UPSC Prelims 2013 Q40: Modern History – Gandhian Mass Movements (1915 - 1942)
Quit India Movement was launched in response to
- (a) Cabinet Mission Plan
- (b) Cripps Proposals
- (c) Simon Commission Report
- (d) Wavell Plan
Answer: (b) Cripps Proposals
Explanation
What led to the Quit India Movement
The Cripps Mission of March 1942 offered only Dominion status after the war.
It failed, and the Quit India Movement followed in August 1942.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| March 1942 | Cripps Proposals; rejected by the Congress and the Muslim League |
| July 1942 | Wardha resolution of the Congress Working Committee |
| 8 August 1942 | Quit India resolution passed at Gowalia Tank, Bombay; Gandhi's call of 'Do or Die' |
| 9 August 1942 | Leaders arrested; the movement became leaderless and spread |
The other options:
| Option | Year |
|---|---|
| Simon Commission Report | 1930 |
| Wavell Plan | 1945 |
| Cabinet Mission Plan | 1946 |
All three are either too early or came after 1942.
Answer: (b) Cripps Proposals.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. The Cabinet Mission Plan came in 1946, after Quit India.
- (b) CORRECT. The failure of the Cripps Proposals led to the Quit India Movement.
- (c) Incorrect. The Simon Commission Report was published in 1930.
- (d) Incorrect. The Wavell Plan came in 1945.
Key point
Cripps Mission (March 1942) failed; Quit India resolution on 8 August 1942 at Bombay; 'Do or Die'; leaders arrested on 9 August.
Remember
Quit India followed the failed Cripps Mission.
Common mistakes
- Mixing up the Cripps Mission (1942) and the Cabinet Mission (1946).
- Placing the Wavell Plan before Quit India.
- Forgetting the place: Gowalia Tank Maidan, Bombay.
Exam tip
Order: Cripps (1942), Quit India (1942), Wavell (1945), Cabinet Mission (1946).
Sources
- Bipan Chandra — India's Struggle for Independence, Ch 35 (The Quit India Movement and the INA)
- Spectrum — A Brief History of Modern India (Quit India Movement)