Daily Static Quiz Prelims Practice 2027
Option (c) as stated in the option text actually reverses the real position, but the correct historical fact tested here is: the 1935 Act abolished dyarchy at the provincial level (introduced by the 1919 Act) and brought full provincial autonomy, while simultaneously introducing dyarchy at the Centre — dividing central subjects into "reserved" (Governor-General) and "transferred" (ministers). Option (a) is wrong — bicameralism at the Centre began with the 1919 Act; the 1935 Act's Federal Legislature never came into being. Option (b) is wrong — the All-India Federation never operated since princely states refused to accede. Option (d) is wrong — Governors retained discretionary override powers even under provincial autonomy.
- The Act provided for the establishment of a Federal Court, which served as the apex court until the Supreme Court was established in 1950.
- The Act introduced separate electorates for depressed classes (Scheduled Castes) as a statutory provision.
- The Act created the Reserve Bank of India as part of its financial provisions.
- Burma was separated from India under the provisions of the Government of India Act, 1935.
Statements 1 and 4 are correct. The Federal Court, established under the 1935 Act, was India's apex judicial body until the Supreme Court replaced it in January 1950. Burma was separated from India effective April 1937 under this Act, ending nearly a century of administrative union. Statement 2 is incorrect — separate electorates for depressed classes were actually abandoned after the Poona Pact (1932), replaced with reserved seats within general electorates. Statement 3 is incorrect — the RBI was established by the RBI Act, 1934, a year before, not by the 1935 Act.
Option (b) is correct — Cripps proposed post-war Dominion Status with provinces free to opt out and form separate unions, effectively conceding partition's principle; Congress rejected this as opening the door to Balkanisation, with Gandhi calling it "a post-dated cheque on a crashing bank." Option (a) is wrong — Cripps offered Dominion Status, not immediate complete independence. Option (c) is wrong — the League's actual objection was that proposals didn't go far enough in guaranteeing Pakistan, though Congress rejection is credited as the primary failure. Option (d) is wrong — Cripps did offer Indians a role in the Executive Council; the breakdown was specifically over the Defence portfolio.
- A. Indian Councils Act, 1909 1. Introduction of dyarchy at provincial level
- B. Government of India Act, 1919 2. Introduction of separate electorates for Muslims
- C. Government of India Act, 1935 3. Abolition of dyarchy at provinces; introduction of dyarchy at Centre
- D. Indian Independence Act, 1947 4. Creation of two independent dominions — India and Pakistan
The Indian Councils Act, 1909 (Morley-Minto Reforms) introduced separate electorates for Muslims. The Government of India Act, 1919 (Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms) introduced provincial dyarchy. The Government of India Act, 1935 abolished provincial dyarchy while introducing dyarchy at the Centre. The Indian Independence Act, 1947 created the two independent dominions of India and Pakistan, effective 15 August 1947 — giving A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4.
- 1. Montagu-Chelmsford Report
- 2. Communal Award by Ramsay MacDonald
- 3. Cabinet Mission Plan
- 4. Wavell Plan (Simla Conference)
The correct sequence is the Montagu-Chelmsford Report (1918, recommending reforms that became the 1919 Act) → the Communal Award (1932, MacDonald's separate electorates for depressed classes, later modified by the Poona Pact) → the Wavell Plan / Simla Conference (1945, proposing equal Hindu-Muslim Executive Council representation, which failed over the League's exclusive nomination demand) → the Cabinet Mission Plan (1946, proposing a three-tier federal structure, the last serious British attempt to keep India united).
