What was the Cabinet Mission Plan?

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2019). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1-4] (a) Level 1: One mark for each relevant point, two marks for a developed statement e.g. 1946 Pethick-Lawrence, Cripps and Alexander were sent to India to find a settlement acceptable to all on the constitutional future; The plan found little common ground between Congress and the Muslim League; The plan proposed a system for India with three tiers: the provinces, provincial groupings and the centre; An All-India Commission to be formed; The plan proposed an interim government whilst British withdrawal was organised; The proposal was rejected and modifications made which Congress rejected.
2. [5-7] (b) Level 3: Explains reason(s) (Five marks for one explanation, six marks for two explanations, seven marks for three explanations) e.g. It was rejected by the Congress Party because they wanted immediate and full control over central government; The Muslim League rejected the plan because it contained no reference to the establishment of an independent Pakistan; The British were negotiating from a weak position, which the Congress Party recognised, demanding that Britain left the subcontinent immediately. | [2-4] Level 2: Identifies reason(s) (One mark for each identification) e.g. Congress rejected it; The Muslim League opposed it; Britain was concentrating on the Second World War; There was widespread resistance to the plan. | [1] Level 1: Simple statement (One mark for any simple statement) e.g. A compromise could not be reached.
3. [14] (c) Level 5: Explains with evaluation (As top of Level 4 plus judgement / evaluation). | [9-13] Level 4: Explains Jinnah's 14 Points AND other development(s) (Two explanations, one 14 Points and one on other developments, are worth nine marks. Additional explanations awarded up to 13 marks) e.g. 14 Points: Set out the demands of any future negotiations with either Congress or the British Government. It was apparent that any Hindu-Muslim cooperation had now come to an end; Formed the basis of demands for a separate homeland. It also convinced the movement that Hindu and Muslim communities should form separate nations. Muslim groups were united in support of these demands, which became their ultimate goal. Other developments: Allama Iqbal further developed the concept of two separate nations in 1930 with the Allahabad Address in which he became the first Muslim leader to suggest partition in keeping with the Two-Nation Theory; his views became an inspiration to Muslims; Rahmat Ali also developed the Pakistan Movement in 1933 with his 'Now or Never' pamphlet in which he stated that the Muslim community should have their own homeland called Pakistan; The Government of India Act of 1935 introduced a federal system of government, but the Muslim League had expected more concessions from the British. However it was important to the development of the Pakistan Movement as it was in place at partition and became the instrument by which Pakistan was first governed; The Pakistan Resolution (Lahore Resolution) in 1940 set out the path towards independence in the 1940s, the Muslim League became the driving force of this process by committing to the establishment of an independent Muslim state. | [7-10] Level 3: Explains Jinnah's 14 Points OR other development(s) (One explanation is worth seven marks. Additional explanations awarded up to 10 marks). | [3-6] Level 2: Identifies / describes development(s) in the Pakistan Movement (One identification / description is worth three marks. Extra marks are awarded for additional identification / descriptions up to six marks) e.g. The 14 Points were the basis of demands for a separate homeland; Allama Iqbal spoke at the Allahabad Conference; Rehmat Ali wrote his 'Now or Never' pamphlet; The Pakistan Resolution was addressed by Jinnah. | [1-2] Level 1: Simple statement(s) (One simple statement is worth one mark. An answer with additional simple statements is worth two marks) e.g. The 14 points were important because they set out the Muslim community's demands.