Why did the Cabinet Mission visit India? What were its recommendations?

A three-member Cabinet Mission visited India in March, 1946. Its purpose was to examine the demand of the Muslim League for the creation of Pakistan. It also wanted to suggest a suitable political framework for independent modem India. It toured the whole country for three months. At last it made the following recommendations:

(i)      It suggested a loose three-tier confederation for India.

(ii)     It also suggested a weak central government having control only on
         foreign affairs, defence and communications.

(iii)    It retained provincial assemblies but categorised them into three
         groups for the elections to Constituent Assembly. Group-A was for the
         Hindu-majority provinces. Group-B had Muslim-majority provinces of
         the north-west. Group-C also had Muslim-majority provinces of the
         north-east including Assam.

(iv)    All groups of provinces would also have regional units. They would
         also be empowered to set up intermediate-level executives and
         legislatures of their own.