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 correct answer is (c) delimit the boundaries between India and Pakistan.
The Radcliffe Committee, officially known as the Boundary Commission, was appointed to delimit the boundaries between India and Pakistan in the context of the partition of British India in 1947. The committee was chaired by Sir Cyril Radcliffe, a British barrister and jurist.
The Radcliffe Committee was tasked with the challenging responsibility of drawing the boundary lines to create separate nations of India and Pakistan based on religious demographics. Its main objective was to determine the division of territory between the two newly formed countries.
The committee faced immense pressure and tight deadlines to complete the task. Its recommendations, based on the demarcation of religious majority areas, led to the partition of Punjab and Bengal, resulting in mass migrations and significant communal violence.
The Radcliffe Line, the boundary drawn by the committee, became the international border between India and Pakistan. The partition and the drawing of boundary lines had significant and long-lasting implications for the region, including the displacement of millions of people and ongoing tensions between the two nations.
Therefore, option (c) accurately describes the purpose for which the Radcliffe Committee was appointed.
