The correct answer is option 3.
Key Points
- Plan Balkan
- Between March and May of 1947, Viceroy Mountbatten decided that the Cabinet Mission Plan had become untenable and formulated an alternative plan.
- This plan envisaged the transfer of power to separate provinces (or to a confederation, if formed before the transfer), with Punjab and Bengal given the option to vote for partition of their provinces. Hence, option 3 is the correct answer.
- The various units thus formed along with the princely states (rendered independent by lapse of paramountcy) would have the option of joining India or Pakistan or remaining separate.
- This plan was prepared by a committee that included General Sir Hastings Ismay, Sir George Abell, and Lord Mountbatten.
- The Plan proposed provinces are declared independent successor states and then be allowed to choose whether to join the constituent assembly or not.
- As per this plan all the provinces viz. Madras, Bombay, United Provinces of Bengal, Punjab & northwest Frontier, etc. were proposed to be declared Independent.
- When heard about the plan, Nehru rejected it right away and told the British that this plan would invite the Balkanization of India.
- The plan was quickly abandoned after Nehru reacted violently to it.
- It was also called Dickie Bird Plan.

