial advisory committee only
B. Military dictatorship
C. National government with real executive power
D. Princely council
Correct Answer: C
Congress focused on immediate transfer of effective power, especially over defence.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1942 - Constitutional Proposals - Cripps Mission
The British Government invited Indian leaders to participate immediately in:
A. The Japanese War Cabinet
B. National, Commonwealth and United Nations councils
C. Only municipal boards
D. The League of Nations Assembly
Correct Answer: B
The offer sought immediate participation in wartime counsels without transferring full sovereignty.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1942 - Constitutional Proposals - Cripps Mission
The task of mobilising India's military, moral and material resources was to involve:
A. The Government of India with public cooperation
B. Only the British Parliament
C. Only the princely rulers
D. Only the provincial police
Correct Answer: A
The declaration invited Indian participation in organising resources while Britain retained defence control.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1942 - Constitutional Proposals - Cripps Mission
Why did Britain insist on retaining defence?
A. Provincial governments had abolished the army
B. The League demanded British control
C. The constitution had already been completed
D. India was part of the global Allied war effort
Correct Answer: D
Britain argued that military command could not be transferred during an active invasion threat.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1942 - Constitutional Proposals - Cripps Mission
During the war, control and direction of India's defence would remain with:
A. The Muslim League
B. The Congress Working Committee
C. The British Government
D. The provincial assemblies
Correct Answer: C
The Draft Declaration retained British responsibility for defence during hostilities.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1942 - Constitutional Proposals - Cripps Mission
The Sikh community's main concern centred on its future position in:
A. Madras
B. Punjab
C. Orissa
D. Assam
Correct Answer: B
Sikhs feared becoming a vulnerable minority in a Muslim-majority Punjab or Pakistan arrangement.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1942 - Constitutional Proposals - Cripps Mission
Which group feared domination in a future Hindu-majority India and demanded special protection?
A. Depressed Classes
B. British Cabinet ministers
C. Provincial governors
D. European monarchs
Correct Answer: A
Representatives of the Depressed Classes sought safeguards against caste-Hindu domination.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1942 - Constitutional Proposals - Cripps Mission
The treaty was also required to provide protection for:
A. Only provincial governors
B. Only British commercial firms
C. Only princely rulers
D. Racial and religious minorities
Correct Answer: D
Minority safeguards were expressly mentioned in the declaration.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1942 - Constitutional Proposals - Cripps Mission
The proposed treaty would address:
A. Only railway fares
B. Only provincial elections
C. The complete transfer of responsibility from British to Indian hands
D. Only ceremonial titles
Correct Answer: C
The treaty would cover obligations created by the transfer of governmental responsibility.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1942 - Constitutional Proposals - Cripps Mission
The future constitution was to be accompanied by a treaty between:
A. Congress and the Muslim League only
B. Britain and the constitution-making body
C. The Viceroy and Japan
D. Punjab and Bengal only
Correct Answer: B
A negotiated treaty would regulate matters arising from the transfer of responsibility.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1942 - Constitutional Proposals - Cripps Mission
Even if a princely state did not join, its existing treaty relations would require:
A. Revision in light of the new situation
B. Automatic cancellation without negotiation
C. Approval by Congress alone
D. A provincial referendum
Correct Answer: A
The declaration acknowledged that new constitutional arrangements required revision of state treaties.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1942 - Constitutional Proposals - Cripps Mission
A princely state was free to decide whether to:
A. Abolish its ruler immediately
B. Join the Muslim League
C. Become a British county
D. Adhere to the new constitution
Correct Answer: D
Accession by the Indian states depended on their decision.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1942 - Constitutional Proposals - Cripps Mission
Representatives of princely states would possess:
A. Only observer status
B. No voting power
C. The same powers as British Indian members
D. Power to veto every decision individually
Correct Answer: C
The declaration granted state representatives the same powers in the constitution-making body.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1942 - Constitutional Proposals - Cripps Mission
The number of representatives from princely states was to be based mainly on:
A. Military strength
B. Population proportion
C. Age of the ruling dynasty
D. Land revenue only
Correct Answer: B
State representation was to be in the same population proportion as British Indian representation.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1942 - Constitutional Proposals - Cripps Mission
How were the princely states to participate in constitution-making?
A. By appointing representatives
B. Through direct adult franchise in every state
C. By sending provincial governors
D. By remaining permanently excluded
Correct Answer: A
The rulers of Indian states were invited to appoint representatives.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1942 - Constitutional Proposals - Cripps Mission
One Muslim League objection was that the procedure treated Pakistan as a question of:
A. British parliamentary seats
B. Municipal taxation
C. Princely succession
D. Provincial choice rather than Muslim national self-determination
Correct Answer: D
The League wanted a clearer recognition of Muslim nationhood and separate constitution-making.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1942 - Constitutional Proposals - Cripps Mission
The non-accession clause applied to:
A. Only religious communities
B. Only municipalities
C. Individual provinces of British India
D. Only the British Parliament
Correct Answer: C
The decision was framed provincially rather than as a collective right of the Muslim nation.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1942 - Constitutional Proposals - Cripps Mission
Why did the League remain dissatisfied despite the opt-out clause?
A. The proposals immediately created Pakistan
B. Pakistan was not explicitly and unequivocally conceded
C. The League opposed all provincial autonomy
D. The proposal excluded Muslim-majority provinces
Correct Answer: B
The declaration provided an opening for separation but did not directly accept the Lahore Resolution.