With reference to Attlee’s Declaration of 1947, consider the following statements:
1. The declaration set August 15, 1947, as the deadline for the transfer of power to Indians.
2. It included a provision to divide the country if the constituent assembly was not adequately representative, particularly if Muslim-majority provinces did not participate.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Question

With reference to Attlee&rsquo;s Declaration of 1947, consider the following statements:
1. The declaration set August 15, 1947, as the deadline for the transfer of power to Indians.
2. It included a provision to divide the country if the constituent assembly was not adequately representative, particularly if Muslim-majority provinces did not participate.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

ONLiNE UPSC · Accepted Answer

Statement 1 is not correct: The Attlee Declaration, announced in February 1947, set June 30, 1948, as the deadline for the transfer of power to Indians. The specific date of August 15, 1947, was only decided later by Lord Mountbatten.

Statement 2 is correct: The declaration stated that if the constituent assembly was not fully representative (particularly if Muslim-majority provinces refused to participate), the British government would transfer power either to a central government or to the provincial governments in such areas. This provision acknowledged the possibility of dividing the country.

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Attlee's Declaration of 1947

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M Question 1	⏱ 0
With reference to Attlee’s Declaration of 1947, consider the following statements: 1. The declaration set August 15, 1947, as the deadline for the transfer of power to Indians. 2. It included a provision to divide the country if the constituent assembly was not adequately representative, particularly if Muslim-majority provinces did not participate. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2