The June 3 Plan, the Radcliffe Award and the Indian Independence Act, 1947

O Level Pakistan Studies History · The emergence of Pakistan: 1940 to 1947. A short explanation of the idea, the rules to remember, the mistake to avoid, a worked example and practice questions with answers.

Test this topic free All O Level Pakistan Studies History topics

The idea

By 1947 Britain could no longer hold India. The war had left it short of money, the Labour government wanted to leave, and communal violence was spreading. In February 1947 Prime Minister Attlee said Britain would go by June 1948 and sent Lord Mountbatten as the last Viceroy.

Mountbatten decided that partition was the only way and brought the date forward to August 1947. His June 3 Plan set out how each area would choose between India and Pakistan.

The borders in the Punjab and Bengal were drawn by Sir Cyril Radcliffe. The Indian Independence Act then made the two new states legal.

Rules to remember

Attlee's statement, 20 February 1947: Britain to leave by June 1948. Mountbatten arrived in March 1947.
June 3 Plan: two dominions; the Punjab and Bengal assemblies each voted in two sections on whether to divide the province.
Sindh's assembly voted to join Pakistan; the NWFP and Sylhet district (Assam) decided by referendum.
Radcliffe chaired both boundary commissions. His Award was made public on 17 August 1947, after independence.
Controversies: Muslim-majority parts of Gurdaspur went to India (a land route to Kashmir); Ferozepur with its canal headworks went to India; Calcutta went to India.
Indian Independence Act, July 1947: two independent dominions from 15 August 1947, each with its own Governor-General and Constituent Assembly, using the 1935 Act until a new constitution was made.
British paramountcy over the princely states lapsed, so each state had to choose which dominion to join.

Common mistake

Two dates are often confused: Attlee's original deadline was June 1948, but Mountbatten moved independence to August 1947. Also, the June 3 Plan said how areas would choose; the actual border line came later in the Radcliffe Award.

Worked example

In 1947 the people of the NWFP joined Pakistan by one method and the people of Sindh by another. Name each method.

The June 3 Plan gave different methods to different areas.
In Sindh the provincial assembly voted on the question.
The NWFP had a Congress ministry, so the people were asked directly in a referendum.

Answer: Sindh: a vote of its provincial assembly. NWFP: a referendum.

Practice questions

Try each one, then open the answer.

1. Why was the award of Muslim-majority parts of Gurdaspur district to India controversial in Pakistan?

A
it gave India control of the city of Lahore
B
it cut Karachi off from the rest of the Punjab
C
it gave India a land route into Kashmir
D
it placed the Khyber Pass inside India

Show answer

Answer: C. Pakistan argues that the award gave India its road link to Kashmir, which became crucial when Indian troops entered Kashmir in October 1947.

2. Why did Mountbatten bring British withdrawal forward to August 1947?

A
he feared delay would worsen the violence
B
the League demanded independence before Ramadan
C
the princely states asked for an early date
D
Parliament refused to pay for rule beyond 1947

Show answer

Answer: A. Communal violence was spreading and the administration was under strain, so he pressed for a quick transfer of power.

3. Under the Indian Independence Act, what happened to the princely states?

A
they stayed under British protection after 1947
B
British paramountcy over them lapsed
C
they became separate Commonwealth dominions
D
they were divided by the Radcliffe Award

Show answer

Answer: B. Rulers were expected to accede to India or Pakistan, taking account of geography and population; Radcliffe drew only provincial lines.

Read the full notes

Section Two

Keep going

← The 1945-46 elections, the Cabinet Mission Plan and Direct Action Day Jinnah, Allama Iqbal and Rahmat Ali →All rules on one page Stuck? Ask a question