Formation of Interim Government (1946) is part of Modern History of India. Below are notes on 9 sub-topics, followed by practice MCQs from State PSC and UPSC papers (coming soon).
Background: Cabinet Mission Plan's proposals for Interim Government
- Wavell Plan (1945): First British proposal for the Viceroy's Executive Council to comprise mainly Indian members, with exceptions only for the Governor-General and Commanderin-Chief.
- Cabinet Mission Plan (May 1946) - Interim Government Proposals:
- Proposed the immediate formation of an Interim Government at the Centre.
- Composition: To be constituted from representatives of the major political parties in India.
- Purpose: To administer the country until the new Constitution was framed by the Constituent Assembly.
- Nature: This government would function effectively as an Indian-dominated executive, with Indian leaders holding key portfolios.
Formation of the first Interim Government (September 2, 1946)
- Interim Government announced by Viceroy Lord Wavell: August 24, 1946.
- Hansa Mehta: Presented the national flag to the Constituent Assembly on the midnight of August 14-15, 1947.
- Rajkumari Amrit Kaur:
- First woman to hold a cabinet position in post-Independent India (Union Health Minister).
- Member of the Constituent Assembly's Advisory Committee and Sub-Committee on Fundamental Rights.
- Instrumental in establishing the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
- Served as the President of the World Health Assembly (WHO), being the first woman and first Asian to hold this post.
- First Interim Government formed: September 2, 1946.
- Headed by: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
Initial composition, key portfolios, and members of the Congress-led government
- Interim Government formed on September 2, 1946.
- Viceroy (Lord Wavell, then Lord Mountbatten) remained the Head of the Executive Council.
- Jawaharlal Nehru was the Vice-President of the Viceroy's Executive Council and held the portfolio of External Affairs & Commonwealth Relations. He was not designated as Prime Minister or Head of the Executive Council.
- Initial composition included 12 members nominated by Congress, including some nonCongress Indians.
- Muslim League initially boycotted, then joined on October 26, 1946, leading to a reallocation of portfolios and replacement of some Congress nominees. The total strength was 14 members.
- Key Portfolios and Members (as of October 26, 1946, after League joined):
- Jawaharlal Nehru: Vice-President, External Affairs & Commonwealth Relations
- Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel: Home, Information & Broadcasting, States Department
- Dr. Rajendra Prasad: Food & Agriculture
- Sardar Baldev Singh: Defence
- Jagjivan Ram: Labour
- C. Rajagopalachari: Education & Arts
- Asaf Ali: Railways & Communications
- Dr. John Matthai: Industries & Supplies
- C.H. Bhabha: Works, Mines & Power
- Liaquat Ali Khan (Muslim League): Finance
- Jogendra Nath Mandal (Muslim League): Law
- I.I. Chundrigar (Muslim League): Commerce
- Abdur Rab Nishtar (Muslim League): Posts & Air
- Ghazanfar Ali Khan (Muslim League): Health
- Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was not the Deputy Prime Minister in the Interim Government. He was the Home Minister.
- Dr. S. Radhakrishnan and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad were not members of the Interim Government.
Muslim League's 'Direct Action Day' and its impact
- Muslim League rejected the Cabinet Mission Plan's proposals, including the interim government formation, demanding a separate Pakistan.
- Muslim League's Council called for 'Direct Action' to achieve Pakistan.
- 16th August, 1946, was designated as 'Direct Action Day' or 'Great Calcutta Killings Day'.
- The day triggered widespread communal violence, particularly in Calcutta, resulting in significant loss of life and property.
- The 'Direct Action Day' exacerbated HinduMuslim tensions and was a critical factor leading towards the partition of India.
- Despite the violence, the Congress-led Interim Government was formed on 2nd September, 1946, initially without the Muslim League.
Muslim League's eventual entry into the Interim Government (October 26, 1946)
- Interim Government formed September 2, 1946, initially without Muslim League.
- Viceroy Wavell successfully persuaded the Muslim League to join the Interim Government.
- Muslim League officially joined the Interim Government on October 26, 1946.
- The League's entry was aimed at gaining a foothold to fight for Pakistan from within, not for cooperative governance.
- Muslim League nominated five members to the Interim Government.
- Liaquat Ali Khan (Muslim League) was appointed the Finance Minister.
- Other Muslim League nominees and their portfolios: I.I. Chundrigar (Commerce), Abdur Rab Nishtar (Posts & Air), Ghazanfar Ali Khan (Health), and Jogendra Nath Mandal (Law).
Negotiations between Viceroy Wavell, Congress, and Muslim League
- Wavell Plan (June 1945): Viceroy Lord Wavell proposed to resolve political deadlock and form an interim government.
- Shimla Conference (June 1945): Held at Shimla, it was a meeting between Viceroy Wavell and major political leaders (Congress, Muslim League) to discuss the Wavell Plan.
- Wavell Plan Proposal: Formation of a new Executive Council with Indian members, including equal representation for 'caste Hindus' and Muslims.
- Failure of Shimla Conference: Muslim League's Jinnah insisted on being the sole nominator of Muslim members to the Executive Council, which Congress rejected.
- Cabinet Mission (March 1946): Sent by British PM Attlee to negotiate independence and form an interim government; members were Pethick-Lawrence, Stafford Cripps, A.V. Alexander.
- Cabinet Mission Plan Proposals: Rejected full Pakistan, proposed a federal union, grouped provinces (A, B, C), and suggested an immediate Interim Government.
- Initial Acceptance: Both Congress (with reservations) and Muslim League (after initial hesitation) initially accepted the Cabinet Mission Plan.
- Muslim League Withdrawal (July 1946): Jinnah withdrew League's acceptance following Nehru's statement implying Congress's freedom to modify the plan.
- Direct Action Day (August 16, 1946): Muslim League called for this, leading to widespread communal riots.
- Formation of Interim Government (September 2, 1946): Viceroy Wavell invited Congress to form the government; Jawaharlal Nehru became its Vice-President.
- Muslim League Joins Interim Government (October 1946): League joined with 5 members (Liaquat Ali Khan as Finance Minister), aiming to fight for Pakistan from within.
- Dynamics of Interim Government: Marked by continuous disagreements and non-cooperation between Congress and League members.
Reconstitution of the Interim Government and reallocation of portfolios
- Interim Government formed: September 2, 1946. Viceroy Wavell (President), Jawaharlal Nehru (Vice-President, External Affairs & Commonwealth Relations).
- Muslim League initially boycotted; joined the Interim Government on October 26, 1946. Total 14 members.
- Key Portfolios in Reconstituted Interim Government (Oct 26, 1946):
- Jawaharlal Nehru: External Affairs & Commonwealth Relations (VP).
- Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel: Home, Information & Broadcasting.
- Liaquat Ali Khan (Muslim League): Finance.
- Dr. Rajendra Prasad: Food & Agriculture.
- Jagjivan Ram: Labour.
- Sardar Baldev Singh: Defence.
- C.H. Bhabha: Works, Mines & Power.
- I.I. Chundrigar (ML): Commerce.
- Abdur Rab Nishtar (ML): Posts & Air.
- Ghazanfar Ali Khan (ML): Health.
- Jogendra Nath Mandal (ML): Law.
- John Mathai: Industries & Supplies.
- C. Rajagopalachari: Education & Arts.
- Asaf Ali: Railways & Communications.
- Key Portfolios in First Cabinet of Free India (August 15, 1947):
- Jawaharlal Nehru: Prime Minister, External Affairs & Commonwealth Relations, Scientific Research.
- Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel: Home, Information & Broadcasting, States.
- Dr. Rajendra Prasad: Food & Agriculture. (No change from Interim Govt.)
- Jagjivan Ram: Labour. (No change from Interim Govt.)
- Sardar Baldev Singh: Defence. (No change from Interim Govt.)
- C.H. Bhabha: Commerce. (Changed from Works, Mines & Power in Interim Govt.)
- R.K. Shanmukham Chetty: Finance. (Liaquat Ali Khan was Finance in Interim Govt.)
- Dr. B.R. Ambedkar: Law. (Jogendra Nath Mandal was Law in Interim Govt.)
The Interim Government as a transitional body towards independence
- Formation Date: Interim Government formed on September 2, 1946.
- Purpose: Served as a transitional government to facilitate the transfer of power from British India to independent India.
- De Facto Head: Jawaharlal Nehru, designated Vice-President of the Viceroy's Executive Council.
- De Jure Head: Viceroy Lord Wavell (later Lord Mountbatten from February 1947), as President of the Executive Council.
- Muslim League's Entry: Initially boycotted, but joined the Interim Government on October 26, 1946.
- Key Portfolios (post-independence continuation): K. C. Neogy was appointed Minister for Relief and Rehabilitation in the first cabinet of independent India, with the Ministry of Rehabilitation set up on September 6, 1947.
Viceroy Wavell's invitation to Jawaharlal Nehru to form the government
- August 1946: Viceroy Wavell invited Jawaharlal Nehru to form the Interim Government.