62
Question 62
With reference to the Government of India
Act, 1935, consider the following statements :
1. It provided for the establishment of an All India Federation based on the union of the British Indian Provinces and Princely States.
2. Defence and Foreign Affairs were kept under the control of the federal legislature.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
1. It provided for the establishment of an All India Federation based on the union of the British Indian Provinces and Princely States.
2. Defence and Foreign Affairs were kept under the control of the federal legislature.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
AOptions
A
A) 1 only
B
B) 2 only
C
C) Both 1 and 2
D
D) Neither 1 nor 2
BSolution
1. Statement 1 is correct. The Government of India Act, 1935, indeed proposed the establishment of an All India Federation, which was to consist of British Indian provinces and the Princely States as constituent units. However, this federal part of the Act never came into force because the Princely States largely refused to join.
2. Statement 2 is incorrect. Under the Government of India Act, 1935, Defence and Foreign Affairs (along with Ecclesiastical Affairs and Tribal Areas) were reserved subjects, meaning they were kept under the direct control of the Governor-General and were not transferred to the federal legislature or Indian ministers. The federal legislature had no control over these subjects. This was a key feature that limited Indian self-governance under the Act.
Therefore, only statement 1 is correct.
2. Statement 2 is incorrect. Under the Government of India Act, 1935, Defence and Foreign Affairs (along with Ecclesiastical Affairs and Tribal Areas) were reserved subjects, meaning they were kept under the direct control of the Governor-General and were not transferred to the federal legislature or Indian ministers. The federal legislature had no control over these subjects. This was a key feature that limited Indian self-governance under the Act.
Therefore, only statement 1 is correct.
CStrategy
For historical acts like the GoI Act 1935, distinguish between what was *provided for* (even if not implemented) and what was actually *exercised*. Specifically, remember the 'reserved' vs. 'transferred' subjects in provincial and federal setups.
DSyllabus Analysis
History: Modern Indian History (Constitutional Development), Polity: Historical Underpinnings.
EQuestion Analysis
This is a factual question from Modern Indian History/Polity. Statement 1 accurately describes a provision of the Act, even if not fully implemented. Statement 2 misrepresents the control over Defence and Foreign Affairs under the Act. Medium difficulty.