Important Acts (Rowlatt, Montagu) — Set 3

Correct Answer: A. Transferred subjects like education, agriculture, and local government

Under the Government of India Act 1919, Indian ministers were made responsible for transferred subjects including education, agriculture, local government, public health, and public works. These ministers were responsible to the elected legislature. Reserved subjects including finance, revenue, and law and order remained under the Governor's control, making dyarchy a limited form of responsible government.

Correct Answer: B. The Council of State and the Central Legislative Assembly

The Government of India Act 1919 expanded the central legislature into a bicameral body consisting of the Council of State (upper house) and the Central Legislative Assembly (lower house). This was the first time India had a bicameral central legislature. The legislative assemblies had a majority of elected members for the first time in Indian constitutional history.

Correct Answer: C. The increasing association of Indians in every branch of administration and eventual responsible government

In August 1917, Secretary of State Edwin Montagu issued a historic declaration stating that British policy toward India was the increasing association of Indians in every branch of administration and the gradual development of self-governing institutions, with a view to realizing responsible government. This was the first official acknowledgment that India was on a path to self-government. The declaration formed the basis for the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms and the Government of India Act 1919.

Correct Answer: D. Review the working of the Government of India Act 1919 and suggest further constitutional reforms

The Simon Commission was appointed in 1927 by the British government to review the working of the Government of India Act 1919 and suggest further constitutional reforms. The commission was controversially all-British, with no Indian members, which outraged Indian political opinion. All major Indian political parties boycotted the commission with the slogan 'Simon Go Back.'

Correct Answer: A. It had no Indian members despite reviewing India's constitutional future

The Simon Commission was boycotted because it had no Indian members despite being tasked with reviewing India's constitutional future, which was seen as an insult to Indian self-respect. Both the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League decided to boycott the commission. Protest demonstrations greeted its arrival in Indian cities, with crowds raising the slogan 'Simon Go Back.'

Correct Answer: B. Lala Lajpat Rai

Lala Lajpat Rai was fatally injured during the Simon Commission protests in Lahore in October 1928 when police used a lathi charge to disperse demonstrators. He died of his injuries in November 1928. His death inspired Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru to avenge his death by assassinating British police officer John Saunders in Lahore.

Correct Answer: C. The Simon Commission's all-British composition and as an Indian constitutional blueprint

The Nehru Report of 1928 was prepared by a committee chaired by Motilal Nehru as an Indian constitutional blueprint in response to the all-British Simon Commission. The report recommended Dominion Status for India, a unitary constitution, joint electorates (rejecting separate electorates), and fundamental rights. It represented the first serious attempt by Indians to draft their own constitutional framework.

Correct Answer: D. Motilal Nehru

The Nehru Report of 1928 was drafted by a committee chaired by Motilal Nehru, the veteran Congress leader and father of Jawaharlal Nehru. The committee was formed at the All Parties Conference held in response to the Simon Commission. The report advocated Dominion Status rather than complete independence, which led to disagreement with younger leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose.

Correct Answer: A. Joint electorates with reserved seats for minorities

The Nehru Report recommended joint electorates with reserved seats for minorities rather than separate electorates. This was a direct rejection of the separate electorate system introduced by the Morley-Minto Reforms of 1909. Muslim leaders including Mohammad Ali Jinnah initially accepted the report but later rejected it after certain modifications they sought were not accepted.

Correct Answer: B. Provincial governments would be responsible to elected legislatures without dyarchy

The Government of India Act 1935 abolished dyarchy in the provinces and introduced provincial autonomy, where provincial governments became responsible to elected legislatures rather than to the Governor. This was a significant step toward democratic self-government at the provincial level. Congress won majorities in seven out of eleven provinces in the 1937 elections held under this act.