Cabinet Mission Plan 1946: Proposals, Reactions and Why It Failed

The Cabinet Mission Plan 1946 was Britain’s last serious attempt to keep India united. Its failure made partition almost certain.

Quick answer: The Cabinet Mission — Lord Pethick-Lawrence, Sir Stafford Cripps and A. V. Alexander — came to India in March 1946. Its plan of May 1946 rejected a separate Pakistan but proposed a weak central union with provinces grouped into three sections. The Muslim League first accepted it, then withdrew after Congress refused to be bound by the grouping.

Why the Mission Was Sent

• The Labour government in Britain wanted to transfer power quickly after the Second World War.
• The 1945–46 elections showed the Muslim League winning the great majority of Muslim seats and Congress winning the general seats.
• The two parties could not agree on India’s future.

Main Proposals

• No separate Pakistan; India to remain one union.
• The union government to control only foreign affairs, defence and communications.
• Provinces to be grouped: Group A Hindu-majority provinces; Group B Punjab, NWFP, Sindh and Balochistan; Group C Bengal and Assam.
• Each group could frame its own constitution; an interim government to be formed.

Muslim League Reaction

• Accepted the plan in June 1946, because Groups B and C gave Muslims control of their majority areas and contained the basis of Pakistan.

Congress Reaction

• Accepted the long-term plan with reservations, objecting to compulsory grouping.
• In July 1946 Nehru said Congress would not be bound by the plan once in the constituent assembly.

Why the Plan Failed

• Nehru’s statement destroyed Muslim League trust in Congress.
• The League withdrew its acceptance in late July 1946.
• It called for Direct Action Day on 16 August 1946, which was followed by serious communal violence in Calcutta.

Importance

The failure showed that Congress and the League could not share one constitution. Within a year the British announced the 3 June Plan and partition. For what came before, see the Lahore Resolution 1940 and Congress Rule 1937–1939.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who were the members of the Cabinet Mission?

Lord Pethick-Lawrence, Sir Stafford Cripps and A. V. Alexander.

Why did the Muslim League accept the Cabinet Mission Plan?

Because the grouping of Muslim-majority provinces in Groups B and C gave Muslims self-government there and contained the basis of Pakistan.

Why did the Cabinet Mission Plan fail?

It failed because Congress objected to compulsory grouping and Nehru declared Congress would not be bound by it, after which the Muslim League withdrew its acceptance.