Set 2 | Important Indian Constitution Evolution MCQs

Correct Answer is D.

The concept of Dyarchy was introduced through the Government of India Act, 1919, as a way for the British to experiment with giving some level of self-governance to Indians, but without actually letting go of real control.

The power at the provincial level was split into two categories of subjects:

• Transferred Subjects → These were handled by Indian ministers, and they were supposed to be responsible to the provincial legislature. This included areas like education, health, and local government.
• Reserved Subjects → These remained under the control of the Governor and his executive council, which mostly had British officials. Important areas like law and order, police, and finance were kept here, meaning Indians had little say in the matters that actually held power.

• While this system might have looked like a step towards self-rule, in reality, it created confusion and frustration because the Governor still had the upper hand. Indian ministers could only function within limited boundaries, and major decisions remained in British hands.
• Since Dyarchy failed to work effectively, it was abolished by the Government of India Act, 1935, which brought in a different system.

Correct Answer is C.

• Dyarchy was first introduced at the provincial level by the Government of India Act, 1919, where subjects were divided into Transferred and Reserved categories. However, this system failed and was later removed.
• The Government of India Act, 1935, on the other hand, introduced Dyarchy at the Central level. This time, the powers were divided between two groups:
  • Federal Subjects – Controlled by the Governor-General and his Executive Council (which had British control).
  • Provincial Autonomy – Provinces were given more independence, though the British still retained overriding powers.
• This Act aimed to create a Federation of India, including both British India and Princely States, but this plan never fully materialized as the princely states were reluctant to join.
• Dyarchy at the Central level never worked effectively, and with the start of World War II, the British largely abandoned the idea.

Correct Answer is A.

The Indian Councils Act of 1909, also known as the Morley-Minto Reforms, was a significant step in British India’s political history. It introduced the separate electorate system, which allowed certain communities, particularly Muslims, to elect their own representatives separately.

Key features of the Act of 1909:

• Introduction of Separate Electorate → Muslims were given the right to elect their own representatives, which meant only Muslim voters could vote for Muslim candidates. This was done to appease the Muslim community and prevent Hindu-Muslim unity.
• Expansion of Legislative Councils → The number of members in the Imperial Legislative Council and Provincial Councils was increased, but they had no real power, as most decisions were still controlled by the British.
• Non-Official Members in Councils → Indians were allowed to be part of the councils, but their role was limited to discussions, and they had no real decision-making power.

This act was an important step in British “divide and rule” policy, as it created divisions between Hindus and Muslims, ultimately laying the groundwork for future communal tensions in India.

Correct Answer is C.

The Government of India Act, 1919, also known as the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms, introduced key changes in the governance of British India. The principal features of this Act included:

1. Introduction of Dyarchy (Diarchy) in Provinces →
   • Power at the provincial level was divided into Transferred Subjects (handled by Indian ministers responsible to the legislature) and Reserved Subjects (controlled by the British Governor and his executive council).
   • This was the first time Indians were given some role in governance, though limited.
     Statement 1 is correct.
2. Separate Electorates for Muslims →
   • While the concept of separate electorates existed, it was not introduced by the 1919 Act.
   • Separate electorates for Muslims were already introduced earlier by the Indian Councils Act of 1909 (Morley-Minto Reforms).
     Statement 2 is incorrect.
3. Devolution of Legislative Authority to Provinces →
   • The central government transferred some legislative powers to provinces, allowing them to make laws on certain subjects.
   • The legislative councils at the provincial level were expanded, though British officials still had the final say.
     Statement 3 is correct.

Correct Answer is B.

Statement 1: The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms of 1919 recommended granting voting rights to all women above the age of 21.

• The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms (Government of India Act, 1919) introduced limited franchise based on property, education, and tax qualifications.
• Women were not universally given voting rights; only a small number of them were allowed to vote based on certain qualifications.
• It was left to the provincial legislatures to decide whether to grant voting rights to women, and some provinces allowed limited female suffrage.
• Universal adult suffrage (granting voting rights to all adults above a certain age) was not introduced at this stage.

Statement 2: The Government of India Act of 1935 gave women reserved seats in the legislature.

• The Government of India Act, 1935 introduced reservations for women in legislatures for the first time.
• Women were not only granted voting rights but also given reserved seats in provincial legislatures.
• However, the number of seats reserved for women was very limited, and the overall representation remained minimal.

Correct Answer is C.

• Back in 1854, after Lord Macaulay’s Report was presented to the Select Committee of the British Parliament, the whole idea of having a merit-based civil service system in India started taking shape. This was a big shift from the earlier system, where jobs were mostly handed out based on connections rather than actual ability.
• To make this happen, the Civil Services Commission was set up in London, and from 1855 onwards, competitive exams became the way to get into civil services.
• Now, as time passed, the Government of India Act, 1919, brought in some changes. One of the major steps was that the Indian Civil Service (ICS) exams were now going to be conducted separately in India instead of just in London. Initially, these exams were held in Allahabad, but later, the center was moved to Delhi.
• This was an important step because it allowed more Indians to take part in these exams without having to travel all the way to England, which was nearly impossible for most people.
• By the time 1941 came around, the percentage of Indians in the Indian Civil Service had actually increased compared to Europeans.
• Earlier, the British controlled almost every top position in the administration, but gradually, Indians started getting more representation, even though the highest and most powerful posts were still largely in British hands.

Correct Answer is C.

• The Government of India Act, 1935 brought in the idea of Constitutional Autocracy, where power was still firmly in the hands of the British, even though it appeared that Indians were getting more control.
• This Act made it clear that the Governor-General was the highest authority at the center, acting on behalf of the British Crown, and had the final say in all major matters.
• At the provincial level, the Governors were given executive powers, which meant that even though some elected representatives were involved in governance, the British-appointed Governors could overrule decisions whenever they wanted.
• This was designed to keep real power away from Indian leaders, while giving the illusion of self-governance.

Correct Answer is C.

• The Government of India Act, 1919, also known as the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms, introduced bicameralism in India for the first time.
• It created a bicameral legislature at the central level, consisting of:
  1. The Council of State (Upper House) – Members were mostly nominated by the British.
  2. The Legislative Assembly (Lower House) – Some members were elected, but British officials still had control.

Correct Answer is B.

• The power to issue ordinances (temporary laws made by the executive without the legislature’s approval) was first introduced in Section 42 of the Government of India Act, 1935.
• This provision gave the Governor-General the authority to promulgate ordinances when the Federal Legislature was not in session if he believed immediate action was necessary.
• The same ordinance-making power was extended to Provincial Governors for their respective provinces under Section 88 of the Act.
• After independence, this provision was retained in the Indian Constitution (Article 123 for the President and Article 213 for Governors).
• Government of India Act, 1919 → Introduced Dyarchy but did not provide ordinance-making powers.
• Government of India Act, 1909 → Focused on separate electorates and legislative council reforms, with no mention of ordinances.
• Indian Independence Act, 1947 → Ended British rule but did not introduce any ordinance-making powers.

Correct Answer is A.

• Section 87 of the Charter Act, 1833 was one of the most significant parts of the Act, as it clearly stated that no Indian or British subject would be denied any job, position, or service under the East India Company just because of their religion, birthplace, descent, or skin color. This was a big step at the time because before this, Indians were largely kept out of important roles in administration.
• Even though this law was written down, in reality, very few Indians were able to actually get into high-ranking positions, as the British still controlled most of the administration.
• However, this section laid the groundwork for future political movements, where Indians started demanding their rightful place in governance.
• Over time, this became an important argument in the fight for equal opportunities and more Indian representation in the administration.