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August Offer 1940
- By 1939, after the resignation of members from legislative assembly, INC demanded the status of independence of India or at least Provincial National Government
- Viceroy Lord Linlithgow turned down the request by August 8, 1940; called ‘August Statement’
- Instead suggested the following (aimed at Indian Support for WW2)
- Expansion of Viceroy’s executive council with more number of Indian members
- Representative constitution-making body to be set up after war
- War advisory council to be set up consisting of representatives of British India and the Indian states
- Viceroy promised league and other minorities that British govt would never agree to a constitution or govt in India w/o their support
- INC rejected the August offer
- Muslim league proclaimed themselves satisfied only with a partition
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Cripps Mission 1942
- Under the pressure of US president Roosevelt and Chinese president Chiang Kai Shek, Churchill decided to send a mission to India to seek active cooperation against Japan to whom Rangoon had fallen to
- Stafford Cripps submitted the following suggestions after discussing with leaders of various political parties
- British govt is to provide dominion status to India
- Fresh elections to all provincial legislature, after which a constitution-making body would be set up, after the war. Members of this body will be elected by provincial assemblies and nominated by princely states
- Govt of Britain would accept the constitution with a provision that if any Indian province disagrees to accept the constitution, will reside outside Indian union and can negotiate directly or separately with Britain
- During the war, an executive council composed of leaders of principal sections of Indian people. British Govt will have complete control over defence and military operations.
- INC rejected it seeking action for promise; League rejected it demanding partition
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Wavell Plan and Simla Conference 1945
- To resolve political deadlock after 1939, Viceroy went to England for consultation and to create conducive atmosphere for dialogue ordered in March 1945
- 4th June 1945, all the working committee members of INC were released
- Proposed a new executive council of 14 members with all Indians except Viceroy & CIC (Muslims even though only 25% of the population, was over-represented with 6 members
- All portfolios except defence were to be under the control of Indian members
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Cabinet Mission 1946
- Announced on 19th Feb 1946
- Members
- Sir Pethick-Lawrence – SOS for India
- Sir Stafford Cripps – President of the board of trade
- A V Alexander – 1st Lord of Admiralty
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Objectives
- Find out means and ways for peaceful transfer of power
- Suggest measures for the formation of constitution-making machinery
- To setup interim Govt
- Formation of constitution-making body and developments leading to Indian Independence act 1947
- 14 membered Interim govt formed – 1946
- Features of Schemes
- Total strength of constituent assembly 389
- British India 296
- The Princely States 93
- Seats to be allowed w.r.t population
- From three principal communities
- Muslims
- Sikhs
- Others
- Representatives of community to be selected by members of the respective community from provincial assembly through proportional representation
- Members of princely states are to be nominated by respective heads
- Members are to be indirectly elected by provincial assemblies
- Elections were held in July-August 1946
- INC 208; ML 73; Others 15
- 93 princely states remained vacant
- the first meeting on December 9, 1946; boycotted by ML demanding Pakistan and there were only 211 member
- Satchithanand Sinha was elected pro term chairman (French practice to select senior most member)
- objective resolution by Nehru on 13 December 1946, approved by the assembly on 22nd January 1947; later modified as the preamble of Indian Constitution
- Interim government was formed with the members of viceroys executive council, on September 2, 1946
- February 20, 1947, Clement Atlee declared that British rule in India will end by June 30, 1948
- Balkan/ June 3/ Mount Batten plan accepted partition and right to secede from British Commonweal
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Indian Independence Act 1947
- Enacted by the acceptance of Mount Batten plan by INC and ML
- British rule to be over by 15 August 1947
- Partition into two dominions and right to secede from British Commonwealth
- Viceroy’s office was abolished and replaced by Governor General for each dominion, to be appointed by British monarch, GOB has no responsibility w.r.t GOI and GOP
- Authorised constituent Assemblies of both dominions to enact laws with respect to their dominion till the new Constitution is framed; Acts of British Parliament is not applicable after 15 August 1947
- Office of SOS abolished
- British paramountcy over princely states and treaties with tribal areas were done away with Princely states
- Princely states were free to join any of the dominions
- Governor General of India and provincial governors were made nominal heads as they had to act as per the council of ministers Appointments to civil services and reservation of p
- Appointments to civil services and reservation of posts by SOS was stopped
- British monarch was made to remove emperor of India from Royal styles and titles