UPSC STATIC QUIZ – History : 18 January 2024

Solution: a)

Only Statement 1 is correct.

In August 1932, Ramsay MacDonald, the British Prime Minister, announced a scheme of representation of the minorities, which came to be known as the Communal Award.

Communal award not only continued separate electorates for the Muslims, Sikhs, Indian Christians, Anglo Indians and Europeans but also extended it to the depressed classes (scheduled castes).

On the basis of round table discussions, a ‘White Paper on Constitutional Reforms’ was prepared and submitted for the consideration of the Joint Select Committee of the British Parliament.

Solution: b)

Statement 2 is incorrect.

Different opinions were voiced on the question of Indian support to British war efforts.

Gandhiji, who had all sympathy for Britain in this war because of his total dislike of the fascist ideology, advocated an unconditional support to the Allied powers. He said that he was not willing to embarrass the British government during the war.

Subhas Chandra Bose and other socialists, such as Acharya Narendra Dev and Jayaprakash Narayan had no sympathy for either side in the war. They thought it was the ideal time to launch a civil disobedience movement, to thus take advantage of the situation and snatch freedom from Britain.

Jawaharlal Nehru was not ready to accept the opinion of either Gandhiji or of the socialists. He advocated no Indian participation till India itself was free. However, at the same time, no advantage was to be taken of Britain’s difficulty by starting an immediate civil disobedience movement.

Solution: d)

On September 3, 1939, Britain declares war against Germany and declares

India’s support for the war without consulting Indian opinion. On October 23,

1939, the CWC meeting decided not to support the war, and called upon the Congress ministries to resign in the provinces.

Solution: d)

The Cripps Mission was a failed attempt in late March 1942 by the British government to secure full Indian cooperation and support for their efforts in World War II.

The Quit India Movement, also known as the August Movement, was a movement launched at the Bombay session of the All India Congress Committee by Mahatma Gandhi on 8th August 1942, during World War II, demanding an end to British rule in India.

The Wavell Plan was first presented at the Shimla Conference in 1945.

A Cabinet Mission came to India in 1946 in order to discuss the transfer of power from the British government to the Indian political leadership, with the aim of preserving India’s unity and granting its independence.

Solution: b)

Statement 3 is incorrect.

August Offer (August 1940) which proposed:

• dominion status as the objective for India;
• expansion of viceroy’s executive council which would have a majority of Indians (who would be drawn from major political parties);
• setting up of a constituent assembly after the war where mainly Indians would decide the constitution

according to their social, economic and political conceptions, subject to fulfilment of the obligation of the government regarding defence, minority rights, treaties with States, all India services; and

● no future constitution to be adopted without the consent of minorities.