Previous Year Question
With reference to the proposals of Cripps Mission, consider the following statements:
The Constituent Assembly would have members nominated by the Provincial Assemblies as well as the Princely States.
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?
Correct Answer: B
Detailed Solution
In March 1942, the British War Cabinet sent Sir Stafford Cripps to India with constitutional proposals. Its objective was to secure Indian cooperation in the Second World War.
Statement 1 is incorrect: The representatives of the Provincial Assemblies in the proposed Constituent Assembly were to be elected, not nominated. They were to be elected on the basis of proportional representation. Representatives of the Princely States were to be nominated by their rulers.
Statement 2 is correct: A Province unwilling to accept the new Constitution was given the right to remain outside the proposed Indian Union and retain its existing constitutional position. The British Government was prepared to make a separate constitutional arrangement with such a Province.
The option given to Provinces to remain outside the Union created the possibility of India’s partition and the formation of separate unions. This became a major reason for opposition to the Cripps Proposals.
Therefore, only Statement 2 is correct.