Constitutional Development of India: notes and MCQs for State PSC prel

Constitutional Development of India is part of Modern History of India. Below are notes on 13 sub-topics, followed by practice MCQs from State PSC and UPSC papers (coming soon).

August Offer, Cripps Mission, and Wavell Plan

August Offer (August 1940): 1.

Proposed by Viceroy Lord Linlithgow.
Proposals:

Dominion Status as the objective for India.
Expansion of Viceroy's Executive Council with more Indians.
Establishment of an Advisory War Council.
A Constituent Assembly (nominated Indian body) to be formed after WWII to frame the Constitution.
Minority consent vital for any future constitutional framework (veto power).

Significance: First time the principle that "framing of the new Constitution...primarily...responsibility of Indians" was conceded.

The Council was to function as an interim government, with the defense portfolio reserved for the Commander-in-Chief.
Simla Conference (June-July 1945): Convened by Lord Wavell to discuss the Wavell Plan.
Attended by prominent leaders including Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (Congress) and M.A. Jinnah (Muslim League).
The conference failed due to the Muslim League's insistence on being the sole representative of Indian Muslims and its demand to nominate all Muslim members to the Executive Council.
Congress opposed this, asserting its right to nominate members from all communities.
Lord Wavell's "Breakdown Plan" (early 1946): Proposed by Viceroy Lord Wavell to the British Government for a phased withdrawal of British power from India, following the failure of the Simla Conference and the continued political deadlock.

Rejection: Congress rejected due to lack of immediate independence and refusal to form a national government; Muslim League rejected as it didn't guarantee Pakistan. Cripps Mission (March 1942): 2.
Headed by Sir Stafford Cripps, member of War Cabinet, amid Japanese threat to India.
Proposals:

Dominion Status for India after the war.
A Constituent Assembly would be formed after the war (elected by provincial assemblies, nominated by princely states).
Provinces/Princely States unwilling to join could form separate unions/constitutions.
Interim government with Indian members in Viceroy's Executive Council, but defence remained with Britain.

Rejection:

Congress: Rejected due to Dominion Status, right to secede (threat to unity), and no real transfer of power (defence under British). Gandhi called it a "post-dated cheque on a failing bank."
Muslim League: Rejected as it didn't explicitly guarantee Pakistan and opposed a single Constituent Assembly. Wavell Plan (June 1945): 3.

Proposed by Viceroy Lord Wavell.
Proposals:

Reconstitution of Viceroy's Executive Council with all members (except Viceroy and Commander-in-Chief) being Indians.
Equal representation for Caste Hindus and Muslims in the Executive Council.
Executive Council to function as an interim government under the 1935 Act.
Convening of a conference of Indian leaders to discuss the plan.

Simla Conference (June-July 1945): Convened by Wavell to implement the plan.
Failure: The conference failed due to Jinnah's insistence that only the Muslim League could nominate Muslim members to the Executive Council.
Related 1945 events: INA Trial (Nov 1945).

Cabinet Mission Plan

Year: 1946.
Members: Lord Pethick-Lawrence (Secretary of State for India), Sir Stafford Cripps, A.V. Alexander.
Objective: To discuss the transfer of power and devise a framework for India's independence and a Constitution-making body.
Key Proposal (Political Structure): Proposed a Union of India with a weak Centre (handling Foreign Affairs, Defence, Communications) and a three-tier federal structure with groups of provinces.
Key Proposal (Constituent Assembly): Recommended the formation of a Constituent Assembly to draft the new Constitution. Members were to be indirectly elected by Provincial Legislative Assemblies and nominated by Princely States (389 total seats).
Rejection: Explicitly rejected the demand for a separate, sovereign state of Pakistan.
Interim Government: Proposed the formation of an interim government at the Centre until the new Constitution was framed.

Charter Acts (1793, 1813, 1833, 1853)

Charter Act of 1793:

Extended the Company's trade monopoly in India for another 20 years.
Governor-General was granted power to override his council's decisions.
Did not abolish the Company's trade monopoly or tea trade monopoly.

Charter Act of 1813:

Abolished the East India Company's trade monopoly in India, except for trade in tea and trade with China.
Asserted the sovereignty of the British Crown over the Company's territories in India.
Sanctioned one lakh rupees annually for the revival and promotion of literature and encouragement of learned natives of India.
Formally permitted Christian missionaries to propagate Christianity in India.

Charter Act of 1833:

Completely abolished the East India Company's trade monopoly, including trade in tea and with China. The Company ceased to be a commercial body and became a purely administrative body.
Redesignated the Governor-General of Bengal as the Governor-General of India. Lord William Bentinck was the first Governor-General of India.
Deprived the Governors of Bombay and Madras of their legislative powers; the Governor-General of India was given exclusive legislative powers for the entire British India.
Added a Law Member (fourth member) to the Governor-General's Council for legislative purposes. Lord Macaulay was the first Law Member.
Provided for the codification of laws in India by a Law Commission, headed by Lord Macaulay.
Introduced a provision for the abolition of slavery in India (slavery was finally abolished by Act V of 1843).
Stipulated that no Indian subject of the Company was to be debarred from holding any office under the Company by reason of religion, place of birth, descent, or colour (Section 87), theoretically opening higher posts to Indians.

Charter Act of 1853:

Separated the legislative and executive functions of the Governor-General's Council.
Provided for the addition of six new members to the Council, known as the Legislative Councillors, establishing a separate legislative council for India.
Introduced local representation in the Indian (Central) Legislative Council; four of the six new legislative members were appointed by the local governments of Madras, Bombay, Bengal, and Agra.
Opened the Indian Civil Service (ICS) to open competition, which meant recruitment was based on a competitive examination, implementing recommendations of the Northcote-Trevelyan Committee (1853).
Reduced the number of members of the Court of Directors from 24 to 18, with 6 of them to be nominated by the Crown.
Did not specify any fixed time period for the Company's rule, implying that British Parliament could assume governance at any time.
Envisaged a parliamentary system by separating legislative and executive functions and introducing local representation.

Formation and working of the Constituent Assembly

M.N. Roy first suggested the need for a Constitution for free India.
Swaraj Party in 1934 first officially mooted the idea of a Constituent Assembly to frame a Constitution for India.
In 1928, a committee of Congress leaders, headed by Motilal Nehru, drafted a Constitution for India (Nehru Report).
Maulana Azad was the Chairman of the Central Election Board for the Central Legislative elections held in November 1945.
The chronological development of the Constitution of India includes: Two chambers of central legislative assembly (post-GoI Act 1919) → Distribution of powers between Centre and the Units (post-GoI Act 1935) → Election for central legislative assembly (e.g., Nov 1945) → Formation of Constituent Assembly (1946).
The demand for linguistic provinces was first floated to bring the administration closer to the people.
G. V. Mavalankar was associated with the motion of Secret Sitting Session of the Assembly (referring to the Central Legislative Assembly, c. 1942).

Government of India Act of 1858

Enacted on August 2, 1858, following the Revolt of 1857, also known as the Act for the Better Government of India.
Transferred the governance of India from the East India Company (EIC) to the British Crown.
Terminated the EIC's rule, abolishing the Court of Directors and Board of Control (ending the dual government system).
Initiated the 'British Raj' or 'Crown Rule' period (1858-1947).
Created the new office of Secretary of State for India, a member of the British Cabinet, directly responsible to the British Parliament.
Established a 15-member 'Council of India' to assist the Secretary of State.
Redesignated the Governor-General of India as the Viceroy of India, serving as the direct representative of the British Crown. Lord Canning became the first Viceroy.
Characterized by absolute imperial control, with no popular participation in the administration.
Clarified the constitutional status of the British Empire in India for the first time.
The Queen's Proclamation of 1858, issued under this Act, declared:

An end to the policy of territorial annexation and expansion.
Respect for the rights, dignity, and honour of Indian princes.
Religious toleration and non-interference in religious beliefs.
Equal opportunities for Indians in public services (though implementation was slow).
Referred to as the "Magna Carta of our rights and liberties" by Surendranath Banerjee.

This Act did not abolish the Mahalwari System.

Government of India Act of 1935

Passed in 1935, it was the longest British India Act (321 sections, 10 schedules).
All-India Federation: Proposed an All-India Federation comprising British Provinces and Princely States.
Non-implementation: The federal part of the Act was never implemented as princely states did not join.
British Intent: Inclusion of princely states intended to counterbalance nationalist leaders.
Provincial Autonomy: Introduced provincial autonomy by abolishing Dyarchy in provinces.
Provincial Ministries: Provincial Council of Ministers were responsible to and removable by the provincial legislature.
Provincial Implementation: Provincial autonomy became effective on April 1, 1937.
Dyarchy at Centre: Introduced Dyarchy at the Centre (federal subjects divided into Reserved and Transferred).
Reserved Subjects (Centre): Defence, Foreign Affairs, Ecclesiastical Affairs, Tribal Areas (under Governor-General with advisors).
Division of Powers (Schedule VII):

Federal List: 59 items.
Provincial List: 54 items.
Concurrent List: 36 items.

Residuary Powers: Vested with the GovernorGeneral.
Federal Legislature: Provided for a bicameral federal legislature (Council of States as upper house, Federal Assembly as lower house).
Bicameral Provincial Legislatures: Established in 6 provinces: Assam, Bengal, Bombay, Bihar, Madras, and United Provinces.
Federal Court: Provided for its establishment; inaugurated in 1937.
First Chief Justice (Federal Court): Sir Maurice Gwyer.
Public Service Commissions: Provided for Federal, Provincial, and Joint Public Service Commissions.
Council of India: Abolished the Council of the Secretary of State for India.
Separate Electorates: Extended to depressed classes (Scheduled Castes), women, and labour (workers); did not abolish communal representation.
Burma and Aden: Separated Burma from India and Aden from Bombay Presidency (effective 1937 for Burma).
New Provinces: Created Sind (from Bombay) and Orissa (from Bihar and Orissa) in 1936.
Governor's Powers: Governors (appointed by the Crown) and Governor-General retained extensive discretionary powers, including veto and ordinance-making powers.
Emergency Powers: Governor-General could issue proclamations for constitutional breakdown (e.g., Section 45 for federal, Section 93 for provincial via Governor, Section 102 for legislative power in emergency).
Amendment: Only the British Parliament had the right to amend the Act.
"Charter of Slavery": Jawaharlal Nehru's description of the Act.
"Car with only brakes and no engine": Jawaharlal Nehru's description of the Act.
"Principle of Constitutional Autocracy": Introduced by the Act.
Context: Outcome of the Round Table Conferences.
1937 Elections: Congress participated and formed ministries in 7 out of 11 provinces.

Indian Councils Acts of 1861 and 1892

Indian Councils Act, 1861

Legislative Councils: Enlarged Governor-General's Executive Council for legislative purposes by adding 6-12 additional members (nominated by Viceroy), at least half of whom were to be non-officials. First time Indians could share in administration (legislative process).
Indian Representation: Lord Canning nominated 3 Indians (Raja of Benaras, Maharaja of Patiala, Sir Dinkar Rao) to the Legislative Council.
Decentralization: Restored legislative powers to the Bombay and Madras Presidencies, initiating legislative devolution. Also provided for formation of new legislative councils for Bengal, North-Western Frontier Province, and Punjab.
Portfolio System: Legalized the 'portfolio' system (introduced by Lord Canning in 1859), giving each member of the Viceroy's Executive Council charge of a specific department. Strengthened Viceroy's authority.
Ordinance Power: Governor-General gained extraordinary power to issue ordinances without the Council's concurrence during emergencies, valid for 6 months.
Council Functions: Legislative Council's functions were exclusively confined to legislative proposals; it did not represent the general class. Provided government an opportunity to hear Indian grievances.
Related Act: Indian High Courts Act (1861) established High Courts in Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras.
Related Act: Indian Civil Services Act (1861) formalized structure and recruitment for the Indian Civil Service.

Indian Councils Act, 1892

Increased Membership: Increased the number of additional members in both the Imperial Legislative Council (10-16) and Provincial Legislative Councils.
Element of Election: Introduced the 'element of election' for the first time in India, though indirectly. Some nonofficial members were to be nominated on the recommendation of provincial legislative councils (for Imperial) and local bodies like district boards, municipalities, universities, trade bodies (for Provincial).
Budget Discussion: Members gained the right to discuss the annual budget, but could not vote on it or move amendments.
Questions: Members could ask questions on matters of public interest after giving 6 days' notice, but no right to ask supplementary questions.
Limitations: Early nationalists opposed the Act for not giving Indians control over public funds. The 'election' was indirect and powers of the councils remained very limited.

Related Historical Facts

Ilbert Bill (1883):

Proposed to grant criminal jurisdiction to native (Indian) officials over European British subjects, aiming to bring Indians and Europeans on par in criminal jurisdiction.
Generated strong opposition from European subjects in India, leading to its withdrawal and subsequent passage in a modified form.

Age of Consent Act (1891): Prohibited cohabitation with a girl below 12 years of age.
Act III, 1872: Also known as the Native Marriage Act or Civil Marriage Act, a social reform act.
Other Acts/Years:

Royal Titles Act: 1876
Indian Arms Act: 1878
Indian Divorce Act: 1869
Sharda Act (Child Marriage Restraint Act): 1929
Indian Universities Act: 1904

Indian Independence Act of 1947

Enacted on July 18, 1947; came into effect on August 15, 1947.
Created two independent and sovereign Dominions: India and Pakistan.
Ended British rule in India, declaring it independent.
Provided for the partition of British India.
Abolished the office of the Viceroy.
Provided for a Governor-General for each Dominion, appointed by the British Monarch on the advice of the respective Dominion's cabinet.
Abolished the office of the Secretary of State for India; functions transferred to the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs.
Empowered the Constituent Assemblies of both Dominions to frame and adopt any constitution, and to legislate for their respective territories.
Empowered Constituent Assemblies to repeal or amend any Act of the British Parliament, including the Indian Independence Act itself.
Stipulated that until new constitutions were framed, the Government of India Act, 1935 (with necessary adaptations) would govern both Dominions.
Ended British paramountcy over princely states, giving them freedom to accede to either Dominion or remain independent.
Removed the British Monarch's title of "Emperor of India."
Discontinued the appointment to services under the Crown in India from August 15, 1947.

Key principles and adoption of the Constitution of India

Jawaharlal Nehru: First Chairman of Planning Commission (est. 1950); Initiated NonAligned Foreign Policy.
Nehru Report (1928): Authored by Motilal Nehru; Jawaharlal Nehru was secretary.
Utilitarianism: Key proponents Jeremy Bentham, John Stuart Mill. Core principle: "greatest good for the greatest number."
"Philosopher King/Ruler": Dr. S. Radhakrishnan (President of India).
First Chief Justice of India: H.J. Kania.
Fundamental Duties: Recommended by Sardar Swaran Singh Committee (1976); Added to Constitution via 42nd Amendment Act, 1976.
Atomic Energy Commission: Established August 1948.
Department of Atomic Energy: Established August 1954.
First Woman IPS Officer: Kiran Bedi.
Preamble of Constitution: 'Socialist' and 'Secular' (and 'Integrity') words added by 42nd Amendment Act, 1976.

Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms (Government of India Act of 1919)

Name & Year: Government of India Act of 1919, also known as Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms (Mont-Ford Reforms).
Enforcement: Enacted in 1919, came into force in 1921.
Origin: Based on the Montagu-Chelmsford Report.
Declaration: Preceded by the Montagu Declaration (August 20, 1917), which announced the gradual introduction of responsible government in India.
Key Figures: Edwin Montagu (Secretary of State for India), Lord Chelmsford (Viceroy of India). Lloyd George was the Prime Minister of England when the Act was passed.
Provincial Reforms (Dyarchy):

Introduced Dyarchy (dual rule) in the provinces. Sir Lionel Curtis is known as the father of Dyarchy.
Provincial subjects were divided into two categories: Reserved and Transferred.
Reserved Subjects: Administered by the Governor and his Executive Council (without ministerial responsibility to the legislature). Examples: Finance, Law & Order (Police, Justice), Land Revenue, Famine Relief, Irrigation.
Transferred Subjects: Administered by the Governor acting with Ministers (who were responsible to the provincial legislative council). Examples: Local Self-Government, Education, Public Health, Sanitation, Agriculture, Industries, Medicine, Religious & Charitable Endowments, Pilgrimages within British India.
Ministers were appointed by the Governor and were not collectively responsible to the legislature; the Governor could overrule them. Finance was a Reserved subject, limiting ministers' effectiveness.
Aim: Establish partial responsible government in the provinces.

Central Reforms:

No Dyarchy at the Centre.
The Central Executive (Governor-General and his Executive Council) remained fully responsible to the British Parliament, not the Indian Legislature.
Introduced a Bicameral Central Legislature:

Council of State (Upper House): 60 members (34 elected, 26 nominated). Term: 5 years. First President: Frederick Whyte.
Legislative Assembly (Lower House): 145 members (104 elected, 41 nominated - 26 official, 15 non-official). Term: 3 years. Achieved a non-official elected majority. First non-official Speaker (1925): Vithalbhai J. Patel.

Relaxed central control over provinces by separating central and provincial subjects but the central legislature retained power to legislate on provincial subjects.

Electoral System & Franchise:

Introduced direct elections for the first time for both houses of the Central Legislature and provincial legislatures.
Extended the principle of communal representation to Sikhs, Indian Christians, Anglo-Indians, and Europeans.
Franchise was limited (based on property, tax, or education), not adult suffrage.
Empowered provincial legislatures to grant voting rights to women; Madras was the first province to do so (1921).
Mrs. Annie Besant, Mrs. Sarojini Naidu, and Mrs. Hirabai Tata gave evidence in favour of female franchise before the Joint Select Committee on the Bill.

Other Key Provisions:

Provision for the establishment of a Public Service Commission in India (Federal Public Service Commission was set up in 1926) for civil service recruitment.
Indian Civil Services (ICS) examinations were to be held simultaneously in India and England starting from 1922.
Provision for a High Commissioner for India in London.
Created the Chamber of Princes with 120 members to advise the Viceroy on matters related to princely states.
A statutory commission was to be appointed after 10 years to inquire into and report on the working of the Act (led to the Simon Commission in 1927).

Criticism & Impact:

Dr. Annie Besant termed the reforms as "unworthy and disappointing - a sunless dawn." Mahatma Gandhi described the Act as "inadequate, unsatisfactory and disappointing."
The Indian National Congress rejected the Act as insufficient.
Considered the most short-lived of Britain's constitutional experiments in India, especially the dyarchy system.
The Muddiman Committee Report (1924) reviewed the working of Dyarchy.
The Act paved the way for federalism by defining the jurisdiction of central and provincial governments.
Last election for the Central Legislative Assembly under this Act was in 1934.

Morley-Minto Reforms (Indian Councils Act of 1909)

Indian Councils Act of 1909, also known as Morley-Minto Reforms.
Named after Lord Morley (Secretary of State for India) and Lord Minto (Viceroy of India).
Increased size of Legislative Councils: Central Legislative Council enlarged from 16 to 60 members. Provincial Councils also saw an increase in membership.
Maintained official majority in the Central Legislative Council.
Allowed for a non-official majority in the Provincial Legislative Councils.
Enlarged deliberative functions of legislative councils: Members could ask supplementary questions and move resolutions on the budget and matters of public interest (though certain subjects were excluded).
Introduced separate electorates for Muslims, legalizing communalism. Lord Minto is considered the 'Father of Communal Electorate'.
Provided for the first time for the association of Indians with the Executive Councils of the Viceroy and Governors.
Satyendra Prasad Sinha became the first Indian to join the Viceroy's Executive Council as a Law Member.
Did not introduce separate electorates for Indian Christians, Anglo-Indians, Sikhs, or Europeans (these were introduced by the Government of India Act, 1919).

Regulating Act of 1773 and Pitt's India Act of 1784

Regulating Act of 1773:
First direct intervention by British Parliament to regulate East India Company's (EIC) affairs in India.
Designated the Governor of Bengal as the 'Governor-General of Bengal' (first: Warren Hastings).
Provided for an Executive Council of four members to assist the Governor-General; decisions by majority, with the GovernorGeneral having a casting vote.
Council members included Barwell (already in India), Francis, Manson, Clavering (from England).
Made the Governors of Bombay and Madras Presidencies subordinate to the GovernorGeneral of Bengal.
Established a Supreme Court at Fort William, Calcutta, in 1774.
The Supreme Court consisted of a Chief Justice and three other judges.
Sir Elijah Impey was the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
Prohibited Company servants from engaging in any private trade or accepting presents, gifts, or bribes.
Strengthened British Government's control over the Company by requiring the Court of Directors to report on its revenue, civil, and military affairs in India.
Pitt's India Act of 1784:
Passed in 1784, not 1785.
Rectified the defects of the Regulating Act of 1773 and established a system of 'dual government'.
Established a six-member 'Board of Control' (BOC) in London.
The BOC was created to supervise and control all civil, military, and revenue (political) affairs of the British possessions in India.
Separated the EIC's commercial and political functions: Board of Control for political affairs, Court of Directors for commercial affairs.
Reduced the strength of the Governor-General's Executive Council from four to three members.
Empowered the Governor-General to hold the office of Commander-in-Chief in special cases (through a supplementary act).
For the first time, the Company's territories in India were officially termed 'the British possessions in India'.
Did not abolish the Company's trade monopoly in India.

Round Table Conferences and the Communal Award

Simon Commission (1927-1928):

Appointed Nov 1927 (all-white, 7 members, Sir John Simon head) to review GOI Act 1919.
Arrived in India Feb 1928, met with 'Go Back Simon' protests.

All-Party Conference / Nehru Report (Aug 1928):

Formed in response to Lord Birkenhead's challenge to draft an Indian constitution.
Committee headed by Motilal Nehru.
Recommendations: Dominion Status (not Purna Swaraj); rejection of separate electorates (joint electorates with reserved seats); 19 fundamental rights; federal government with strong centre; bicameral legislature at centre (Senate & House of Representatives); adult suffrage; responsible government; linguistic provinces; creation of Supreme Court.

All Parties Muslim Conference (Dec 1928, Delhi):

Presided by Aga Khan.
Rejected Nehru Report and endorsed separate electorates.

Jinnah's 14 Points (March 1929):

Proposed by M.A. Jinnah in response to the Nehru Report.
Demanded federal constitution with provincial autonomy, separate electorates for Muslims, 1/3rd Muslim representation at centre, protection of Muslim culture.

Dharasana Satyagraha (May 1930): Part of Civil Disobedience Movement against British salt tax.
First Round Table Conference (Nov 1930 Jan 1931):

Held in London, chaired by PM Ramsay MacDonald.
Attended by Princes, Muslim League, Liberals, Depressed Classes (Ambedkar), but INC boycotted.
Agreed on principle of an all-India federation and responsible government with safeguards.

Gandhi-Irwin Pact (March 5, 1931):

Agreement between Mahatma Gandhi and Lord Irwin (Viceroy).
INC agreed to suspend Civil Disobedience Movement and participate in Second RTC.
British Government agreed to release political prisoners and allow salt manufacturing near coasts.

Second Round Table Conference (Sept - Dec 1931):

Mahatma Gandhi represented INC. Also attended by Ambedkar, Sarojini Naidu, Madan Mohan Malaviya, Jinnah.
Main issue: Communal question (separate electorates for various communities).
Failure due to inability to agree on communal representation and transfer of power. Gandhi returned disappointed.

Communal Award (August 16, 1932):

Announced by British PM Ramsay MacDonald.
Extended separate electorates to Depressed Classes (Scheduled Castes), Muslims, Sikhs, Indian Christians, Anglo-Indians, and Europeans.
Also provided reserved seats for women and labor.
Gandhi strongly opposed separate electorates for Depressed Classes,

52. Modern History: Miscellaneous

53. Magazines, Books and Their Authors viewing it as a division of Hindu society.

Poona Pact (Sept 24, 1932):

Agreement between B.R. Ambedkar (on behalf of Depressed Classes) and Madan Mohan Malaviya (on behalf of caste Hindus), with Gandhi's endorsement (who was fasting unto death in Yerawada Jail against Communal Award).
Provisions: Abolished separate electorates for Depressed Classes; reserved seats for Depressed Classes in provincial legislatures increased from 71 to 147, and 18% of total seats in Central Legislature. Joint electorates for all.

Lord Lothian Committee (1932):

Constituted to examine and recommend on the franchise system for India, specifically the extension of voting rights.

Third Round Table Conference (Nov - Dec 1932):

Attended by fewer delegates; INC again absent.
Outcome: Discussions led to the publication of a 'White Paper' (March 1933), which formed the basis for the Government of India Act 1935.

White Paper (March 1933): British government's proposals for constitutional reforms based on RTCs, precursor to GOI Act 1935.
Government of India Act 1935: Enacted based on RTC deliberations, Simon Commission Report, and White Paper proposals.
Cripps Mission (1942): Sent to secure India's cooperation in WWII, offered dominion status post-war (later than other events mentioned).