Which British mission visited India to propose constitutional reforms?...
The Cabinet Mission was a British mission that visited India in 1946 to propose constitutional reforms and discuss the future of India's political structure. The mission played a crucial role in shaping the discussions that eventually led to India's independence and the creation of two separate dominions.
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Which British mission visited India to propose constitutional reforms?...
Background:
The Cabinet Mission was a high-level delegation from the British government that visited India in 1946 to propose constitutional reforms.
Purpose:
The main objective of the Cabinet Mission was to propose a plan for the transfer of power from British hands to Indian leadership.
Key Features of the Cabinet Mission:
- The Cabinet Mission consisted of three members: Sir Stafford Cripps, Lord Pethick-Lawrence, and A.V. Alexander.
- It proposed a scheme for the formation of an interim government and the framing of a new constitution for India.
- The mission recommended a three-tiered federal structure for India, which included a Union of India comprising British India and the princely states, as well as provinces with considerable autonomy.
- It also suggested the establishment of a Constituent Assembly to draft the new constitution.
Outcome:
The proposals put forward by the Cabinet Mission were accepted by the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League. However, disagreements over the composition of the Constituent Assembly led to the eventual breakdown of the talks.
Significance:
The Cabinet Mission Plan laid the groundwork for India's eventual independence and the drafting of its constitution. It marked a crucial step in the process of decolonization and the transfer of power from British rule to Indian self-governance.