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Cabinet Mission

British Cabinet Mission to India

The main aim of the 1946 British Cabinet Mission to India was to discuss and finalize plans for ending the British Raj in India and hand over the country's leadership to the Indians. The 1946 Cabinet Mission to India was also to talk about granting Dominion status to India in the Commonwealth of Nations.

Participants of Cabinet Mission

The Cabinet Mission was formulated by the initiative of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom - Clement Attlee and the participated by:

Secretary of State for India - Lord Pethick-Lawrence
President of the Board of Trade - Sir Stafford Cripps
First Lord of the Admiralty - A. V. Alexander
Viceroy of India - Lord Wavell

Purpose of 1946 Cabinet Mission to India

To discuss the framing of the constitution with the representatives of the Indian states and British India and reach an agreement.
Form a constitution body.
Set up an Executive Council with main Indian parties support.

1946 Cabinet Mission to India Facts

March 24 marked the beginning of the 1946 Cabinet Mission.
Talks in the mission were held with All India Muslim League and Indian National Congress representatives.

Cabinet Mission Plans

The Mission came up with a proposal 2 plans over new government composition which were:

Cabinet Mission - Plan of May 16

Promulgated on May 16, 1946, the plan to create a united dominion of India as a loose confederation of provinces came to be known its date of announcement:

The Dominion of India would get its independence.
The provinces with Muslim-majority would be divided into two groups -

NWFP with Punjab, Sind and Baluchistan
Bengal and Assam

Provinces with a majority of Hindu population in central India and southern India would be in another group.
Power would have to be passed on to the Central government to run foreign affairs, communications and defense, while the remaining responsibility and powers would be shouldered by the provincial groups.

Cabinet Mission - Plan of June 16

This was an alternative plan were a proposal was made to divide India into:

Hindu-majority India
Muslim-majority Pakistan

The princely Indian states would be granted the permission to attain independence or accede to either of the 2 dominions.

Aftermath of the Cabinet Mission to India

The Congress ruled out the Cabinet Mission Plan of June 16 and neither could they accept the May 16 plan.
Under duress, the Muslim League approved of the plan. However, after a 3 day meeting in Bombay, the Muslim League Council met headed by Mr. Jinnah rejected the Cabinet Mission Plan. It also took the decision to take direct action for achieving Pakistan.
However, after much debate and strong reservations the Congress finally approved the May 16 plan.