At the time of India's Independence, Mahatma Gandhi was:

Correct Option (b):

By 1947, Mahatma Gandhi had largely withdrawn from the formal organizational structure and active political decision-making of the Indian National Congress. He had resigned from the Congress in 1934 and, though he continued to influence its policies, he did not hold any official position or formal membership at the time of India's independence. On August 15, 1947, he was in Calcutta, observing a fast and working towards restoring communal harmony amidst widespread violence, rather than participating in the official independence celebrations.

Incorrect Options:

• Option (a): Mahatma Gandhi had distanced himself from the formal administrative and decision-making bodies of the Congress by 1947. He was not a member of the Congress Working Committee at that time.
• Option (c): At the time of India's Independence in 1947, Acharya J.B. Kripalani was the President of the Indian National Congress. Mahatma Gandhi had previously served as President in 1924 but did not hold this position in 1947.
• Option (d): Mahatma Gandhi did not hold the position of General Secretary of the Congress at the time of independence. This role was typically held by other prominent Congress leaders.