2003 General Studies, all questions
UPSC Prelims 2003 · General Studies
Question 136: History and Culture
An important aspect of the Cripps Mission of 1942 was
athat all Indian States should join the Indian Union as a condition to consider any degree of autonomy for India
bthe creation of an Indian Union with Dominion status very soon after the Second World War
cthe active participation and cooperation of the Indian people, communities and political parties in the British war effort as a condition for granting independence with full sovereign status to India after war
dthe framing of a constitution for the entire Indian Union, with no separate constitution for any province, and a Union Constitution to be accepted by all provinces
AnswerThe answer is (b).
The Cripps Mission of March 1942 offered Dominion status for India after the Second World War, with a constituent assembly to frame a constitution and the right for any province to stay out of the Union. The key's important aspect is the creation of an Indian Union with Dominion status soon after the war. Both the Congress and the Muslim League rejected the offer.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Joining the Union was not a condition; provinces and States could stay out.
- (b) Correct: an Indian Union with Dominion status soon after the war.
- (c) The offer was Dominion status after the war; it did not make independence conditional on support for the war effort.
- (d) Provinces could opt out and have separate constitutions, so there was no single constitution for all.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2003, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.