Question 72 from UPSC CSE 2016 - Modern
History

Question

The plan of Sir Stafford Cripps envisaged that after the Second World War

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: D. India should be given Dominion status

Strategy: Recall the Cripps Mission's primary proposal for India's post-war political status. The mission offered Dominion Status as the immediate arrangement. Eliminate other options like complete independence, partition, or republican status, which were not part of the direct proposal. The answer is Dominion status.

Key Info: The Cripps Mission was dispatched to India in March 1942 by the British government, led by Sir Stafford Cripps, a Labour Party leader and a member of the War Cabinet. The mission aimed to secure Indian cooperation and support for the British war efforts during World War II, especially in the wake of Japanese advances in Southeast Asia.

**Key proposals of the Cripps Plan after the Second World War included:**

*   **Dominion Status:** India would be granted Dominion Status, with the freedom to decide its relations with the Commonwealth and the United Nations.
*   **Constituent Assembly:** A Constituent Assembly would be convened to frame a new constitution for India. Its members would be partly elected by provincial assemblies and partly nominated by princely states.
*   **Provincial Autonomy/Opt-out Clause:** Any province unwilling to accept the new constitution would have the right to form a separate union and draft its own constitution. This provision implicitly acknowledged the possibility of partition.
*   **Treaty with British Government:** A treaty would be negotiated between the British government and the Constituent Assembly to safeguard racial and religious minorities.
*   **Defence:** The defence of India would remain under British control until the transfer of power.

Both the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League rejected the Cripps proposals. The Congress demanded immediate complete independence and a united India, opposing the 'opt-out' clause for provinces. The Muslim League rejected it because it did not offer a clear assurance for the creation of Pakistan.

Answer

Option A: India should be granted complete independence

Answer

Option B: India should be partitioned into two before granting independence

Answer

Option C: India should be made a republic with the condition that she will join the Commonwealth