📑 Topics on this page (Jump to Topic):
📌 1. 1935 to 1942
- Government of India Act 1935 — All-India Federation (never formed), provincial autonomy, dyarchy at the centre, Federal Court (1937), RBI (1935); the longest Act.
- 1937 elections — Congress formed governments in 8 of 11 provinces; resigned in 1939 when India was dragged into WWII without consent; League celebrated "Deliverance Day" on 22 December 1939.
- Lahore Resolution (March 1940) — Muslim League's demand for Pakistan.
- August Offer (1940, Linlithgow) → rejected by Congress; Individual Satyagraha (Oct 1940) — first Vinoba Bhave, second Nehru.
- Cripps Mission (March 1942) — dominion status after the war; Gandhi: "a post-dated cheque on a crashing bank".
📌 2. Quit India Movement (1942)
- Resolution on 8 August 1942, Bombay (Gowalia Tank, now August Kranti Maidan); movement from 9 August; slogan "Do or Die".
- All top leaders arrested; Gandhi held at Aga Khan Palace (Pune), where Kasturba and Mahadev Desai died. Aruna Asaf Ali hoisted the flag; Usha Mehta ran the secret Congress Radio; JP and Lohia went underground.
- Parallel governments — Ballia (Chittu Pande), Tamluk (Jatiya Sarkar), Satara (Prati Sarkar).
- Viceroy Linlithgow; the Muslim League, Communist Party and Hindu Mahasabha stayed away.
📌 3. 1944 to 1947
| Event | Year | Key point |
|---|---|---|
| C.R. Formula | 1944 | Rajagopalachari; proposal for Congress-League cooperation |
| Wavell Plan / Simla Conference | 1945 | Failed over Jinnah's insistence |
| RIN Mutiny | Feb 1946 | Naval ratings' revolt at Bombay |
| Cabinet Mission | 1946 | Pethick-Lawrence, Cripps, A.V. Alexander; Constituent Assembly and interim government; grouping of provinces (A, B, C) |
| Direct Action Day | 16 Aug 1946 | Muslim League; Calcutta riots |
| Interim Government | 2 Sep 1946 | Nehru vice-president (Viceroy's Executive Council) |
| First sitting of Constituent Assembly | 9 Dec 1946 | Interim chairman Sachchidananda Sinha; then Rajendra Prasad |
| Attlee's declaration | 20 Feb 1947 | Transfer of power by June 1948 |
| Mountbatten Plan | 3 Jun 1947 | Partition; "Balkan Plan" |
| Indian Independence Act | 18 Jul 1947 | Two dominions, India and Pakistan, from 15 August 1947 |
- Boundary drawn by the Radcliffe Line (Cyril Radcliffe). First Governor-General of free India Lord Mountbatten; first and last Indian Governor-General C. Rajagopalachari.
- At independence the British PM was Clement Attlee, Congress president J.B. Kripalani.
⚠️ Exam Traps:
- Quit India resolution passed on 8 August; movement began 9 August (August Kranti Day).
- "Post-dated cheque on a crashing bank" referred to the Cripps Mission, not the Cabinet Mission.
📌 4. Practice MCQs
📝 Practice MCQs (prepared by SF Prep — not PYQs)
Q1. In which year did the Quit India Movement begin? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Resolution on 8 August 1942; movement from 9 August.
Resolution on 8 August 1942; movement from 9 August.
Q2. The slogan 'Do or Die' is linked with which movement? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Gandhi gave 'Do or Die' during Quit India.
Gandhi gave 'Do or Die' during Quit India.
Q3. Who called the Cripps proposals 'a post-dated cheque on a crashing bank'? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Gandhi described the Cripps offer so.
Gandhi described the Cripps offer so.
Q4. Who was the first satyagrahi of the Individual Satyagraha (1940)? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Gandhi chose Vinoba Bhave first and Nehru second.
Gandhi chose Vinoba Bhave first and Nehru second.
Q5. When was the Mountbatten Plan announced? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
The partition plan was announced on 3 June 1947.
The partition plan was announced on 3 June 1947.
Q6. Who was NOT a member of the Cabinet Mission (1946)? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Members were Pethick-Lawrence, Cripps and Alexander; Wavell was Viceroy.
Members were Pethick-Lawrence, Cripps and Alexander; Wavell was Viceroy.
Q7. Who ran the secret Congress Radio during Quit India? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Usha Mehta ran the underground Congress Radio from Bombay.
Usha Mehta ran the underground Congress Radio from Bombay.
Q8. When did the Muslim League pass the resolution demanding Pakistan? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
At the Lahore session in March 1940.
At the Lahore session in March 1940.
Q9. The main feature of the Government of India Act 1935 was: Practice
Correct answer: (B)
It replaced provincial dyarchy with provincial autonomy.
It replaced provincial dyarchy with provincial autonomy.
Q10. Who was the first Indian Governor-General of free India? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Rajagopalachari became the first and last Indian Governor-General in 1948.
Rajagopalachari became the first and last Indian Governor-General in 1948.
Q11. Who drew the India-Pakistan boundary? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
The boundary commission under Cyril Radcliffe fixed the Radcliffe Line.
The boundary commission under Cyril Radcliffe fixed the Radcliffe Line.
Q12. When was the Muslim League's 'Direct Action Day'? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
On 16 August 1946; riots broke out in Calcutta.
On 16 August 1946; riots broke out in Calcutta.
Q13. Who was Viceroy during the Quit India Movement? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Lord Linlithgow was Viceroy in 1942.
Lord Linlithgow was Viceroy in 1942.
Q14. When did the Constituent Assembly first meet? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
It first met on 9 December 1946 under interim chairman Sachchidananda Sinha.
It first met on 9 December 1946 under interim chairman Sachchidananda Sinha.
Q15. What day did the Muslim League observe when Congress ministries resigned in 1939? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
The League observed 'Deliverance Day' on 22 December 1939.
The League observed 'Deliverance Day' on 22 December 1939.
Q16. Who set up the parallel government at Ballia during Quit India? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Chittu Pande at Ballia; Nana Patil at Satara.
Chittu Pande at Ballia; Nana Patil at Satara.
Q17. When did the Indian Independence Act receive royal assent? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
It received royal assent on 18 July 1947.
It received royal assent on 18 July 1947.
Q18. Who was British Prime Minister at Indian independence? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Labour's Clement Attlee was Prime Minister.
Labour's Clement Attlee was Prime Minister.
Q19. Who hoisted the flag at Gowalia Tank, Bombay, during Quit India? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
After the leaders' arrest, Aruna Asaf Ali hoisted it on 9 August 1942.
After the leaders' arrest, Aruna Asaf Ali hoisted it on 9 August 1942.
Q20. When did the Royal Indian Navy mutiny take place? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Naval ratings revolted at Bombay in February 1946.
Naval ratings revolted at Bombay in February 1946.