Cripps Mission (1942) Archives

1. With reference to the proposals of Cripps Mission, consider the follow

With reference to the proposals of Cripps Mission, consider the following statements :

1. The Constituent Assembly would have members nominated by the Provincial Assemblies as well as the Princely States.
2. Any Province, which is not prepared to accept the new Constitution would have the right to sign a separate agreement with Britain regarding its future status.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

1 only

2 only

Both 1 and 2

Neither 1 nor 2

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2022

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Statement 2 regarding the Cripps Mission proposals is correct, while statement 1 is incorrect.

– Statement 1: The Cripps Mission proposed that the Constituent Assembly would be formed by members elected by the provincial legislative assemblies (using proportional representation) and representatives nominated by the rulers of the princely states. The statement says “nominated by the Provincial Assemblies,” which is inaccurate; provincial representatives were to be elected.
– Statement 2: A crucial part of the Cripps offer was the provision that any province unwilling to accept the new constitution would have the right to retain its existing constitutional position, effectively meaning it could sign a separate agreement with the British government regarding its future status. This clause conceded the principle of India’s potential partition.

The Cripps Mission was sent by the British government in 1942 to secure Indian cooperation during World War II. The proposals offered Dominion Status after the war and the right of provinces to opt out, but they were rejected by both the Indian National Congress (due to lack of immediate transfer of power and the provision for partition) and the Muslim League (which did not find the provision for opting out explicit enough for Pakistan).

2. The plan of Sir Stafford Cripps envisaged that after the Second World

The plan of Sir Stafford Cripps envisaged that after the Second World War

India should be granted complete independence.

India should be partitioned into two before granting independence.

India should be made a republic with the condition that she will join the Commonwealth.

India should be given Dominion status.

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2016

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The Cripps Plan, proposed by Sir Stafford Cripps in 1942 during World War II, envisaged that after the war, India would be granted Dominion status.

The Cripps Mission aimed to secure India’s full cooperation in the war effort by promising constitutional reforms after the war. The main proposal was the creation of an Indian Union with Dominion status, free to decide its relations with the Commonwealth.

The plan also included provisions for a Constituent Assembly to frame a new constitution, and importantly, offered provinces the right to opt-out of the proposed Indian Union and form separate Dominions, or join a separate Dominion. This ‘opt-out’ clause was significant as it implicitly acknowledged the possibility of partition. However, the plan was rejected by both the Indian National Congress (seeking immediate independence and unsatisfied with Dominion status and the partition possibility) and the Muslim League (seeking a clear commitment to Pakistan).

3. Which one of the following statements about Cripps Mission is NOT corr

Which one of the following statements about Cripps Mission is NOT correct ?

In March 1942, Cripps persuaded War Cabinet to agree to a draft declaration

Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Patel represented Congress to negotiate with the mission

The mission offered Dominion status after the war

The mission offered formation of constitution making body after the war

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2017

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The statement that “Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Patel represented Congress to negotiate with the mission” is NOT correct. The Congress representatives who officially negotiated with Sir Stafford Cripps during the Cripps Mission in March 1942 were Jawaharlal Nehru and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.

The Cripps Mission was sent by the British government to secure India’s cooperation in the Second World War. Its proposals included Dominion status for India after the war, formation of a constitution-making body, and the right for provinces to opt out.

Statement A is correct; Cripps did obtain War Cabinet approval for the draft declaration. Statement C is correct; Dominion status was offered. Statement D is correct; the proposal included setting up a constituent assembly after the war. The mission ultimately failed as both Congress and the Muslim League rejected its proposals for different reasons.

4. Which one of the following statements about the Cripps Mission is not

Which one of the following statements about the Cripps Mission is not correct?

It was sent to India by the British Government in March 1942.

It proposed ‘that the Constitution of India was to be framed by an elected Constituent Assembly of the Indian people.

Any province which was not prepared to accept the Constitution would be free to retain its constitutional provisions existing at that time.

The British Government could enter into a separate constitutional arrangement with any of the acceding provinces.

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-2 – 2021

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The correct option is D) The British Government could enter into a separate constitutional arrangement with any of the acceding provinces.

The Cripps Mission (March 1942) proposed that a Constituent Assembly would frame the Constitution for India. It also included a provision that any province not willing to accept the new Constitution would be free to retain its existing constitutional position and the British Government would be prepared to enter into separate constitutional arrangements with such provinces. This provision was for *non-acceding* provinces, not *acceding* ones.

Statements A, B, and C accurately reflect the proposals of the Cripps Mission. Statement A is correct regarding the timing. Statement B is correct about the framing of the constitution. Statement C accurately describes the “opting out” clause for provinces not willing to join the proposed Indian Union. Statement D misrepresents the Cripps proposal by suggesting separate arrangements for *acceding* provinces, whereas the provision was for those opting out.