UPSC Prelims 1998 · General Studies
Question 14: History and Culture
Lord Mountbatten came to India as Viceroy with specific instructions to
AnswerThe answer is (b).
Mountbatten arrived in March 1947 as the last Viceroy, with instructions from Attlee's government to arrange the transfer of power by June 1948 and, if possible, to keep India united on the lines of the Cabinet Mission Plan. When the Congress and the Muslim League could not agree, he advanced the date to 15 August 1947 and the 3 June Plan accepted partition. Partition was the outcome, not his brief. Attlee's announcement was on 20 February 1947.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Britain did not aim to balkanise India; the brief was a transfer of power, ideally to a united India.
- (b) Right: his instructions were to keep India united if possible.
- (c) Accepting Pakistan is where events led, not the original instruction.
- (d) He did not start with a mission to persuade the Congress to accept partition; that came later.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 1998, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.