Q. The Radcliffe Committee was appointed to
(a) solve the problem of minorities in India
(b) give effect to the Independence Bill
(c) delimit the boundaries between India and Pakistan
(d) enquire into the riots in East Bengal
Ans: (c) delimit the boundaries between India and Pakistan
Explanation: The Radcliffe Committee was appointed to (c) delimit the boundaries between India and Pakistan.
The Radcliffe Committee, officially known as the “Boundary Commission,” was established in 1947 by the British government to determine the boundaries between the newly independent nations of India and Pakistan. The committee was named after its chairman, Sir Cyril Radcliffe, a British lawyer and judge.
The committee was tasked with the challenging responsibility of demarcating the borders between the two countries based on religious demographics and other relevant factors. The process involved examining various factors such as population distribution, religious composition, geographical considerations, and administrative divisions.
The Radcliffe Committee’s recommendations, which were based on these considerations, led to the partition of the Indian subcontinent into India and Pakistan in August 1947. The boundary lines drawn by the committee resulted in the division of Punjab and Bengal, leading to significant migrations and communal violence.
Therefore, the correct answer is (c) delimit the boundaries between India and Pakistan.
