1996 General Studies, all questions
UPSC Prelims 1996 · General Studies
Question 43: History and Culture
Which one of the following first mooted the idea of a constituent assembly to frame a constitution for India?
aSwaraj Party in 1934
bCongress Party in 1936
cMuslim League in 1942
dAll Parties Conference in 1946
AnswerThe answer is (a).
The idea of a Constituent Assembly for India was first mooted in 1934, by M. N. Roy and taken up by the Swaraj Party. The Congress made it an official demand afterwards (1935-36) and pressed it repeatedly; the Cabinet Mission finally created the Assembly in 1946. Remember: 1934 Swaraj Party - 1935-36 Congress - 1946 Cabinet Mission Plan.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Right: the Swaraj Party raised the demand in 1934.
- (b) The Congress adopted the demand after 1934, so it was not the first.
- (c) The Muslim League's position on an assembly came later and in a different sense.
- (d) By 1946 the Assembly was already being set up under the Cabinet Mission Plan; the idea was far older.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 1996, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.