šļø Indian Constitutional History
Company Rule & Crown Rule | UPSC PYQ Level | 10 Questions
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Consider the following statements about the Regulating Act of 1773:
1. It made the governors of Bombay and Madras subordinate to the Governor-General of Bengal.
2. It established a Supreme Court at Bombay.
3. It was the first step by the British Government to regulate the affairs of the East India Company.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
š” Explanation
ā
Statement 1 ā Correct: The Regulating Act of 1773 made the governors of Bombay and Madras presidencies subordinate to the Governor-General of Bengal (Lord Warren Hastings was first).
ā Statement 2 ā Wrong: The Supreme Court was established at Calcutta (1774), NOT Bombay.
ā
Statement 3 ā Correct: It was indeed the first step taken by the British Government to control and regulate the East India Company's affairs in India.
So, 1 and 3 only are correct.
With reference to the Charter Act of 1833, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. It made the Governor-General of Bengal as the Governor-General of India.
2. Lord Canning was the first Governor-General of India under this Act.
3. It ended the East India Company's activities as a commercial body.
Select the correct answer using the codes below:
š” Explanation
ā
Statement 1 ā Correct: The Charter Act of 1833 upgraded the post to Governor-General of India, with authority over entire British India.
ā Statement 2 ā Wrong: Lord William Bentick (NOT Lord Canning) was the first Governor-General of India. Lord Canning became the first Viceroy of India under the GOI Act 1858.
ā
Statement 3 ā Correct: The Charter Act of 1833 ended EIC's commercial activities; it became a purely administrative body holding territories "in trust for His Majesty."
Answer: 1 and 3 only.
The Government of India Act of 1858, which transferred power from the East India Company to the British Crown, was enacted primarily in the wake of which event?
š” Explanation
The Government of India Act of 1858 ā known as the "Act for the Good Government of India" ā was enacted in the wake of the Revolt of 1857 (also called the First War of Independence or Sepoy Mutiny).
Key changes: Abolished EIC ā Crown took over. Governor-General became Viceroy. Created the post of Secretary of State for India (with a 15-member Council of India). Lord Canning became the first Viceroy of India.
Which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched?
1. Morley-Minto Reforms ā Indian Councils Act, 1909
2. Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms ā Government of India Act, 1919
3. Communal Electorate for Muslims ā Government of India Act, 1919
Select the correct answer:
š” Explanation
ā
Pair 1 ā Correct: Morley-Minto Reforms = Indian Councils Act, 1909. (Lord Morley = Secretary of State; Lord Minto = Viceroy)
ā
Pair 2 ā Correct: Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms = Government of India Act, 1919. (Montagu = Secretary of State; Chelmsford = Viceroy)
ā Pair 3 ā Wrong: Communal Electorate (Separate Electorate) for Muslims was introduced by the Indian Councils Act, 1909 ā NOT the GOI Act 1919. Lord Minto = "Father of Communal Electorate."
Answer: 1 and 2 only.
The Government of India Act of 1919 introduced "Dyarchy" in the provinces. Which of the following is NOT a "transferred subject" under Dyarchy?
š” Explanation
Under the Dyarchy system (GOI Act 1919), provincial subjects were divided into:
š Transferred subjects (administered by Governor + Ministers responsible to legislature): Education, Public Health, Agriculture, Local Self-Government, Public Works (except irrigation), etc.
š Reserved subjects (administered by Governor + Executive Council, NOT responsible to legislature): Land Revenue, Finance, Police, Justice, Irrigation, Railways, etc.
So Land Revenue was a Reserved subject ā NOT a transferred subject.
Consider the following statements about the Government of India Act, 1935:
1. It provided for an All-India Federation which actually came into being in 1937.
2. It introduced Provincial Autonomy in place of Dyarchy in provinces.
3. It established the Federal Court of India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
š” Explanation
ā Statement 1 ā Wrong: The GOI Act 1935 provided for an All-India Federation, but it NEVER came into being because the Princely States did not join it. So the federation remained only on paper.
ā
Statement 2 ā Correct: It abolished Dyarchy in provinces and introduced Provincial Autonomy. Responsible Government in provinces came into effect in 1937 and was discontinued in 1939.
ā
Statement 3 ā Correct: It established the Federal Court of India, which was set up in 1937. (Later became the Supreme Court of India after 1950.)
Answer: 2 and 3 only.
The Charter Act of 1853 is considered a significant constitutional landmark because it introduced which of the following for the FIRST TIME in India?
š” Explanation
The Charter Act of 1853 introduced open competition for recruitment of civil servants for the first time ā the covenanted civil service was thrown open to Indians also. Accordingly, the Macaulay Committee (Committee on the Indian Civil Service) was appointed in 1854.
Other firsts of Charter Act 1853:
ā¢ First to separate legislative and executive functions of the Governor-General's Council.
ā¢ First to introduce local representation in the Central Legislative Council.
Note: Direct elections ā GOI Act 1919 | Communal representation ā Indian Councils Act 1909 | Bicameral Centre ā GOI Act 1919.
Consider the following provisions of the Indian Independence Act, 1947:
1. It abolished the office of the Secretary of State for India.
2. It provided that no Act of the British Parliament passed after August 15, 1947 would extend to either dominion.
3. It empowered the Constituent Assemblies to repeal any Act of the British Parliament including the Independence Act itself.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
š” Explanation
ā
Statement 1 ā Correct: The Indian Independence Act 1947 abolished the office of the Secretary of State for India and transferred his functions to the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs.
ā
Statement 2 ā Correct: No Act of British Parliament passed after August 15, 1947 was to extend to either of the new dominions unless extended by a law of that dominion's legislature.
ā
Statement 3 ā Correct: The Constituent Assemblies were empowered to repeal any Act of the British Parliament, including the Independence Act itself ā a clear marker of complete sovereignty.
All three statements are correct. Answer: 1, 2 and 3.
The Indian Councils Act of 1861 is regarded as a landmark in Indian constitutional history. Which of the following was/were its significant contribution(s)?
1. It initiated the process of decentralisation by restoring legislative powers to Bombay and Madras Presidencies.
2. It gave recognition to the 'Portfolio System' introduced by Lord Canning in 1859.
3. It introduced direct elections to legislative councils for the first time.
š” Explanation
ā
Statement 1 ā Correct: The Indian Councils Act 1861 initiated decentralisation by restoring legislative powers to Bombay and Madras Presidencies ā reversing the centralising trend since the Regulating Act 1773. This eventually led to complete provincial autonomy in 1937.
ā
Statement 2 ā Correct: The Act gave recognition to the 'Portfolio System' introduced by Lord Canning in 1859 ā where each council member was made in-charge of one or more departments.
ā Statement 3 ā Wrong: Direct elections were introduced for the first time by the Government of India Act, 1919 (Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms) ā NOT by the Indian Councils Act 1861.
Answer: 1 and 2 only.
With reference to the constitutional development in British India, arrange the following in chronological order:
1. Introduction of Dyarchy in provinces
2. Establishment of Board of Control
3. Separation of legislative and executive functions of the Governor-General's Council
4. Introduction of Provincial Autonomy
š” Explanation
Correct chronological order:
š 2. Board of Control established ā Pitt's India Act, 1784
š 3. Separation of legislative & executive functions ā Charter Act, 1853
š 1. Dyarchy in provinces introduced ā GOI Act, 1919
š 4. Provincial Autonomy introduced ā GOI Act, 1935 (came into effect 1937)
So the correct order is: 2 ā 3 ā 1 ā 4
This type of chronological ordering question is very common in UPSC Prelims.
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