Question map
The Radcliffe Committee was appointed to
Explanation
The British government appointed the Boundary Commission under the chairmanship of Sir Cyril Radcliffe to delimit the boundaries between India and Pakistan.[1] Radcliffe was given charge of presiding over two Boundary Commissions: one for the Punjab and the other for Bengal.[2] Radcliffe, with very limited knowledge of India, and with the use of out-of-date maps and census materials, was required to draw the boundaries and decide disputed points within a period of six weeks. Although the religious demography was the deciding factor, other factors, such as rivers as natural boundaries, administrative units, economic viability, railway and roadway connectivity and other infrastructural facilities, such as the canal system, were also to be taken into consideration.[3] The commission's work resulted in the partition of Bengal and Punjab between the two new dominions. The Radcliffe Committee was not appointed to solve minority problems, implement the Independence Act, or enquire into riots—its sole purpose was boundary delimitation.
Sources- [2] History , class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 8: Reconstruction of Post-colonial India > 8.1 Consequences of Partition > p. 101
- [3] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 33: Challenges Before the New-born Nation > Challenges before the Boundary Commission > p. 593
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Guest previewThis is a classic 'Sitter' found in every standard Modern History text (Spectrum, NCERT). It tests the fundamental administrative mechanism of Partition. The strategy is simple: memorize the 'Terms of Reference' for every major colonial committee (Hunter, Butler, Hartog, Radcliffe).
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
- Statement 1: Was the Radcliffe Committee (Boundary Commission) appointed to solve the problem of minorities in India?
- Statement 2: Was the Radcliffe Committee appointed to give effect to the Independence Bill (Indian Independence Act 1947)?
- Statement 3: Was the Radcliffe Committee appointed to delimit the boundaries between India and Pakistan (i.e., to draw the Radcliffe Line)?
- Statement 4: Was the Radcliffe Committee appointed to enquire into the riots in East Bengal?
- Explicitly states the Boundary Commission under Sir Cyril Radcliffe was appointed to delimit boundaries between India and Pakistan.
- This directly contradicts the claim that it was appointed to solve minority problems.
- Describes the Bengal Boundary Commission being constituted to determine the division (boundaries) of the Province of Bengal.
- Shows the commission's mandate was boundary determination, not addressing minority issues.
States the Boundary Commission's task was to draw boundaries with 'religious demography' as the deciding factor, alongside administrative and geographic considerations.
A student could infer the commission's role was territorial partitioning (using religion as a criterion) rather than creating institutions or protections for minorities, and check whether minority-protection mandates were included in its brief.
Describes the demographic outcome of the Radcliffe Award, noting substantial minority populations remained on both sides after partition.
A student could use these population figures plus the commission's remit to assess whether boundary-drawing aimed to eliminate minority problems or simply divide territory, then compare to any explicit minority-protection measures.
Notes Radcliffe was sent to re-draw the map and presided over two Boundary Commissions for Punjab and Bengal, emphasizing a cartographic/territorial mandate.
A student can contrast a cartographic/territorial mandate with bodies explicitly formed to address minority welfare to judge intent behind the appointment.
Describes the Delhi (Liaquat-Nehru) Pact and later creation of minority commissions to safeguard minorities and investigate communal violence.
A student might infer that minority problems were addressed by separate political agreements and commissions post-partition, suggesting the Boundary Commission was not the primary vehicle for minority protection.
Shows that specific committees/sub-committees (e.g., Minorities Sub-Committee) in the Constituent Assembly dealt with minority safeguards and cultural rights.
A student could use this to argue that minority issues were being handled within constitutional/legislative processes rather than by a boundary-drawing commission.
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This statement analysis shows book citations, web sources and indirect clues. The first statement (S1) is open for preview.
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