Mahatma Gandhi famously described which constitutional proposal as “a post-dated cheque on a crumbling bank”?

Introduction / Context:
During the final decades of British rule in India, several constitutional proposals and missions were sent from Britain to negotiate with Indian leaders. Mahatma Gandhi's sharp comments on these proposals are often quoted in history questions because they reveal the Congress attitude towards half hearted concessions. The phrase “a post dated cheque on a crumbling bank” is one of Gandhi's most famous metaphors and is regularly asked in competitive exams to test your recall of which specific proposal he was referring to.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- Four options are provided: Simon Commission, Cripps Mission, Cabinet Mission and Wavell Plan. - The statement clearly comes from Mahatma Gandhi. - The context is a constitutional proposal seen as inadequate and unreliable. - We assume standard nationalist historiography regarding the Quit India period and World War II politics.

Concept / Approach:
The Cripps Mission arrived in India in 1942, during World War II, offering limited constitutional concessions and a promise of dominion status after the war. Gandhi and the Congress leadership considered these proposals vague, delayed and insincere. Gandhi thus described the Cripps proposals as “a post dated cheque on a crumbling bank” to emphasise that the British promise of future freedom from a war weakened empire was not trustworthy. The Simon Commission came earlier in 1927 without Indian members, the Cabinet Mission in 1946 had a different set of proposals, and the Wavell Plan was connected with the 1945 Shimla Conference. Only the Cripps Mission matches Gandhi's metaphor.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Cripps Mission was sent in 1942 by the British government to secure Indian cooperation in World War II. Step 2: Note that its proposals promised dominion status after the war and the right of provinces to stay out of the union, which many Indian leaders found unacceptable. Step 3: Gandhi felt the proposals did not offer immediate, real power to Indians and instead postponed genuine freedom to an uncertain future. Step 4: To capture this feeling, he famously described the offer as “a post dated cheque on a crumbling bank”, implying a promise that might never be honoured. Step 5: Cross check that this quote is not attributed to the Simon Commission, Cabinet Mission or Wavell Plan in standard textbooks. Step 6: Therefore, the correct answer is the Cripps Mission.

Verification / Alternative check:
Any reliable preparation book for modern Indian history will have a section on the Cripps Mission and almost always print this quotation by Gandhi in that context. The sequence of events also helps: Cripps Mission in 1942 was followed by the Quit India Movement, which Gandhi launched after rejecting the proposals. The Cabinet Mission (1946) is linked more with partition related negotiations and not with this particular metaphor. Remembering this timeline makes it easier to match the quote correctly with the Cripps Mission.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Simon Commission is wrong because it came in 1928 and was criticised for having no Indian members; Gandhi's famous “post dated cheque” comment is not linked to it.

Cabinet Mission is wrong because, although Congress had criticisms of its plan, this particular metaphor is not associated with the Cabinet Mission proposals.

Wavell Plan is wrong as it refers to the proposals discussed at the 1945 Shimla Conference and is not the context of Gandhi's quoted remark.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse the Cripps Mission with the Cabinet Mission because both involve British delegations and constitutional plans. Another pitfall is to memorise the quote loosely without attaching it firmly to the correct year (1942) and the specific mission. To avoid confusion, link the memory as: “1942 – World War II – Cripps Mission – Quit India – Gandhi calls it a post dated cheque on a crumbling bank.” This single mental chain helps you recall the correct association during the exam.

Final Answer:
Mahatma Gandhi described the proposals of the Cripps Mission as “a post dated cheque on a crumbling bank.”