Previous Year Question
Arrange the following events in a chronological order and select correct answer from the codes given below:
I. Poona Pact
II. Gandhi-Irwin Agreement
III. Cripps Mission
IV. Civil Disobedience Movement
Codes:
IV, II, III, I
II, IV, I, III
IV, II, I, III
III, I, IV, II
Correct Answer: C
Detailed Solution
The correct chronological order is Civil Disobedience Movement (1930) → Gandhi-Irwin Agreement (1931) → Poona Pact (1932) → Cripps Mission (1942).
The earliest of these was the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1930. After the Lahore Session of December 1929, the Congress adopted complete independence as its objective and authorised Gandhiji to launch the movement. Gandhiji began the Dandi March from Sabarmati Ashram on 12 March 1930, and the violation of the salt law helped transform the campaign into a widespread mass movement.
Next came the Gandhi-Irwin Agreement on 5 March 1931. Under the agreement, Gandhiji agreed to suspend the Civil Disobedience Movement and participate in the Second Round Table Conference, while the government agreed to release many prisoners associated with non-violent political activity and withdraw certain repressive measures.
The third event was the Poona Pact of 24 September 1932. Its background lay in the provision of separate electorates for the Depressed Classes under the British Communal Award. Following Gandhiji's opposition and an agreement involving Dr. B. R. Ambedkar and other concerned leaders, separate electorates were replaced by reserved seats within a joint electoral arrangement.
The latest event was the Cripps Mission of 1942. During the Second World War, the British Government sent Sir Stafford Cripps to India. He reached Delhi in March 1942 and presented proposals concerning post-war Dominion Status and constitution-making to Indian leaders, but agreement with the major political parties, including the Congress, could not be reached.