The document provides background information on India's independence and partition. It discusses the major events leading up to independence like the Sepoy Mutiny, rise of nationalism, and Quit India Movement. It then summarizes the Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946 which proposed a loose federal union and grouping of provinces. Congress accepted the plan with reservations while Muslim League fully supported it. The document also outlines Lord Mountbatten's 3 June Plan which proposed partitioning India into two dominions of India and Pakistan, and the key clauses of the Indian Independence Act of 1947 which formalized the partition.

1. H
istory&C
ivics
T
op i c - ‘In d i a ’s i n d ep en d e n c e a n d i t s p a r t i t i on ’
Submitted by: Neelmani Bagaria
Roll no:
Class: X
INTERNAL EXAMINER EXTERNAL EXAMINER
______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

2. Acknowledgement
I would like to express my word of thanks to our Principal “Mr Aloysius D'Mello”, Vice
Principal “Mrs. Elizabeth joseph” our ICSE co-ordinator “Mrs. Teresa Dominick” and our
history teachers who have given me the exceptionally brilliant opportunity to do this
project on the topic “India’s independence and its partition”, which allowed me in doing a
lot of Research and am really thankful to all of them.
Secondly, I would also like to thank my parents and friends who helped me a lot in
finalizing and improving this project within the limited time frame provided and by
providing support when I needed it, I also really appreciate the fact that they spent their
leisure with me helping me bind this project together.

3. Introduction
World War II
ended in 1945,
Indian Freedom
Movement
ended a new
phase.
Archibald Wavell

4. Major Events (before
the independence)
 Sepoy Mutiny 1857-1859
 Queens’s proclamation
 Growth of nationalism
 Early nationalists
 Assertive nationalists
 Formation of Muslim league
 Rise of Mahatma Ghandi
 Quit India movement
 Forward Bloc and Indian national Army

6. cabinet plan
 The cabinet mission plan of 1946 proposed that there
shall be a Union of India which was to be empowered to
deal with the defense, foreign affairs and
communications. ... The Union Government and its
legislature were to have limited powers, dealing with
Finance, Foreign Affairs and Communications

7. Events that led to the Cabinet Plan
1. Changes in the Britain:
•Government in Britain changed
•Soldiers were tired after fighting the World War.
•World War, had made economic and military
powers of Britain weak. Both the Power Blocs-
USA and Soviet Union promoted Independence
of India.
2. Revolts in the
Administrative Agencies
Government could not depend on Indians for
administration as they had the feeling of
Nationalism entered in them.
There were strikes in the Navy and Royal Indian
Air Force.
Police and Civil Service declared that its no
longer safe to suppress the National Movement.

8. Events that led to the Cabinet Plan
3.Mood of the Indian People :
Indians were in a confident and determined
mood.
They were in no mood to tolerate any humiliation
of British.
Everyone demanded Freedom
4.Labour Unrest
All India strike of Postal and Telegraph strikes
Railway strikes
Paid Less or No tax
Struggle for land and against high rents.
the National Movement.

9. Cabinet Mission in India
 On Feb 19, 1946, Clement Attlee- the new
British PM declared that Cabinet Mission
would be sent to India to facilitate the
process of transfer of power.
 Cabinet Mission arrived in India in March
1946. It consisted of three cabinet members:
 a) Frederick Pethick-Lawrence
 b) Sir Stafford Cripps
 c) A.V.Alexander
A.V.Alexander
Stafford Cripps
Clement Attlee
Frederick Pethick-
Lawrence

10. Clauses of the Cabinet Mission Plan
1. Federal Union
2. Powers of the Union
3. Provincial Autonomy
4. Grouping of Provinces
5. Formation of Constituent Assembly
6. Representation of Minorities
7. Formation of an Interim Government
8. Freedom to join the Commonwealth
9. Transfer of Power

11. Clauses of the
Cabinet
Mission Plan
 1. Federal Union:
There would be a Federal Union of the British Provinces
and Princely States.
Union Government should deal with Foreign Affairs,
Defence, Communication & Finance.
 2. Powers of the Union:
The Union would have its own Executive and Legislature.
 3. Provincial Autonomy:
Provinces would enjoy full Autonomy except for the Union
subjects.

12.  4. Grouping of Provinces:
The British Provinces would be divided into groups:
1. Group A: Six Hindu Majority Provinces like Madras,
Bombay, Bihar, Orissa etc.
2. Group B: Three Muslim Provinces- Punjab, NWFP (North
West Frontier Province) and Sind.
3. Group C: Bengal, Assam etc.

13. 5. Formation of Constituent
Assembly: 389 Members
would form the Constituent
Assembly (296 Members of
British Provinces and 93 from
Princely States.
6. Representation of
Minorities: Separate
representation was to given
to Muslims and Sikhs.
7. Formation of an Interim
Government: An interim
government at the Centre
would be formed with 14
members.
8. Freedom to join the
Commonwealth: India would
have a choice to join or not
to join The British
Commonwealth.
9. Transfer of Power: A treaty
would be signed between the
British and Indians

14. Reaction to the
Cabinet
Mission Plan
 Reaction of Congress:
1. Congress accepted the plan but with some reservations.
2. It accepted that part of the plan that spoke about the
Constituent Assembly and Constitution.
3. It proposed that Grouping of provinces should be made
optional and not compulsory.
4. Congress rejected the formation of Interim Government
because it gave parity (equality) to Muslim league at par
with Congress.
 Reaction of Muslim League:
Muslim League accepted the plan entirely as it saw Grouping
of Muslim Provinces was a way to form Pakistan.

15. Lord Mountbatten
Gandhi once again reminded not to go for Partition as it may cause harm to the country.
Plan was announced on June 3,1947.
INC and Muslim league accepted the plan.
He presented his plan- The Mountbatten Plan before the seven leaders- Nehru, Patel, Kripalani, Jinnah,
Liaquat, Nishtar and Baldev Singh.
He found that the task is difficult and decided to speed up the transfer of power without any delay.
His immediate task was to restore peace between INC and Muslim League.
Lord Wavell (who has proposed the failed- Cabinet Mission Plan) was recalled and Lord Mountbatten was
appointed as new Viceroy in 1947.

16. Lord Mountbatten : Clauses
 1.Partition: Country would be divided into two Dominions, India
& Pakistan.
 2. Relations between two new Dominions: Two dominions would
decide what kind of relations they wish to keep with the British
Commonwealth and with each other.
 3. Boundary Commission: Boundary Commission would be setup
and it would settle the boundaries of the two Dominions.
 4. Princely States: All the treaties with the Princely States would
come to an end. They would be free to join any Dominion or to
remain Independent.
 5. Bengal & Punjab: Partition of Bengal and Punjab was proposed,
provided the Constituent Assemblies.

17. 6. Sindh: Sindh was given a choice to take its
own decision, either to join India or Pakistan.
7. NWFP: North West Frontier Province was
given a choice to take its own decision, either to
join India or Pakistan.
8. District of Sylhet: The Muslim Majority was
given a choice to take its own decision, either to
remain in Assam or to join East Bengal.
9. Constituent Assembly: The existing Assembly
would continue to work, but Pakistan would
have its own Assembly and they would frame
their own Constitution.
10. Transfer of Power: It would take place earlier
i.e. on August 1947 instead of June 1948. British
would pass an Act before the Transfer of Power
on 15th August 1947.

18. The Indian Independence Act 1947
 After the acceptance of the Mountbatten Plan by all the Indian leaders then British
PM introduced the Indian Independence Bill in the British Parliament and it was
passed by both the British Houses on July 1, 1947.
The main Clauses/Provisions of the Indian Independence Act 1947 were as follows:
1. Two New Dominions (Pakistan would include Sindh, British Baluchistan, NWFP, West
Punjab and East Bengal. The remaining territories would be included in India.)
Boundary Commission: exact boundary
2. Provisions of Partition:
a) Bengal and Punjab would be divided if desired by its people.
b) Through Plebiscite (Voting) people of NWFP and Sylhet would decide whether to
join India or Pakistan. Later they joined West and East Pakistan)

19. 3. Governor – General for Each Dominion
4. Separate Constituent Assemblies to serve as Central
Legislatures.
5. End of Jurisdiction of the British Parliament:
a. From 15th August 1947 control of British parliament
would end.
b. Emperor of India and King of England- titles would
be dropped.
c. Till separate new constitutions are framed country
would be governed as per Act of 1935.
d. Governor-General would have the powers to modify
or adopt Government of India.
e. . Right of king to veto (refuse) laws would be given
up. This right would be given to the Governor-
General

20. 6. Princely states would be
free from all British treaties.
Free to join either of the
Dominions.
7. Treaties and Agreements
with Govt. of India would
lapse.
8. Division of Army and
Assets
9. Bringing Act into
Operation (Governor-
General)
10. Office of Secretary of
State and Interest of Existing
Officers: Interest of the
existing officers would be
safeguarded. And the Office
of Secretary of State would
be abolished.