Arrange the following events in chronological order:
- I. Direct Action Day
- II. The Cabinet Mission
- III. The Wavell Plan
- IV. Attlee's announcement
- AI, III, II and IV
- BIII, II, I and IV
- CIII, I, II and IV
- DII, III, I and IV
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: (b) III, II, I and IV
Explanation
The correct order is III, II, I, IV:
- III. The Wavell Plan (June 1945), discussed at the Shimla Conference, which failed when Jinnah demanded that only the League could name the Muslim members of the Executive Council;
- II. The Cabinet Mission (March–June 1946): Pethick-Lawrence, Stafford Cripps and A. V. Alexander;
- I. Direct Action Day (16 August 1946), called by the Muslim League to press for Pakistan; it led to the Great Calcutta Killings;
- IV. Attlee's announcement (20 February 1947) that the British would leave India by June 1948.