UPSC Prelims 2024 Q62: Indian Polity – Constitutional Framework & Development
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (a) 1 only
Explanation
Government of India Act 1935 - Statement Analysis
Statement-by-Statement Breakdown:
| Statement | Claim | Verdict | Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | It provided for establishment of an All India Federation based on union of British Indian Provinces and Princely States | TRUE | The GOI Act 1935 proposed an All India Federation comprising 11 British Indian provinces and willing princely states. However, this federal structure never came into operation because the required number of princely states never acceded. |
| 2 | Defence and Foreign Affairs were kept under control of the federal legislature | FALSE | Defence and Foreign Affairs were kept under the Governor-General (Viceroy) as reserved subjects - not under federal legislature control. The Governor-General retained control of these subjects on behalf of the Crown. The federal legislature only handled specific transferred subjects. |
GOI Act 1935 - Key Features:
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Federal structure | All India Federation (never operationalized) |
| Provinces | 11 British Indian provinces + willing princely states |
| Dyarchy abolished | At provincial level (earlier introduced in 1919) |
| Dyarchy introduced | At Central/Federal level |
| Reserved subjects | Defence, Foreign Affairs, Ecclesiastical Affairs - under Viceroy |
| Transferred subjects | Most domestic affairs - under elected ministers |
Answer: (a) 1 only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) CORRECT. Only Statement 1 is correct. The Act did provide for an All India Federation with British provinces and princely states. Statement 2 is wrong - Defence and Foreign Affairs were under the Governor-General, not the federal legislature.
- (b) Incorrect. Statement 2 is false - Defence and Foreign Affairs were explicitly reserved for the Governor-General under the Act, not transferred to any legislature.
- (c) Incorrect. Statement 2 is false. The 1935 Act kept Defence and Foreign Affairs as viceroy's reserved subjects, deliberately keeping them out of elected legislature control.
- (d) Incorrect. Statement 1 is correct - the Act did propose the All India Federation (even though it never came into operation due to insufficient princely state accession).
Key point
GOI Act 1935 proposed All India Federation (British provinces + princely states) - never operational. Defence and Foreign Affairs were RESERVED for the Viceroy/Governor-General, NOT given to the federal legislature.
Remember
GOI Act 1935 proposed an All India Federation with British provinces and princely states (never operationalized). Defence and Foreign Affairs were reserved for the Governor-General, not the federal legislature.
Common mistakes
- Thinking the All India Federation under GOI Act 1935 came into operation - it was proposed but never implemented because not enough princely states joined.
- Confusing reserved subjects (Defence, Foreign Affairs - under Viceroy) with transferred subjects (domestic matters - under elected ministers) in the 1935 Act.
- Confusing the 1935 Act's central dyarchy with provincial dyarchy - dyarchy was introduced at the centre (1935) while it was abolished at the provincial level.
Exam tip
GOI Act 1935 memory: DAFE = Defence and Foreign Affairs under the Executive (Viceroy), NOT legislature. All India Federation = proposed but never came into effect. Provincial autonomy was granted. Central dyarchy introduced.
Sources
- NCERT Class 8 History - Chapter 9: The Making of the National Movement
- NCERT Class 12 Political Science - Constitutional Development