CAPF AC 2020 Q93: Modern History – Constitutional Developments & British Plans (1909 - 1947)
Who among the following was the first non-official member to be elected as Speaker of the Central Legislative Assembly on 24-8-1925?
- (a) Vithalbhai J Patel
- (b) Muhammad Yakub
- (c) G. V. Mavalankar
- (d) Sardar Hukum Singh
Answer: (a) Vithalbhai J Patel
Explanation
First elected President of the Central Legislative Assembly
How to think: the date is 1925, long before Independence.
Mavalankar and Hukam Singh were Speakers of the Lok Sabha after 1952, so they are too late.
The famous name of 1925 is Vithalbhai Patel.
| Person | Post | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Sir Frederick Whyte | First President of the Assembly, appointed by the Governor-General | 1921 |
| Vithalbhai J. Patel | First elected and first Indian, non-official President | 24 August 1925 |
| Muhammad Yakub | President of the Assembly | 1930 |
| G. V. Mavalankar | First Speaker of the Lok Sabha | 1952 |
| Sardar Hukam Singh | Speaker of the Lok Sabha | 1962 |
Background:
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Assembly set up by | Government of India Act, 1919 |
| Title then | President of the Assembly; the word Speaker came later |
| Vithalbhai Patel | Elder brother of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel; a leader of the Swaraj Party |
Answer: (a) Vithalbhai J Patel.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) CORRECT. Vithalbhai Patel was elected President of the Assembly on 24 August 1925.
- (b) Incorrect. Muhammad Yakub presided over the Assembly later, in 1930.
- (c) Incorrect. G. V. Mavalankar was the first Speaker of the Lok Sabha in 1952.
- (d) Incorrect. Sardar Hukam Singh was Speaker of the Lok Sabha in the 1960s.
Key point
Central Legislative Assembly (Government of India Act, 1919): first President Frederick Whyte (appointed, 1921); first elected Indian President Vithalbhai Patel (24 August 1925). First Lok Sabha Speaker: G. V. Mavalankar.
Remember
Vithalbhai Patel: first elected President of the Central Legislative Assembly, 1925.
Common mistakes
- Choosing Mavalankar, the first Speaker of the Lok Sabha, not of the 1925 Assembly.
- Mixing up Vithalbhai Patel with his brother Vallabhbhai Patel.
- Forgetting that the first President, Frederick Whyte, was appointed and not elected.
Exam tip
Educated guess: check the dates. Two options belong to the Lok Sabha after 1952 and cannot fit 1925.
Sources
- Lok Sabha Secretariat — Former Speakers and the office of the Speaker (historical note)
- Spectrum — A Brief History of Modern India (Swarajists in the legislatures)