14 Lecture

Q: Which act introduced the concept of dyarchy in British India?

a. Government of India Act 1919

b. Government of India Act 1935

c. Indian Councils Act 1861

d. Morley-Minto Reforms 1909

Answer: a. Government of India Act 1919

Q: Who was the Viceroy of India when the Morley-Minto Reforms were introduced?

a. Lord Curzon

b. Lord Mountbatten

c. Lord Ripon

d. Lord Morley

Answer: d. Lord Morley

Q: Which act expanded the powers of the central legislature in British India?

a. Government of India Act 1919

b. Indian Councils Act 1861

c. Government of India Act 1935

d. Morley-Minto Reforms 1909

Answer: c. Government of India Act 1935

Q: Who led the All India Muslim League during the constitutional development in British India?

a. Mahatma Gandhi

b. Jawaharlal Nehru

c. Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah

d. Bal Gangadhar Tilak

Answer: c. Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah

Q: Which resolution called for the creation of an independent Muslim state in British India?

a. Lahore Resolution of 1940

b. Nehru Report of 1928

c. Simon Commission Report of 1930

d. Lucknow Pact of 1916

Answer: a. Lahore Resolution of 1940

Q: What was the main demand of the Indian National Congress during the constitutional development in British India?

a. Separate electorates for Hindus and Muslims

b. Provincial autonomy

c. Full independence

d. Dyarchy

Answer: c. Full independence

Q: Which act introduced separate electorates for Hindus and Muslims in British India?

a. Government of India Act 1935

b. Morley-Minto Reforms 1909

c. Indian Councils Act 1861

d. Government of India Act 1919

Answer: b. Morley-Minto Reforms 1909

Q: What was the outcome of the Indian Independence Act 1947 in British India?

a. Creation of India as an independent state

b. Creation of Pakistan as an independent state

c. Both a and b

d. None of the above

Answer: c. Both a and b

Q: What was the system of governance introduced by the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms of 1919 in British India?

a. Provincial autonomy

b. Full independence

c. Dyarchy

d. Separate electorates

Answer: c. Dyarchy

Q: Who was the leader of the Indian National Congress during the constitutional development in British India?

a. Mahatma Gandhi

b. Jawaharlal Nehru

c. Bal Gangadhar Tilak

d. A.O. Hume

Answer: d. A.O. Hume

Q: What were the main objectives of the Morley-Minto Reforms of 1909 in British India?

A: The main objectives of the Morley-Minto Reforms of 1909 were to introduce separate electorates for Hindus and Muslims, expand the powers of the legislative councils, and give each community the right to elect its own representatives.

Q: What was the significance of the Government of India Act 1935 in the constitutional development of British India?

A: The Government of India Act 1935 introduced provincial autonomy, allowing the provinces to have their own governments with elected representatives. It also expanded the powers of the central legislature, but fell short of the demands of the Indian National Congress for full independence.

Q: Who was the leader of the All India Muslim League during the constitutional development in British India?

A: The leader of the All India Muslim League during the constitutional development in British India was Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

Q: What was the Lahore Resolution of 1940, also known as the Pakistan Resolution?

A: The Lahore Resolution of 1940, also known as the Pakistan Resolution, called for the creation of an independent Muslim state in the regions of British India where Muslims were in the majority.

Q: What was dyarchy in the context of the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms of 1919 in British India?

A: Dyarchy was a system introduced by the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms of 1919 in British India, where certain areas of governance were devolved to Indian ministers, giving them limited autonomy.

Q: Which act introduced the concept of separate electorates for Hindus and Muslims in British India?

A: The Morley-Minto Reforms of 1909 introduced the concept of separate electorates for Hindus and Muslims in British India.

Q: What was the main demand of the Indian National Congress during the constitutional development in British India?

A: The main demand of the Indian National Congress during the constitutional development in British India was for greater autonomy and self-governance, including the demand for full independence.

Q: What was the significance of the Indian Councils Act of 1861 in the constitutional development of British India?

A: The Indian Councils Act of 1861 expanded the powers of the legislative councils and allowed for some representation of Indians in the decision-making process, although the majority of the seats were still reserved for British officials.

Q: What was the outcome of the Indian Independence Act 1947 in British India?

A: The Indian Independence Act 1947 granted independence to India and Pakistan, leading to the establishment of Pakistan as an independent state on August 14, 1947, and India on August 15, 1947, ending the British rule in the subcontinent.

Q: Who led the demand for a separate nation for Muslims during the constitutional development in British India?

A: Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the leader of the All India Muslim League, led the demand for a separate nation for Muslims during the constitutional development in British India.

Constitutional Development in British India

The constitutional development in British India played a crucial role in shaping the political landscape of the Indian subcontinent, including the eventual emergence of Pakistan as an independent nation. The process of constitutional development involved various stages, from initial reforms to the establishment of representative institutions and the eventual demand for a separate nation for Muslims. During the initial stages of British rule in India, the governance was characterized by autocratic rule with little to no representation for the local population. However, with the passage of time, the British government realized the need for some form of local representation to maintain stability and control over their vast territory. This led to the introduction of several constitutional reforms that aimed at providing limited representation to Indians in the governance process. The first significant step in constitutional development was the enactment of the Government of India Act 1858, which transferred the powers of the East India Company to the British Crown. This act paved the way for direct rule by the British government in India and marked the beginning of the British Raj. Subsequent reforms were introduced in the form of the Indian Councils Act of 1861 and the Indian Councils Act of 1892, which expanded the powers of the legislative councils and allowed for some representation of Indians in the decision-making process. However, these reforms fell short of providing genuine autonomy and representation for the local population, as the majority of the seats in the legislative councils were still reserved for British officials and a small minority of Indians. The turning point in the constitutional development of British India came with the Morley-Minto Reforms of 1909, also known as the Indian Councils Act of 1909. This reform introduced the concept of separate electorates for Hindus and Muslims, giving each community the right to elect its own representatives. This marked the beginning of communal politics in India, as it led to the emergence of the All India Muslim League in 1906, which became a significant political force advocating for the rights of Muslims. The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms of 1919 further expanded the powers of the legislative councils and introduced the concept of dyarchy, where certain areas of governance were devolved to Indian ministers. However, these reforms were still seen as inadequate by the Indian National Congress, which was demanding greater autonomy and self-governance for India. The Government of India Act 1935 was a significant milestone in the constitutional development of British India. It introduced provincial autonomy, allowing the provinces to have their own governments with elected representatives. This act also expanded the powers of the central legislature, but still fell short of the demands of the Indian National Congress for full independence. The demand for a separate nation for Muslims gained momentum during this period, led by the All India Muslim League under the leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. The Lahore Resolution of 1940, also known as the Pakistan Resolution, was a historic event that called for the creation of an independent Muslim state in the regions of British India where Muslims were in the majority. The eventual culmination of the constitutional development in British India was the passage of the Indian Independence Act 1947 by the British Parliament, which granted independence to India and Pakistan. This act led to the establishment of Pakistan as an independent state on August 14, 1947, and India on August 15, 1947, ending the British rule in the subcontinent. In conclusion, the constitutional development in British India was a gradual process that spanned several decades and involved various reforms aimed at providing limited representation and autonomy to Indians. However, it was the demand for greater autonomy and self-governance, including the demand for a separate nation for Muslims, that ultimately led to the emergence of Pakistan as an independent state.