Political Science · Political Institutions in India
UGC NET Jan 2017 Political Science
Regarding the Interim Government of 1946, which of the following is not correct?
AJawaharlal Nehru was the Prime Minister/Head of the Executive Council ✓ Correct
BJawaharlal Nehru was designated as the Vice-President of the Viceroy's Executive Council
CThe Viceroy continued to be the Head of the Executive Council
DThe members of the Interim Government were members of Viceroy's Executive Council
Correct answer: (A) Jawaharlal Nehru was the Prime Minister/Head of the Executive Council — The statement that is not correct is option (1), since Jawaharlal Nehru was not the formal Head of the Executive Council, so calling him its Head is inaccurate.
Explanation
★The statement that is not correct is option (1), since Jawaharlal Nehru was not the formal Head of the Executive Council, so calling him its Head is inaccurate.
★The Interim Government of India took office on 2 September 1946 to manage the transition to independence.
★It was formed from the members elected to the Constituent Assembly, following the framework of the Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946.
★The Viceroy remained the formal Head, or President, of the Executive Council throughout this period, first Lord Wavell and then Lord Mountbatten.
★Jawaharlal Nehru was designated the Vice President of the Viceroy's Executive Council.
★As Vice President he functioned as the de facto Prime Minister, leading the council's day to day business, so option (2) is correct.
★Because the Viceroy stayed on as the constitutional head, option (3) is also correct.
★The ministers of the Interim Government held their posts as members of the Viceroy's Executive Council, which makes option (4) correct as well.
★The distinction the question tests is between de facto leadership, held by Nehru, and formal headship, held by the Viceroy.
★Nehru also held the portfolio of External Affairs and Commonwealth Relations in this government.
★The Muslim League initially stayed out but joined the Interim Government in October 1946, with Liaquat Ali Khan taking the Finance portfolio.
★The Interim Government functioned until 15 August 1947, when India and Pakistan became independent dominions.
★It is best understood as a transitional cabinet operating within the existing colonial constitutional structure, not as a fully sovereign government.
★A common error is to treat Nehru's de facto premiership as a formal title of Head or President of the council, which the office never carried.
★For NET, separate the roles: the Viceroy as Head or President, Nehru as Vice President and de facto Prime Minister, and the body formed from the Constituent Assembly under the Cabinet Mission Plan.
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