Main features of the Provincial Autonomy

 Dyarchy was abolished at the provincial level and replaced by a system of provincial autonomy
 The administration of the province was vested with the governor. He was to be assisted by a council of
ministers.
 The Governor enjoyed discretionary powers and could out power the advice of ministers by using veto
power
 Provincial legislature could legislate on the all subjects given the provincial and concurrent list
 The two houses were to be known as Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council.
 In the following states bicameral legislature: Madras, Bombay ,Bihar, Bengal United Provinces Assam. In the
remaining states there was to be unicameral legislature
 The governor could override the advice of the ministers by using veto powers
 The governor also had wide ordinance making power. Under section 93, he could suspend the working of
the Provincial autonomy.

Elections of 1937

 The congress swept polls in the five provinces, namely – UP, Bihar, Orissa, Central Province and Madras
 In Assam, Bengal, NWFP and Bombay - Congress emerged as the single largest party
 Only in Sindh, Punjab and Bengal there was Non-congress governments
 Eventually the Congress formed government in 6 provinces : Bombay, UP, Bihar, Orissa, Central Province and
Madras
 In Assam and NWFP it was a part of a coalition. Sindh had a Muslim league government
 In Punjab the Unionist Party came to power
 Krishan Praja Party formed the government in Bengal
 Thus the results were= a clear majority for the Congress but the congress ministers resigned in 1939
 British government did not consult Congress before involving India in the second world war

Working of Congress Ministries (6m)

1. Calling back (repealed) restrictions on the press and radical organizations

2. Permitted trade unions and kisaan organizations to function and grow
3. Curbed the powers of the police
4. Released political prisoners
5. Introduced prohibition in areas
6. Firmly handles communal riots
7. They failed to introduce a radical era
8. Modern industries were also supported
9. Undertook Harijan upliftment projects
10. Passed agrarian legislation which gave relief to the peasants
11. People felt like they were brought in the air of victory and self governments
12. Supported Khadi and other village industries
13. Set up new standards of honesty and public service
14. They reduced their salaries dramatically to Rs. 500 per month
15. Travelled in the second or third class on the railway

Cripps Mission and Quit India Movement in register

Cabinet Mission in register

Mountbatten plan
Lord Mountbatten assumed office as viceroy on 24 th march, 1947. the situation in India was very tense. After many
consultations with Nehru, Jinnah, Liaquat Ali, Baldev Singh, Azad, Patel and others he came to the conclusion that “the
sooner power was transferred the better for all”. He was convinced that India was to be partitioned. Transfer of power
to Indians could only be on the basis of partition of the country. On 3 rd June, 1947, he announced his plan.

The main points of the plan were;

 Bengal and Punjab- the partition of Bengal and Punjab was proposed provided that the legislative assemblies
of the two provinces decided in favor of partition.
 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 that decided in
favor of partition.
 Sindh- the legislative assembly of Sindh was to take its own decision at a special meeting.
 North-West Frontier Province- in the NWFP a referendum was to be held to decide the future of the
province.
 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.
 The princely states- as regards the princely states, the treaties with them would come to an end. They would
be free to associate themselves with either of the two dominions or to remain independent.
 A boundary commission- the plan provided for the creation of a boundary commission to settle the
boundaries of the two dominions in case partition was decided upon.
 Relations between the two new dominions- it was for the two new dominions to decide what relations they
would have with the British commonwealth as well as with each other.
 transfer of power before the end of 1947- the plan ended with a declaration that the transfer of power
would take place before the end of 1947 and not in June 1948.

The acceptance by the League and the Congress

Plan for the partition of India was accepted by the Muslim league on June 10. All- India congress committee accepted
the Mountbatten plan on 15th June, 1947.

Reasons for accepting the Mountbatten plan

 Communal riots had taken a serious turn as a a result of the ‘direct action’ of Muslim league. Partition of the
country seemed to offer a way out of chaos and anarchy.
 The league had joined the interim govt. To obstruct and not to cooperate. Experience of working with the
league had convinced Patel and others that it was not possible to carry on.
 Jinnah’s right-hand man Liaqat Ali was holding the finance portfolio in the govt.
 His interference made it difficult for any congress minister to function efficiently.
 The only alternative to partition was a federation with a weak Centre.
 The disruptive forces- dynastic, communal and regional could be kept under control only by a strong center.
 The leaders felt that partition would rid the constitution of separate electorates and other undemocratic
measures.
 India could then evolve a truly democratic and secular polity.
 The leaders felt that further delay in the transfer of power could find India in the midst of civil war.
 The British were instigating the rulers of native states to assert their right to freedom.
 Thus at last the congress had to accept the scheme of partition.
 East Bengal, west Punjab, Sindh and NWFP all voted for Pakistan.
  The district of Sylhet chose to join east Bengal.

Why Mountbatten was sent to India

 PM Atlee’s had announced in Feb 1947 that the transfer of power will take place by June 1947 and he
needed a strong decisive person to become the viceroy of India
 There was escalation of communal riots and violence in the country and the situation could have
worsened
 Lord Wavell was replaced by Lord Mountbatten to expertise the enhance the speed for change

The Indian Independence Act

It was passed by the British Parliament on 15 th July, 1947. It received the Royal Assent on July 18, 1947.

 Two Dominions known as India and Pakistan were to be set up from 15 th August, 1947.
 Pakistan was to comprise Sindh, Baluchistan, NWFP, W. Punjab and E. Bengal.
 India was to comprise all remaining territories included in British India.
 There was to be a Governor General for each of the Dominions.
 The Legislature of each of the Dominions would have the power to make laws for themselves.
 The jurisdiction of the British Parliament over India would cease from that day.
 The Constituent Assembly of each Dominion would exercise the powers of the Central Legislature.
 The Governor General had the power to make the Independence Act operational.
 Provisions were made to safeguard the interests of the existing officers in India appointed by the Secretary of
State.
 Provision was made for the division of the Indian army.
 All powers and authority exercisable by his Majesty in relation to the Princely States were terminated.
 The states thus, became independent.