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Question 61 of 78 · Union Executive: President, VP & PM
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The member in charge of Defence in the Interim Government of 1946 was:

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Answer: Option D — Baldev Singh

Detailed Solution

Sardar Baldev Singh was the member in charge of Defence in the Interim Government formed in September 1946. He continued as India's first Defence Minister after independence.

About Baldev Singh:

  • He was born in 1902 in Punjab.
  • He was a Sikh leader and industrialist.
  • He represented the Sikh community in negotiations with the British, including during the Cabinet Mission and the discussions on partition.
  • He served as India's Defence Minister from 15 August 1947 to 1952.
  • As Defence Minister, he was in charge during the first war with Pakistan over Kashmir in 1947 and 1948, and during the integration of Hyderabad in 1948.

Members of the Interim Government (1946):

  • Jawaharlal Nehru: Vice-President of the Executive Council, External Affairs and Commonwealth Relations.
  • Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel: Home, and Information and Broadcasting.
  • Baldev Singh: Defence.
  • Liaquat Ali Khan: Finance.
  • John Mathai: Industries and Supplies.

Dr. Rajendra Prasad: Food and Agriculture.

Jagjivan Ram: Labour.

Asaf Ali: Railways.

C.H. Bhabha: Works, Mines and Power.

Muslim League members, such as I.I. Chundrigar and Abdur Rab Nishtar, joined later in October 1946.

The first Cabinet of independent India:

It was formed on 15 August 1947 with Nehru as Prime Minister.

It included leaders from different backgrounds, such as Dr. B.R. Ambedkar (Law), Shyama Prasad Mookerjee (Industry and Supply), John Mathai (Railways), R.K. Shanmukham Chetty (Finance) and Baldev Singh (Defence).

Defence Ministers of India:

Baldev Singh was followed by N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar, K.N. Katju, V.K. Krishna Menon and Y.B. Chavan, among others.

Why not the other options?

  • ✗Sardar Patel held Home.
  • ✗Liaquat Ali Khan held Finance.
  • ✗John Mathai held Industries and Supplies.

Quick tip

Remember: Defence in the Interim Government (1946) = Baldev Singh, who became India's first Defence Minister.

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Union Executive: President, VP & PM — Preparation

This question tests your understanding of Union Executive: President, VP & PM, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.

This topic covers the Union Executive: the President, the Vice-President, the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers, and the Attorney General. It includes their election or appointment, qualifications, powers, removal, and the relationship between the President and the Council of Ministers. Common questions cover the electoral college that elects the President, impeachment under Article 61, the President's ordinance-making power (Article 123) and pardoning power (Article 72), and the fact that the Vice-President is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Lists of past Presidents and Prime Ministers are also tested. Practise the Union Executive questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.

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