ICSE Solutions and Questions Answers for Independence and Partition of India Class 10 History
We are going to learn the ICSE Solutions of eleventh chapter of the History textbook of Class 10. The name of the chapter is Independence and Partition of India. All types of questions including very short answer type, short answer type, structured questions and questions based on picture perception has been provided. This ICSE solutions for Independence and Partition of India will help the students in learning the chapter outcome.
| Name of the chapter | Independence and Partition of India |
| Subject | History and Civics |
| Topics covered |
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| Related Readings |
Very Short Questions
Answer
(i) Lord Patrick Lawrence
(ii) Sir Stafford Cripps
(iii) A. V. Alexander
Answer
The purpose of the Cabinet Mission was to hold consultations with the Indian leaders with the aim of setting up complete self-government in India.
Answer
The Cabinet Mission Plan tried to preserve the unity of India by providing the grouping of Muslim-majority provinces.
Answer
Congress was against the partition of the country.
Answer
India would be federation of British Indian Provinces and Princely States.
Answer
The Congress accepted the long-term plan but rejected the proposal for an Interim Government.
Answer
The Muslim League accepted the Cabinet Mission Plan entirely and asked the Viceroy to constitute an Interim Government.
Answer
The Viceroy refused to implement the Interim Government Plan as proposed in the Cabinet Mission Plan.
Answer
Lord Mountbatten replaced Lord Wavell as the Viceroy of India.
Answer
Lord Mountbatten was the last British Viceroy of India.
Answer
Lord Mountbatten assumed office as Governor General and Viceroy of India on 24 March 1947.
Answer
In the Mountbatten Plan it was stated that the Princely States would have the option to join one dominion out of two either India or Pakistan.
Answer
According to the Mountbatten Plan, the transfer of power in India could be on the basis of the partition of the country. Power would be transferred to one whole or more States.
Answer
The British Government introduced the Indian Independence Bill in Parliament on 16 July 1947.
Answer
In the Independence Act 1947 the Princely States were given the choice to join either of the Dominions or to retain their independence.
16. Which party came to power in England after the Second World War?
Answer
Labour Party with Mr. Clement Attlee as the Prime Minister came to power in England after Second World War
17. Name the territories which were to be included in Pakistan under the Two Nation Theory.
Answer
Punjab, Afghan Province, Kashmir and Sind and Baluchistan.
Short Answer Questions
1. Why was Cabinet Mission sent to India?
Answer
Mr. Attlee, the Prime Minister of England sent the Cabinet Mission to India in 1946 A.D. in order to discuss and finalise plans with the Congress and the Muslim League for the transfer of power from the British Raj to the Indian leadership. The mission would aim to help Indian leaders decide the form of government that would suit them after the transfer of power.
2. What was stated in the provision of the Cabinet Mission plan with respect to the formation of federal government?
Answer
(i) Cabinet Mission: It recommended a two-tier federal type of government for the whole of India including British India and Princely States.
(ii) Central Government was to have important subjects under its jurisdiction, namely defence, foreign affairs and communication and also have the power to raise finances required for these subjects.
3. Describe the composition of the Constituent Assembly as proposed by the Cabinet Mission?
Answer
A Constituent Assembly consisting of 389 members-296 members to be elected from British provinces and 93 from Indian Princely States would draft the constitution of India.
4. On what basis did the Cabinet Mission group the provinces in India?
Answer
(i) Group A (Hindu Majority) - Madras, Bombay, U.P. Bihar, the Central Province Orissa.
(ii) Group B (Muslim Majority) - Punjab, Sindh, North West Frontier Province, British Baluchistan.
(iii) Group C (Others) - Bengal and Assam
5. State any two provisions of Cabinet Mission Plan?
Answer
(i) Formation of Interim Government: An Interim Government would be formed at the Centre with 14 members. For the time being the Viceroy would reconstitute his Executive Council consisting of representatives of all communities.
(ii) Freedom to join the Commonwealth: The Union of India would be free to remain in or walk out of the British Common wealth.
(iii) Representation of Minorities: Separate representation was to be given to Muslim and Sikhs.
6. What was the reaction of Indian National Congress towards Cabinet Mission Plan?
Answer
Reaction of the Congress: Congress Working Committee agreed to join the Constituent Assembly (a sovereign body) with a view of framing the Constitution of a united democratic India.
Major objections of the Congress were:
- The Plan will divide India into small states.
- It objected grouping of provinces on a communal basis.
- It objected the inclusion of Assam, a Hindu-majority province with the Muslim-majority Bengal province.
- It opposed the League's claim that it alone had the right to nominate all the Muslim members to the Executive Council.
- Interim Government would have a limited status.
7. Why did Cabinet Mission reject the demand of Pakistan?
Answer
The Cabinet Mission rejected the Muslim Leagues' demand for Pakistan for the following reasons.
- It would be difficult to disintegrate the Armed forces, Postal and telegraph systems which had been built for India as a whole.
- Partition would make the problem of Princely states more complex.
- The two halves of proposed Pakistan would be separated by some 700 miles. Communication between them would depend on the goodwill of India.
- No justification for including within Pakistan, the non-Muslim districts of Bengal, Assam and Punjab.
8. What concern did the Sikh and scheduled caste face in the Cabinet Mission Plan?
Answer
The Sikhs were against the proposals because Punjab was placed in Group B along with Muslim - majority provinces. Dr. Ambedkar, the leader of Schedule caste opposed the plan because only one seat was offered to them in the Interim Government.
9. When was the Cabinet Mission sent to India? Write an international event that led to the Cabinet Mission?
Answer
Cabinet Mission was sent to India on March 24, 1946. The end of the Second World War had changed the balance of power. The USA and the Soviet Union emerged as the Super Powers and both supported India.
10. What was the main objective of the Cabinet Mission?
Answer
The main purpose was to bring about a settlement between the League and the Congress for speedy transfer of power from British to the Indian hands.
11. Name the persons who constituted the Cabinet Mission.
Answer
- Lord Pethick Lawrence (Secretary of State for India)
- Sir Stafford Cripps and (President of the Board of Trade)
- Mr. A .V. Alexander (The first lord of Admiralty)
12. What was the reaction of the Muslim League on the proposals of Cabinet Mission?
Answer
The League accepted it in its entirety in June 1946 because it felt that the grouping of Muslim majority provinces in a way meant the formation of Pakistan. The League asked Wavell, the Viceroy, to constitute an Interim Government.
13. Why were the Cabinet Mission's proposals rejected by the Sikhs?
Answer
They rejected the proposals because Punjab was placed in Group B along with the Muslim majority provinces. They felt that the Muslim League would play a dominant role in the region.
14. Why did the Muslim League first accept and then reject the Cabinet Mission proposals?
Answer
The League initially accepted the plan since it felt that grouping of Muslim majority provinces meant formation of Pakistan. But later on it was rejected because it failed to win more seats than the Congress.
15. Who was Attlee? Why was Attlee's announcement welcomed by the Muslim League?
Answer
Clement Attlee of Labour Party was the Prime Minister of Britain when India became independent. He was the person who announced that the British would quit India by June, 1948. It was accepted by the Muslim League because the Prime Minister had made it clear that power would not necessarily be handed over to a single government for the whole of India.
16. What was the significance of Nehru's resolution in Constituent Assembly?
Answer
Nehru moved his famous resolution on December 11th, 1946. The resolution declared the Assembly's resolve to make India an Independent Sovereign Republic.
17. Which territorial provisions were suggested by Lord Mountbatten to implement the partition of India?
Answer
Following are territorial provisions suggested by Lord Mountbatten:
- Bengal and Punjab: The partition of Bengal and Punjab was proposed provided that the Legislative Assemblies of the two provinces decided in favour of partition.
- Sindh: The Legislative Assembly of Sindh was to take its own decision at a special meeting.
- The North-West Frontier Province: A plebiscite was to be held to ascertain whether the people wanted to join India or Pakistan.
- The District of Sylhet: It was to be decided by a referendum whether Sylhet would join East Bengal or remain in Assam.
18. What made Lord Mountbatten present the plan of partition of India?
Answer
The Cabinet Mission Plan failed to bring a settlement between the Congress and the League for the speedy transfer of power from the British to the Indian hands. Communal riots broke out. The uncompromising attitude of Jinnah and Muslim League made it difficult to preserve the unity of India. It looked as if that Partition was the only option left otherwise a brutal civil war could take place.
19. When did Lord Mountbatten assume his office? What was his immediate task?
Answer
Lord Mountbatten assumed the office of the Viceroy and Governor- General on 3rd June 1947. His immediate task was to restore peace among the two warring sections - the Congress and the League - both in his Executive Council, and in the country at large.
Answer
Jinnah's demand for partition strengthened after the general elections in 1945-46 because the Muslim League could not form the Government in any province, despite of its victories in the elections.
Answer
Pethick Lawrence, the Secretary of state Sir Stafford Cripps, president of the Board of Trade. A.V. Alexender, the first Lord of Admiralty.
(i) The Viceroy's Executive Council would have representatives from the two main communities i.e., the Hindus and the Muslims.
(ii) A British High Commissioner would live in India to represent Great Britains Commercial and other interests.
Answer
The Cabinet Mission rejected Jinnah's demand for partition of India on the ground that partition would involve dislocation of communication networks and would involve division of the armed forces and service personnel.
Answer
Two clauses of Cabinet Mission were:
(i) India would be a federation of British Indian Provinces and Princely States.
(ii) The Central Government would have three subjects under its jurisdiction-defence, foreign affairs and communication. The other subjects rested with the provinces.
Answer
(i) India would be a federation of British provinces and the Indian States.
(ii) The Federal Government would deal with defence, foreign affairs and communication. All other subjects would be under the control of the provinces.
Answer
The recommendations of the Cabinet Mission Plan regarding Princely States were that they would not be under the direct control of the Union and they would themselves decide as to what powers they would surrender.
Answer
The provinces would be free to form regional unions to which they would surrender some powers by mutual consent. There were to be three groups of provinces and each would have its separate Constitution and if any province wanted to opt out of the group after the first general election they could do so.
Answer
The Congress' view on the grouping of the provinces was that the provinces should have the option to join any group. The Muslim League was not prepared to compromise on the compulsory grouping of the provinces.
Answer
The Congress rejected the League's claim of having the exclusive right for nominating members of the Muslim Quota in the interim Government because it did not want to accept an artificial party with the Muslim League in the formation of a National Government.
Answer
Jinnah in his presidential address at Lahore session declared that Hindus and Muslims belong to two different civilizations which are based mainly on conflicting ideas and conceptions. If these two communities live in one nation, it will be disastrous.
Answer
The main purpose of the Cabinet Mission was to bring a settlement between the league and the congress for speedy transfer of power from British to Indian hands.
Answer
The Cabinet Mission Plan rejected the demand for Pakistan because:
- The partition as claimed by the Muslim League would not solve the communal problem.
- A small Pakistan would not be viable if it is in two halves: One in the East the other in the West.
- Partition would involve dislocation of communication networks as well as division of armed forces and service personals along communal lines.
Answer
The League was accepted it in its entirety on June 6, 1946, because it felt that the grouping of Muslim majority provinces in a way meant the formation of Pakistan. The league asked Wavell, the Viceroy, to constitute an Interim Government. Election to the Constituent Assembly were held in July 1946, in which the Congress obtained two-third majority. The Congress had an overwhelming majority in the Constituent Assembly. The League feared that it would be out voted in the Assembly. It also feared that the British withdrawal from India would mean transfer of power to the Hindus, who were in a majority in India. Thus, the league the cabinet mission plan.
Answer
The Cabinet Mission proposed a federal union with three tiers: the provinces, the regional groups of provinces and a union centre. The Sikhs opposed the Cabinet Mission plan because Punjab was placed in Group B along with Muslim majority provinces of NWFP and Sindh. They felt the Muslim League would play a dominant role in that region.
Answer
Jinnah wrote to the Viceroy informing him that the Muslim League had decided to join the Interim Government and changed its previous stand. Accordingly, on the representatives of the League were also inducted into the Government under Jawaharlal Nehru. But very soon there were arguments regarding the interpretations of the Cabinet Missions Plan. This resulted in the Muslim League creating an unpleasant situation. At this stage the Muslim League joined the Interim Government but did not join the Constituent Assembly.
Answer
The League fixed August 16, 1946 as the day for observing the Direct Action Day throughout the country. There were clashes and communal riots all over the country. Nearly 5,000 lives were lost, over 15,000 persons were injured and many became homeless. Property worth crores of rupees was destroyed. All these incidents widened the gap between the Muslim League and the Congress and even between the Hindus and the Muslims.
Answer
The communal violence that erupted as a result of 'Direct Action Day' was the worst of its kind ever seen in the history of India. Muslims organised demonstrations, strikes and processions. The city of Calcutta witnessed riots and scenes of barbarity of worst kind. Over 5000 people died in violence and three times this number were wounded besides loss of property. The communal violence later also spread to Noakhali, some parts of Bihar and even Punjab.
Answer
The Congress leaders like Gandhiji went on foot from place to place in Noakhali. He even undertook 24 hour fast on the very night when transfer of power took place. Jawaharlal Nehru even though busy in Delhi with transfer of power, took time off and went to Bihar to personally supervise the actions of the Congress ministry in Bihar. Other Congress leaders were also there but the Chief Minister Mr. Suhrawardy in Bengal did nothing to check communal violence. Some Government officials even supported the perpetrators of violence.
Structured Questions
1. With regards to the conflict between Congress and Muslim League, explain.
(a) Why did the Muslim League observe the Direct Action Day?
(b) Conflict between Congress and Muslim League
(c) Attlee's Announcement
Answer
(a) Elections to the Constituent Assembly were held in July, 1946. The Congress won 201 seats and the Muslim League only 73. Jinnah declared his intention to create Pakistan. The Muslim League withdrew its acceptance of the Cabinet Mission Plan.
- On August 14, 1946, the Viceroy invited Jawahar Lal Nehru to form the government. On the next day, Jinnah announced August 16, 1946 would be 'Direct Action Day' for the purpose of winning a separate Muslim state.
- League walked out of Constituent Assembly and demanded a separate Constituent Assembly for Pakistan. However, it was not agreed by the British.
(b)
- Direct Action Day: In Calcutta, August 16 began with public demonstration, hartals and hoisting of Muslim League flags. Many were killed. Houses and shops were looted and burnt.
- The Congress formed the Government on September 2nd, 1946. The Muslim League observed it as a 'day of mourning'.
- Swearing-in of the Interim Government: On September 2nd, 1946, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and his colleagues were sworn in as members of the Viceroy's Executive Council. The Muslim League kept itself out of the Government.
- Later the Muslim League became a part of Nehru's interim government. Its objective was to obstruct the working of the government. League's nominees did not accept Nehru's Leadership. They openly rejected the idea of collective responsibility.
(c)
- Mr. Attlee, the British Prime Minister, announced on February 20th, 1947, in the House of Commons that Britain would withdraw from India and transfer power to responsible Indians by June 1948.
- Lord Wavell was recalled and Lord Mountbatten was appointed as the new Viceroy. Lord Mountbatten assumed office on March 24th, 1947.
2. The Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946 tried to please both the Congress and the League. In this context, answer the following:
(a) Why did the League earlier accept and later reject the proposals of the Cabinet Mission?
(b) The partial acceptance of the Cabinet Mission Plan by the Congress.
(c) Cabinet Mission Plan was accepted by the Muslim League in entirety.
What were the reactions of the Congress and the Muslim League to Cabinet Mission Plan?
Answer
(a) The League had accepted the Plan because it felt that the grouping of Muslim-majority provinces in a way meant the formation of Pakistan. Later the Muslim League passed a resolution on July 29th, 1946 withdrawing its acceptance of the Cabinet Mission Plan because:
- The League could win only 73 seats. It feared that it would be over dominated by the Congress.
- It also feared that British withdrawal from India would mean transfer of power to Hindus.
(b) The Congress accepted the proposals with reservations.
- It accepted only that part of the scheme which dealt with the Constitution making. It considered the Constituent Assembly as a sovereign body for drafting the Constitution.
- The Congress wanted the grouping of the Provinces as optional and not compulsory. The Cabinet Mission accepted the complete freedom of the Constituent Assembly to frame the Constitution, but insisted on the compulsory grouping of the Provinces.
- The Congress however, rejected the Viceroy's offer to form an Interim Government because of its limited status and powers.
- The principle of parity with Muslim League was not acceptable to it. It was also opposed to the League's claim that it alone had the right to nominate all the Muslim members to the Executive Council.
(c) The League accepted it in its entirety in June 1946 because it felt that the grouping of Muslim majority Provinces in a way meant the formation of Pakistan. The League asked Wavell, the Viceroy, to constitute an Interim Government.
(a) Clauses related to partition.
(b) Clauses related to constitution.
(c) Clauses related to territories
(d) The reasons that made the Congress accept the partition proposals.
Answer
(a)
- Division of the Country: The country would be divided into two Dominions i.e., India and Pakistan.
- Relations between the two new Dominions: It was for the two Dominions to decide what relations they would have with the British Commonwealth and with each other.
- A Boundary Commission: A Boundary Commission would be set up to decide about the boundary disputes.
- The Princely States: The Princely States would be free to choose their own option, (either join India or Pakistan) and treaties signed with them would soon come to an end.
(b) The Constituent Assembly: The existing Constituent Assembly would continue to work, but the Constitution framed by it would not be applied to Pakistan. A separate Constituent Assembly would be constituted for those parts which decided in favour of partition.
(c)
- Bengal and Punjab: The provinces of Bengal and Punjab were also to be divided as per the opinion of their respective Legislative Assemblies.
- Sindh: The Legislative Assembly of Sindh was to take its own decision at a special meeting.
- North-West Frontier Province: A plebiscite was to be held in the North- West Frontier Province to ascertain whether the people wanted to join India or Pakistan.
- The District of Sylhet: The Muslim majority district of Sylhet was to decide by referendum whether it would join East Bengal or remain in Assam.
(d)
- Non-Cooperative attitude of the League: The League had joined the Interim Government to obstruct the working of the Congress and not to cooperate with it.
- Communal Riots: The large scale communal riots that engulfed the whole country convinced all that the only solution to the communal problem lay in the partition of India. These riots were the outcome of 'Direct Action Day' observed by the League.
- The country would have witnessed a brutal civil war.
- Immediate end of the British rule: The Mountbatten plan announced transfer of power to take place before June 1948. The British Parliament would pass an Act for the transfer of power before August 15, 1947. All the people and leaders wanted to get rid of British rule immediately and were ready to pay any price. Hence, partition was a price for immediate independence.
Answer
- India would be a federation of British Indian Provinces and Princely states.
- The Central Government would have three subjects under its jurisdiction- defence, foreign affairs and communication. The other subjects rested with the Provinces.
- The Union would have an interim government.
- In order to give the minorities a greater assurance the country would be divided into three groups. Group A would consist of Madras, Bombay, Uttar Pradesh, Central Provinces, Bihar and Orissa. Group B would consist of Punjab, Sind and NWFP (North-West Frontier Province). Group C would comprise Bengal and Assam.
- A constitution making body would frame the Union Constitution.
Answer
(i) The Congress: The Congress accepted the proposals with reservations. It accepted only that part of the scheme which dealt with the Constitution making. It considered the Constituent Assembly as a sovereign body for drafting the Constitution. The Congress wanted the grouping of the Provinces as optional and not compulsory. This was important in view of the fact that Assam in the proposed Group C had a Congress government at that time. The Congress, however, rejected the Viceroy's offer to form an Interim Government because of its limited status and powers and also because the principle of parity with Muslim League was not acceptable to it. It was also opposed to the League's claim that it alone had the right tc nominate all the Muslim members to the Executive Council.
(ii) The Muslim League: The League accepted it in its entirety on June 6, 1946 because it felt that the grouping of Muslim majority Provinces in a way meant the formation of Pakistan. The League asked Wavell, the Viceroy, to constitute an Interim Government.
Answer
(i) Result of the Constituent Assembly: Elections for the Constituent Assembly were held in July, 1946. Congress won 212 seats out of 298 seats and got comfortable majority in the Assembly. The League feared that it would be outvoted in the Assembly.
(ii) Rejection of its demands and formation of Interim Government by the Congress: The League demanded the establishment of two different Constituent Assemblies which were rejected by the Cabinet Mission. On 14th August, 1946 the Viceroy invited the Congress to form the Interim Government at the Centre and the offer was accepted by the Congress. At this M. A. Jinnah felt angry and attacked both the Cabinet Mission and the Viceroy and declared that the Muslims should say good-bye to the Constitutional methods and prepare for self-defence and self-preservation by resorting to direct action.
Answer
The four salient features of the Mountbatten Plan were:
- The Constituent Assembly: The existing Constituent Assembly would continue to work, but the Constitution framed by it would not apply to Pakistan. A separate Constituent Assembly would be constituted for those parts of India which decided in favour of partition.
- The Princely States: Treaties with the Princely States would end and they were free to join either of the two dominions or remain independent.
- A Boundary Commission: A Boundary Commission would be formed to demarcate the boundaries of the two dominions.
- Division of Country: The country would be divided into two dominions, i.e., India and Pakistan.
Answer
Lord Mountbatten came to a conclusion that partition of India was the only solution to the existing communal problem in India. Therefore in his plan, he proposed:
- (i) That the country would be divided into two Dominions that is, India and Pakistan.
- (ii) The Princely States can either choose between the two countries or resort to remain independent.
- (iii) A plebiscite would be held in the North-West Frontier Province to ascertain their choice between the two Dominions.
- (iv) The Provinces of Assam, Bengal and Punjab would be divided and the boundaries would be delineated.
Answer
The main reasons that made the Congress accept the partition proposals were:
(i) Communal riots had taken a serious turn as a result of the 'Direct Action Day' carried out by the Muslim League.
(ii) The League had joined the Interim Government to obstruct and not to cooperate and made it difficult for any Congress Minister to function effectively.
(iii) The only alternative to partition was a federation with a weak centre.
(iv) The leaders felt that partition would rid the constitution of separate electorates and other undemocratic procedures.
(v) The leaders felt that further delay in the transfer of power could find India in the midst of a Civil War.
(i) Any extension of the British rule was considered harmful in India.
(ii) The Congress was assured that it was not possible to run the administration of the country jointly.
(iii) It was believed that a smaller India with a strong centre would be more powerful than a larger India with a weak federation and a weak centre.
(iv) The Congress had realised that it would be impossible to work with the Muslim League.
Answer
(i) India and Pakistan were to be set-up from 15th August, 1947 as two independent dominions.
(ii) Pakistan was to comprise Sindh, British Baluchistan, North West Frontier Province, the West Punjab and East Bengal and the exact boundaries of these last two would be determined by a Boundary Commission set-up for this purpose only.
(iii) Each of the two dominions shall be under a Governor-General, who will be appointed by His Majesty. Each will act as the Head of his dominion, India or Pakistan, as the case may be, and each would represent His Majesty.
(iv) Each dominion shall have its own Legislature with complete powers to make laws for the dominion. No Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom, nor any order in Council passed after 15th August, 1947, shall have any validity in either of the two dominions.
(v) The Constituent Assembly of each dominion was to exercise the powers of the Central Legislature.
(vi) Both the Governor-General of India and Pakistan shall be vested with full powers and authority necessary for enforcing the Indian Independence Act, 1947.
(vii) The Secretary of State shall cease to have the power of appointing in future, any officer in the Civil Service.
(viii) Provision was made for smooth division of the Armed Forces between the two dominions which would henceforth exercise authority over them.
Picture Based Questions
1. With reference to the picture given answer the following:
(i) Identify the Viceroy in the picture.
(ii) Why was he sent to India?
Answer
(i) Lord Mountbatten.
(ii) Lord Clement Atlee sent Lord Mountbatten as the Viceroy of India to resolve the communal violence in India. He was given powers to negotiate with the leaders of different communities and help the two major parties, that is, the Indian National Congress and The Muslim League to reach an agreement.
2. With reference to the picture given answer the following:
(i) Identify the event in the above picture. Name the lady seen in the given picture.
(ii) Mention the year when the event took place.
Answer
(i) The event in the given picture is the swearing in ceremony of Jawahar Lal Nehru as the Prime Minister of Independent India. The lady seen in the picture is Lady Mountbatten, the wife of Lord Mountbatten, the first Governor General of India.
(ii) The event took place in 1947.
3.
In the above historic photograph, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru is seen giving his famous speech in the Constituent Assembly on August 14, 1947. In this context, mention the Provisions of the Indian Independence Act of 1947 regarding the Constituent Assemblies.
Answer
The Constituent Assembly which was set up under the Cabinet Mission according to which there would be 385 members, of whom 292 would be representatives from the provinces and 93 would represent Indian states. They would frame the provincial constitutions for their groups and then would finally meet to frame the Union Constitution. The Muslim League initially accepted the proposal but later rejected it. The government drafted the Indian Independence Act (1947). According to this, India was to be divided into two dominions with their boundaries defined.
The provisions of the Constituent Assemblies in the Indian Independence Act were:
- The Constituent Assemblies would draft the Constitutions of the two Dominions separately and decide whether to stay with the Commonwealth or not.
- The Constituent Assembly of each dominion would exercise the power of Central Legislatures and would make laws for that dominion.