With reference to the Boundary Commission for partition of India, consider the following statements:
1. It was chaired by Sir Cyril Radcliffe.
2. The commission was tasked with completing its work within two years.
3. It considered factors such as natural boundaries, administrative units, and economic viability.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Question

With reference to the Boundary Commission for partition of India, consider the following statements:
1. It was chaired by Sir Cyril Radcliffe.
2. The commission was tasked with completing its work within two years.
3. It considered factors such as natural boundaries, administrative units, and economic viability.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c)  2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

ONLiNE UPSC · Accepted Answer

Statement 1 is correct: The Boundary Commission was chaired by Sir Cyril Radcliffe, who had no prior experience or significant knowledge of Indian geography or demographics.

Statement 2 is not correct: The commission was given an unreasonably short period of six weeks to finalize the boundaries, not two years. This rushed timeline resulted in significant challenges and controversial decisions.

Statement 3 is correct: While religious demography was the primary criterion for partitioning Punjab and Bengal, the commission also considered other factors, such as rivers as natural boundaries, administrative units, economic viability, and infrastructure (railways, roads, and canals). However, political considerations often overrode rational and logistical factors.

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M Question 1	⏱ 0
With reference to the Boundary Commission for partition of India, consider the following statements: 1. It was chaired by Sir Cyril Radcliffe. 2. The commission was tasked with completing its work within two years. 3. It considered factors such as natural boundaries, administrative units, and economic viability. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 1 and 3 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3