Proposals of the Cabinet Mission

Comparative Analysis

1. The sub-continent should be a Union consisting of many provinces and several states. A federation should be formed. The Union should deal with the subjects of Defence, foreign affairs and communication. The Union should have the powers necessary to raise the finances required for the above subjects other than the union subjects shall vest in the provinces.

1. Cripps Mission consisted of only one member whereas there were three members in the Cabinet Mission.

2.The provinces of India were to form three groups:

Group A:

Hindi Majority of Madras, Bombay (Mumbai), UP, CP, Bihar and Orissa.

Group B:

Muslim majority Provinces like Punjab, NWFP (KPK), Sindh

Group C:

Bengal and Assam it should be a Union of new nature forming Central Organization, Provincial Organization and Group provinces were explained in the proposals of Cabinet Mission but so far as the distribution of powers between Provincial and Group Organizations was concerned, it was said that these will be decided by the Provincial and Group Organizations themselves. The provinces and states will be given seats in the Central Legislature as well as in the cabinet depending upon their population. Keeping in view the proportion of the population, each province will be given representation.

2.Both the missions had an outline of the states of the future. It was stated in the Cripps Mission that the provinces which would not approve the constitutional authority to establish their independent status whereas, in Cabinet Mission, a clear concept of partition of the sub-continent was presented in the form of Group B and Group C.

3. The members of the Provincial Assemblies will elect the Central Legislature. The Central Legislature will frame the constitution for the whole of the country. After the Central Constitution is framed, all the three provincial groups will prepare their constitutions.

3.According to the proposals of Cripps Mission, the Sub-Continent will be under the Crown whereas it was said in the proposals of cabinet Mission that the Sub-continent should be a Union.

4. An interim Government would be set up immediately. The government will run the system till the constitution is framed. The Interim Government will consist of the representatives of major parties. All the ministers in the Interim Government will be local. No British will be included in the cabinet. The cabinet will have autonomy in administrative affairs. After the Central Constitution is framed, any province could change its group if it thought necessary. Every province would be empowered to join the group of its own choice.

4.After Cripps Mission, Gandhi launched the movements of “Civil” disobedience and “Quit India”, whereas, after the Cabinet Mission, Quaid-e-Azam (Rahmatullah) appealed the Muslims to observe Right Action Day.

5. If one or two provinces from the three groups of provinces decide to separate from the Union, they could do so but after ten years. This point granted the right to the Muslim majority areas of group B and group C to make Pakistan after ten years. Thus, the process of the partition will complete automatically.

5. Cripps Mission declared itself responsible for the failure whereas the Cabinet Mission declared political parties responsible for failure.

6. The right to join the Interim Government will be given to only that political party which accepts the proposals.