Write a short note on Cabinet Mission Plan.

The Cabinet Mission Plan was a significant proposal put forth by the British government in 1946 to address the constitutional future of British India. The mission was led by a three-member cabinet delegation comprising Lord Pethick-Lawrence, Sir Stafford Cripps, and A.V. Alexander.

Presented in the context of post-World War II developments and growing demands for Indian independence, the Cabinet Mission Plan aimed to devise a framework for the transfer of power and the creation of a self-governing Indian Union. Key features of the plan included:

1. Union of India:

   • The plan proposed the establishment of a united, federated, and self-governing Union of India that would include both Hindu-majority and Muslim-majority provinces.

2. Grouping of Provinces:

   • The provinces were to be grouped into three sections—Section A for Hindu-majority provinces, Section B for Muslim-majority provinces, and Section C for the provinces with a mixed population. The grouping aimed to address concerns about the political representation of different communities.

3. Constitutional Framework:

   • The plan outlined the creation of a Constituent Assembly with members nominated by the provincial assemblies to draft the constitution for the Union. The provinces in each section were given the option to opt out of the proposed grouping.

4. Autonomy for Provinces:

   • The provinces were granted considerable autonomy, with the power to legislate on subjects not included in the Union List. The Union was to have powers over defense, foreign affairs, and communications.

Despite being accepted by the Indian National Congress, the plan faced resistance from the All India Muslim League, which sought a separate nation for Muslims. The subsequent communal tensions and disagreements over the interpretation of the plan contributed to the partition of India in 1947, leading to the creation of independent India and Pakistan. The Cabinet Mission Plan remains a crucial milestone in the history of India's struggle for independence and the subsequent redrawing of the subcontinent's political map.