UPSC Prelims 2008 Q135: Modern History – Gandhian Mass Movements (1915 - 1942)
- (a) Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A
- (b) Both A and R are individually 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: (a) Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A
Explanation
Checking an Assertion-Reason pair on the 1939 Congress Ministries' resignation
Assertion (A): The Congress Ministries in all the provinces resigned in 1939.
Reason (R): Congress did not accept the Viceroy's decision to declare war against Germany without consultation, in the context of WWII.
| Statement | Verdict | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Assertion (A) | True | The Congress Ministries did indeed resign in 1939, in protest |
| Reason (R) | True | The Congress's objection to being not consulted before India was committed to WWII was indeed the genuine reason behind this resignation |
Why R correctly explains A:
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Trigger | Britain declared India at war without consulting Indian leaders |
| Congress response | Resigned provincial ministries in protest |
Answer: (a) Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) CORRECT. Both statements are true, and R genuinely explains why the Congress Ministries resigned.
- (b) Incorrect. R does correctly explain A, so this 'not the correct explanation' option is wrong.
- (c) Incorrect. R is also true, not false.
- (d) Incorrect. A is also true, not false.
Key point
The Congress Ministries genuinely resigned in 1939 (Assertion true), specifically because Congress objected to not being consulted before Britain declared India at war in WWII (Reason true, and it correctly explains the Assertion).
Remember
Congress Ministries resigned in 1939 because Congress was not consulted before the Viceroy declared war against Germany — both statements are true, and R correctly explains A.
Common mistakes
- Assuming the resignation and its stated cause might be unrelated, when they are directly, causally connected.
- Not knowing the specific WWII declaration-without-consultation context behind this 1939 event.
- Confusing this event with other, unrelated Congress-British confrontations.
Exam tip
1939 Congress Ministries' resignation was DIRECTLY caused by the lack of consultation before declaring India at war in WWII — both Assertion and Reason are true, and R explains A.
Sources
- Bipan Chandra — Modern India (NCERT textbook for Class XII)
- Bipan Chandra, Mridula Mukherjee et al. — India's Struggle for Independence (the Congress Ministries, 1937–39)