Q. With reference to the Cabinet Mission, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. It recommended a federal government.
2. It enlarged the powers of the Indian courts.
3. It provided for more Indians in the ICS.

Select the correct answer using the code given below. (UPSC Prelims 2015)
Answer: 1 only
Notes: The correct answer is [A] 1 only. The Cabinet Mission arrived in India in March 1946 (consisting of Lord Pethick-Lawrence, Sir Stafford Cripps, and A.V. Alexander) with the aim of finding a way to transfer power to Indian hands while maintaining the unity of the country.Analysis of the Statements:

• Federal Government (Statement 1 – Correct): The Mission rejected the demand for a full-fledged Pakistan and instead proposed a three-tier federal structure. It envisioned a weak Union (Center) that would control only Defense, Foreign Affairs, and Communications, while all other "residuary" powers would rest with the Provinces. The provinces were to be grouped into three sections (A, B, and C) to satisfy the Muslim League's demand for autonomy in Muslim-majority areas.
• Powers of Indian Courts (Statement 2 – Incorrect): The Cabinet Mission Plan was purely a political and constitutional document focused on the transfer of power, the formation of an Interim Government, and the creation of a Constituent Assembly. It did not contain any specific provisions to enlarge or modify the powers of the Indian judiciary or courts.
• More Indians in the ICS (Statement 3 – Incorrect): Provisions for increasing the "Indianization" of the Indian Civil Services (ICS) were part of earlier reforms, such as the Government of India Act, 1919 and the 1935 Act. By 1946, the focus had shifted entirely toward full independence and the drafting of a new constitution, rather than incremental administrative service reforms.

Key Proposals of the Cabinet Mission:

• Rejection of Pakistan: It argued that a separate state would not solve the communal problem and would be economically/strategically unviable.
• Constituent Assembly: It proposed that a Constituent Assembly be elected by the provincial assemblies through proportional representation.
• Interim Government: A recommendation to set up an interim government having the support of the major political parties.

Comparison with other Missions:

Feature	Cripps Mission (1942)	Cabinet Mission (1946)
Status	Offered "Dominion Status"	Aimed for Full Independence
Partition	Hinted at the right to secede	Explicitly rejected a separate Pakistan
Focus	War support (WWII)	Constitutional roadmap and Union formation

The failure of the Congress and the League to agree on the "grouping" of provinces under this plan eventually led to the Direct Action Day and the subsequent partition under the Mountbatten Plan.