The ‘Balkan Plan’ and Its Proposer — UPSC Prelims PYQ 2000

The Balkan Plan for fragmentation of India was the brain-child of:

1. W. Churchill
2. M. A. Jinnah
3. Lord Mountbatten
4. V. P. Menon

Explanation

Option (c) is correct

• The “Balkan Plan,” proposed by Louis Mountbatten in 1947, suggested transferring power separately to provinces such as Bengal and Punjab, allowing them to decide whether to join India, Pakistan, or remain independent. The proposal was soon dropped after strong opposition from Jawaharlal Nehru, who feared it would lead to the fragmentation or “Balkanization” of India.

Answer: (c) Lord Mountbatten