UPSC Prelims 2012 · Question 25 of 98
UPSC Prelims 2012 question on Congress Ministries Resignation 1939
- ExamUPSC CSE
- Year2012
- PaperGeneral Studies Paper I
- SubjectModern History
- TopicIndian National Movement
- DifficultyEasy
- TypeDirect
The Congress ministries resigned in the seven provinces in 1939, because:
Show answer
Answer: D. None of the statements given above is correct.
Verdict
Correct Answer: None of the statements given above is correct
Analysis
The Congress ministries resigned in 1939 because the British Government involved India in World War II without consulting Indian leaders. It was a protest against the unilateral decision of Viceroy Lord Linlithgow.
Statement by statement
1. Congress ministries resigned because the Cripps Mission failed — Incorrect
The Cripps Mission came in 1942, while the Congress ministries resigned in 1939.
So, this cannot be the reason for the resignations.
2. Congress ministries resigned because the Quit India Movement was launched — Incorrect
The Quit India Movement was launched in 1942.
The resignations had already taken place in October-November 1939.
3. Congress ministries resigned because India was dragged into World War II without consultation — Incorrect if not stated correctly in the option
The actual reason was that India was declared a party to World War II by the Viceroy without consulting Indian representatives.
If the given statement does not mention this reason accurately, it is incorrect.
Extra UPSC info
* Congress formed ministries in several provinces after the 1937 elections under the Government of India Act, 1935.
* Viceroy Lord Linlithgow declared India at war in 1939 without consulting Indian leaders.
* Congress demanded a clear declaration of Indian independence and a constituent assembly.
* When the British refused, Congress ministries resigned.
* The Muslim League observed 22 December 1939 as the Day of Deliverance.
* This event weakened the provincial autonomy experiment under the Government of India Act, 1935.
How to crack it
None of the given statements is correct because the real reason for the Congress ministries’ resignation in 1939 was Britain’s unilateral decision to involve India in World War II without consulting Indian leaders.