Consider the following statements:
1. Assertion (A): The British sovereignty continued to exist in free India.
2. Reason (R): The British sovereign appointed the last Governor General of free India.
In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct?
A
Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
B
Both A and R are true but R is not a correct explanation of A
C
A is true but R is false
D
A is false but R is true
Correct Answer: Option A
Explanation
1. This is an Assertion-Reason question regarding British sovereignty after India's independence.
2. Assertion (A): The statement that British sovereignty continued to exist in free India is incorrect. The Indian Independence Act, 1947, ended British rule and sovereignty over India, establishing India as an independent Dominion effective August 15, 1947. Sovereignty passed to the Indian Constituent Assembly (acting as the legislature). Assertion (A) is false.
3. Reason (R): The statement that the British sovereign appointed the last Governor General of free India is technically true in the initial phase. Lord Mountbatten was appointed Governor-General by the King, on the advice of the interim Indian government, and he continued briefly post-independence. C. Rajagopalachari, the first Indian Governor-General, was also formally appointed by the King, though acting on the advice of the Indian Cabinet. This mechanism existed until India became a Republic in 1950. So, Reason (R) is true.
4. Conclusion: Since Assertion (A) is false and Reason (R) is true, the correct option is (D).