Key Concepts & Self-Assessment15 Key Facts
Review key Cabinet Mission Plan 1946 & Formation of Interim Government exam facts and rate your mastery to track revision.
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#1
The British government announced the dispatch of the Cabinet Mission to India on February 19, 1946, to devise a framework for independence.
#2
The Cabinet Mission comprised three British Cabinet ministers: Lord Pethick-Lawrence, Sir Stafford Cripps, and First Lord of Admiralty A.V. Alexander.
#3
The Mission formally published its constitutional recommendations on May 16, 1946, after negotiations at the Shimla Conference failed to yield agreement.
#4
The Plan rejected the Muslim League's demand for a completely separate sovereign state of Pakistan, advocating a unified Indian Union instead.
#5
The proposed Union government held jurisdictional authority over three subjects: defence, foreign affairs, and communications, plus taxation powers.
#6
All residual legislative subjects and unassigned powers were vested in the individual provinces and acceding princely states.
#7
The Plan categorized British Indian provinces into three distinct groups: Group A (Hindu-majority), Group B (northwest Muslim), and Group C (Bengal and Assam).
#8
Provincial grouping was designed as mandatory during the initial constitution-framing process, with provinces granted an option to opt out after general elections.
#9
The Constituent Assembly was allotted 389 seats, comprising 292 from British provinces, 93 from princely states, and 4 from Chief Commissioners' provinces.
#10
Members of the Constituent Assembly were indirectly elected by the lower houses of provincial legislative assemblies via proportional representation.
#11
The Muslim League withdrew its acceptance of the Plan on July 29, 1946, after Jawaharlal Nehru asserted that the Constituent Assembly remained sovereign.
#12
Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the Muslim League launched Direct Action Day on August 16, 1946, inciting widespread communal violence known as the Great Calcutta Killings.
#13
The Interim Government assumed office on September 2, 1946, with Jawaharlal Nehru serving as the Vice-President of the Viceroy's Executive Council.
#14
The Muslim League joined the Interim Government on October 26, 1946, with Liaquat Ali Khan securing the strategic portfolio of Finance.
#15
The first official session of the Constituent Assembly convened on December 9, 1946, in New Delhi, boycotted by all 73 elected Muslim League representatives.
Subject Specialist Commentary
Analytical perspective & practical exam advice from the Master10 academic board
Sent to India in 1946, the British Cabinet Mission sought an agreed framework for independence. Published in May 1946, the plan rejected a sovereign Pakistan, proposing an undivided Indian Union limited to foreign affairs, defence, and communications. It grouped provinces into three sections and designed a 389-member Constituent Assembly elected by provincial legislatures. Although initially accepted by major parties, disagreements over mandatory provincial grouping quickly led to political deadlock.
For modern history questions in UPSC and State PSC exams, memorize the three Mission members: Pethick-Lawrence, Stafford Cripps, and A.V. Alexander. Be careful with timeline statements: the Interim Government took office under Jawaharlal Nehru on September 2, 1946, while the Muslim League joined in October, securing finance under Liaquat Ali Khan. Another common exam trap is that the Muslim League boycotted the Constituent Assembly's opening session on December 9, 1946.
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