20. Under the Government of India Act, 1919, the provincial budget was what?
[SSC JE Mechanical, 16 November 2022, Shift 2]
- (A) Separated from the central budget
- (B) Merged into the central budget
- (C) Prepared solely by the Viceroy’s Council
- (D) Discontinued entirely
Answer: (A) Separated from the central budget
Explanation: The 1919 statute separated provincial finances from central finances and empowered provincial legislatures to enact their budgets within colonial constraints. Financial decentralisation accompanied the division of provincial subjects into reserved and transferred categories.
19. Which Act allowed the East India Company to hold Indian territories and revenues in trust for the Crown without a fixed renewal period?
[RRB Group D, 29 September 2022, Shift 2]
- (A) Regulating Act, 1773
- (B) Charter Act, 1853
- (C) Indian Councils Act, 1909
- (D) Government of India Act, 1935
Answer: (B) Charter Act, 1853
Explanation: Unlike earlier twenty-year renewals, the Charter Act of 1853 did not specify a fresh fixed period for Company government. It continued administration in trust for the Crown while making significant changes to the legislative council and recruitment.
18. Which Act did Jawaharlal Nehru characterise as a “new charter of slavery”?
[RRB Group D, 5 September 2022, Shift 1]
- (A) Government of India Act, 1935
- (B) Charter Act, 1853
- (C) Rowlatt Act
- (D) Government of India Act, 1919
Answer: (A) Government of India Act, 1935
Explanation: Nehru criticised the Government of India Act, 1935 for preserving imperial control despite proposing provincial autonomy and federation. The planned federation did not materialise; nevertheless, the Act shaped important later administrative and constitutional structures.
17. Regarding the Indian Councils Act, 1892, which statements are true?
(i) It was implemented on 20 June 1892;
(ii) five of 24 members were non-government members;
(iii) supplementary questions were permitted.
[CGPSC State Service Preliminary Examination (2021 cycle), 13 February 2022]
- (A) (i), (ii) and (iii)
- (B) (i) and (ii)
- (C) (i) and (iii)
- (D) (i) only
Answer: (D) (i) only
Explanation: Only the first statement matches the examination key. The 1892 Act enlarged councils and permitted limited budget discussion and questions after notice, but supplementary questions were not allowed. The numerical description in statement two is not accepted.
16. With reference to Indian Civil Services:
(1) the 1919 Act provided for an ICS examination in India;
(2) Indians outnumbered Europeans in the ICS in 1941.
Which statements are correct?
[UPPSC RO/ARO General Studies, 5 December 2021]
- (A) 1 only
- (B) 2 only
- (C) Both 1 and 2
- (D) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (C) Both 1 and 2
Explanation: The Government of India Act, 1919 opened the way for Indian Civil Service examinations within India, which began in 1922. Indian recruitment subsequently expanded and Indians formed a greater share of the service than Europeans by 1941.
15. Which Act strengthened the Viceroy’s authority by replacing collective working with a portfolio or departmental system?
[UPPSC Combined State/Upper Subordinate Services Prelims, 24 October 2021]
- (A) Indian Councils Act, 1861
- (B) Government of India Act, 1858
- (C) Indian Councils Act, 1892
- (D) Indian Councils Act, 1909
Answer: (A) Indian Councils Act, 1861
Explanation: The Indian Councils Act, 1861 accompanied Lord Canning’s portfolio system, under which members oversaw distinct departments. The measure facilitated departmental administration while the Viceroy retained crucial powers of assent, ordinance-making and intervention.
14. Which Act is NOT named among the repeals in Article 395 of the Indian Constitution?
[RPSC Assistant Professor (Political Science), 29 September 2021]
- (A) Government of India Act, 1935
- (B) Indian Independence Act, 1947
- (C) Abolition of Privy Council Jurisdiction Act, 1949
- (D) Government of India Act, 1919
Answer: (D) Government of India Act, 1919
Explanation: Article 395 expressly repealed the Indian Independence Act, 1947 and Government of India Act, 1935, together with specified amending or supplementary enactments, while excluding the 1949 Privy Council Act from that class. The Act of 1919 is not expressly named.
13. In which year was the last election to the Central Legislative Assembly under the Government of India Act, 1919 held?
[MPPSC State Service, General Studies, 2020 paper]
- (A) 1930
- (B) 1934
- (C) 1945
- (D) 1947
Answer: (C) 1945
Explanation: The final Central Legislative Assembly election under the earlier constitutional framework occurred in 1945, during the concluding phase of colonial rule. Elections formed part of the restricted representative institutions created by the Government of India Act, 1919.
12. Which reform first provided for separate communal electorates for Muslims in British India?
[WBCS Preliminary Examination 2019]
- (A) Government of India Act, 1935
- (B) Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms
- (C) Morley–Minto Reforms
- (D) Mountbatten Plan
Answer: (C) Morley–Minto Reforms
Explanation: The Morley–Minto Reforms of 1909 introduced separate Muslim electorates. The arrangement provided distinct voting rolls for designated Muslim representatives, institutionalising communal political representation as part of the colonial legislative system.
11. With reference to the Indian Councils Act, 1861, which statements are correct?
(1) It added a popular element through non-official members;
(2) nominees considered legislative proposals;
(3) it removed the Governor-General’s effective legislative power.
[UPSC CDS General Knowledge, 18 November 2018]
- (A) 1 and 2 only
- (B) 2 and 3 only
- (C) 1, 2 and 3
- (D) 1 only
Answer: (A) 1 and 2 only
Explanation: The 1861 Act enlarged the legislative council with nominated non-official members, who considered legislation introduced before it. It did not strip the Governor-General of legislative authority; assent, emergency ordinances and other important supervisory powers remained.
