2000 General Studies, all questions
UPSC Prelims 2000 · General Studies
Question 70: History and Culture
As an alternative to the partition of India, Gandhiji suggested to Mountbatten that he
apostpone granting of independence
binvite Jinnah to form the government
cinvite Nehru and Jinnah to form the government together
dinvite the army to take over for some time
AnswerThe answer is (b).
In April 1947 Gandhi suggested to Mountbatten that, to avoid partition, Jinnah be invited to form the government of the whole country, with the Congress ready to support it. Mountbatten took it seriously, but Nehru and other Congress leaders did not accept it, and the Muslim League stuck to its demand for Pakistan. Remember this as Gandhi's last effort to prevent partition.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Gandhi did not propose to postpone independence as an alternative.
- (b) Right: he suggested inviting Jinnah to form the government.
- (c) Gandhi did not propose a joint government of Nehru and Jinnah.
- (d) Gandhi did not propose a takeover by the army.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2000, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.