Under whose leadership did the Cabinet Mission come to India?

The correct answer is Pethick Lawrence.

Key Points

• The Cabinet Mission to India in 1946 was led by three British officials: Pethick Lawrence, Stafford Cripps, and A.V. Alexander.
• Pethick Lawrence served as the Secretary of State for India and Burma at the time.
• The main objective of the Cabinet Mission was to discuss and plan for the transfer of power from British rule to Indian leadership.
• The mission proposed a three-tier structure for the Indian government, which included a central government, groups of provinces, and individual provinces.

Additional Information

• Cabinet Mission Plan
  • The plan aimed at discussing the framework for the Indian constitution and the means to achieve independence.
  • It proposed the formation of a Constituent Assembly to draft a constitution for India.
  • The mission suggested an interim government to be formed until the new constitution was ready.
  • It was ultimately unsuccessful in achieving a consensus among Indian political parties, leading to the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947.
• Key Figures
  • Pethick Lawrence: Secretary of State for India and Burma.
  • Stafford Cripps: President of the Board of Trade and a prominent Labour politician.
  • A.V. Alexander: First Lord of the Admiralty and a Labour politician.
• Historical Context
  • The mission took place in the backdrop of increasing demands for independence from the British rule.
  • World War II had weakened Britain's ability to maintain its empire, leading to the decision to transfer power.
  • The Indian National Congress and the Muslim League were the two major political parties involved in the negotiations.
• Outcomes
  • The mission's failure to achieve a unified agreement led to the eventual partition.
  • India and Pakistan gained independence on August 15, 1947.
  • The Constituent Assembly of India adopted the Constitution on November 26, 1949, which came into effect on January 26, 1950.