Question

The Cabinet Mission of 1946 was led by
1. Sir Pethick Lawrence
2. Lord Linlithgow 
3. Lord Wavell
4. Sir Jobn Simon

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 1 : Sir Pethick Lawrence

The correct answer is Sir Pethick Lawrence.

• The "Cabinet Mission" of 1946 came to India aiming to discuss the transfer of powers from the British government to the Indian leadership.
• The mission aimed at preserving India's unity and granting its independence.
• The mission proposed to divide into 3 administrative groups: A, B, and C clusters.
• The "Cabinet Mission" was formulated at the initiative of Clement Attlee, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
• The cabinet mission recommended an undivided India and turned down the Muslim league’s demand for a separate Pakistan.
• It recognized Indian Right to cede from the Commonwealth.
• The representation of the Provincial legislatures was to be broken up into 3 sections under Cabinet Mission, these were.
  • Section A: Madras, UP, Central provinces, Bombay, Bihar & Orissa
  • Section B: Punjab, Sindh, NWFP, Baluchistan
  • Section C: Assam and Bengal. 

• Linlithgow 
  • Lord Linlithgow was Viceroy of India from 1936 to 1944
  • This eight years period was the longest reign as Viceroy of India.
  • During this period, parts of the Government of India Act 1935 came into force in 1937.
• Lord Wavell:-
  • He ​served as Commander in chief of India from July 1941 until June 1943.
  • Then he served as Viceroy of India until his retirement in February 1947.
• John Allsebrook Simon -
  • He was one of only 3 people to have served as Foreign Secretary, Home Secretary, and Chancellor of the Exchequer.
  • The others being James Callaghan and Rab Butler.
• Lord Hardinge
  • Served as Viceroy of India from 1910-16.
  • Important events during his tenure were
    • Delhi Durbar of 1911.
    • Annulment of Bengal Partition - 1911.
    • Transfer of capital from Calcutta to Delhi - 1911.
    • First World War-1914