70. Which outcome followed the Indian Councils Act of 1909 (Morley–Minto Reforms)?
[RRB NTPC (UG), CBT-I, 18 June 2026, Shift 3]
- (A) Provincial autonomy with independent ministries
- (B) A reduction in legislative councils and Indian participation
- (C) Expanded legislative councils, Indian participation in the Viceroy’s Executive Council and broader deliberation
- (D) Removal of all nominated members and universal direct elections
Answer: (C) Expanded legislative councils, Indian participation in the Viceroy’s Executive Council and broader deliberation
Explanation: The 1909 reforms enlarged legislative councils and permitted greater discussion of public matters. Satyendra Prasanna Sinha joined the Viceroy’s Executive Council in 1909. Nevertheless, executive power remained with colonial authorities, and separate communal electorates limited the representative character of the reforms.
69. The Morley–Minto Reforms were introduced in British India in which year?
[RRB NTPC (UG), CBT-I, 16 June 2026, Shift 2]
- (A) 1909
- (B) 1905
- (C) 1919
- (D) 1935
Answer: (A) 1909
Explanation: The Indian Councils Act of 1909 is popularly called the Morley–Minto Reforms. John Morley was Secretary of State for India and Lord Minto was Viceroy. The Act enlarged legislative councils and established separate electorates for Muslims.
68. The Indian Councils Act of which year introduced the separate electorate in India?
[RRB NTPC (UG), CBT-I, 15 June 2026, Shift 1]
- (A) 1862
- (B) 1903
- (C) 1861
- (D) 1909
Answer: (D) 1909
Explanation: The Indian Councils Act of 1909 introduced a separate Muslim electorate, in which Muslim voters elected Muslim representatives to designated seats. This marked an important departure from common electoral representation and is closely associated with the Morley–Minto constitutional reforms.
67. Which Act first permitted discussions on the budget in Indian legislative councils?
[SSC GD Constable, 22 May 2026, Shift 3]
- (A) Indian Councils Act, 1892
- (B) Indian Councils Act, 1861
- (C) Indian Councils Act, 1909
- (D) Government of India Act, 1919
Answer: (A) Indian Councils Act, 1892
Explanation: The Indian Councils Act of 1892 enlarged councils and allowed their members to discuss the annual financial statement. Their authority remained narrow: they could not vote upon the budget, and supplementary questions were not permitted under the original provisions.
66. Which Act formally ended the rule of the East India Company in India?
[SSC GD Constable, 22 May 2026, Shift 1]
- (A) Regulating Act, 1773
- (B) Government of India Act, 1858
- (C) Indian Councils Act, 1861
- (D) Charter Act, 1833
Answer: (B) Government of India Act, 1858
Explanation: The 1858 Act transferred government from the East India Company to the British Crown after the uprising of 1857. It established the Secretary of State for India and ended Company rule, although colonial rule itself continued until 1947.
65. Which colonial reform is frequently described as a blueprint for India’s Constitution?
[SSC GD Constable, 20 May 2026, Shift 3]
- (A) Morley–Minto Reforms, 1909
- (B) Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms, 1919
- (C) Government of India Act, 1935
- (D) Indian Independence Act, 1947
Answer: (C) Government of India Act, 1935
Explanation: The Government of India Act, 1935 supplied several institutional models later adapted by Constitution-makers, including federal lists, administrative structures and public service commissions. Its proposed all-India federation never commenced, but provincial autonomy did operate from 1937.
64. What did the Government of India Act, 1935 provide?
[RRB NTPC (UG), CBT-I, 9 May 2026, Shift 2]
- (A) Provincial autonomy and a proposed federal structure
- (B) Separate electorates for every community
- (C) Separate electorates only for Hindus
- (D) Dyarchy in the provinces
Answer: (A) Provincial autonomy and a proposed federal structure
Explanation: The 1935 legislation abolished dyarchy in provinces and created a framework for provincial self-government. It also proposed a federation of provinces and princely states, but that federation was not implemented because the necessary accession conditions were unmet.
63. Which Act introduced a bicameral legislature at the Centre of British India?
[OSSSC Forester/Forest Guard/Excise Constable, 30 April 2026, Shift 1]
- (A) Charter Act, 1833
- (B) Indian Councils Act, 1861
- (C) Government of India Act, 1919
- (D) Pitt’s India Act, 1784
Answer: (C) Government of India Act, 1919
Explanation: The Government of India Act, 1919 replaced the earlier single central legislative council with two chambers: the Council of State and Legislative Assembly. Elections remained limited by property and other qualifications, so bicameralism did not imply full democratic responsibility.
62. Which Act is associated with the Morley–Minto Reforms?
[OSSSC Forester/Forest Guard/Excise Constable, 28 April 2026, Shift 3]
- (A) Indian Councils Act, 1909
- (B) Government of India Act, 1919
- (C) Indian Councils Act, 1892
- (D) Government of India Act, 1935
Answer: (A) Indian Councils Act, 1909
Explanation: The Morley–Minto measures took statutory form through the Indian Councils Act, 1909. They increased the size of central and provincial councils and introduced communal electorates for Muslims, while preserving decisive executive authority in British hands.
61. Which British law first regulated the administration of the East India Company’s Indian territories, especially Bengal?
[RRB NTPC (Graduate), CBT-I, 24 March 2026, Shift 3]
- (A) Pitt’s India Act, 1784
- (B) Government of India Act, 1858
- (C) Regulating Act, 1773
- (D) Charter Act, 1813
Answer: (C) Regulating Act, 1773
Explanation: The Regulating Act of 1773 was Parliament’s first major intervention in Company governance. It created the Governor-General of Bengal with a council and laid the basis for a Supreme Court at Calcutta, strengthening metropolitan supervision over territorial administration.