UPSC Prelims 2007 Q55: Modern History – Constitutional Developments & British Plans (1909 - 1947)
- (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
- (b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
- (c) A is true but R is false
- (d) A is false but R is true
Answer: (c) A is true but R is false
Explanation
Wavell Plan and Simla Conference (June 1945)
| Feature | Fact |
|---|---|
| Executive Council | All members Indian, except the Viceroy and Commander-in-Chief |
| Caste Hindus vs Muslims | Equal numbers (parity) |
| Defence | Stays with the British |
| Breakdown | Jinnah insisted that only the Muslim League could nominate Muslims |
Assertion (A): Hindu and Muslim members were to be equal — TRUE (parity between caste Hindus and Muslims).
Reason (R): Wavell thought this would avoid Partition — FALSE.
The plan was a wartime interim arrangement to win Indian co-operation and break the political deadlock.
It was not designed as an anti-Partition formula.
Answer: (c) A is true but R is false.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. R is false, so it cannot explain A.
- (b) Incorrect. R is not true — parity was an interim political arrangement, not a plan to avoid Partition.
- (c) CORRECT. Parity of caste Hindus and Muslims in the Executive Council is true; the stated motive in R is not.
- (d) Incorrect. A is true — the Wavell Plan did provide for equal Hindu and Muslim members.
Key point
Wavell Plan 1945: all-Indian Executive Council (except Viceroy and C-in-C) with Hindu-Muslim parity; failed at Simla because of Jinnah's veto.
Remember
Wavell Plan = Hindu-Muslim parity in the Executive Council; broke down at Simla, 1945.
Common mistakes
- Thinking the Simla Conference failed because of Congress. It failed over Jinnah's demand to nominate all Muslim members.
- Confusing the Wavell Plan (1945) with the Cabinet Mission (1946), which proposed a three-tier federation.
- Assuming every British plan of the 1940s was aimed at avoiding Partition.
Exam tip
1945 Wavell → Simla Conference → parity → Jinnah's veto. 1946 Cabinet Mission → groups A, B, C. 1947 Mountbatten → Partition.
Sources
- Bipan Chandra — India's Struggle for Independence, Ch 36
- Spectrum — A Brief History of Modern India (Rajiv Ahir)
- NCERT Class XII — Themes in Indian History Part III, Ch 14