Important Acts (Rowlatt, Montagu) — Set 6
National Movement · महत्वपूर्ण अधिनियम · Questions 51–60 of 120
The Regulating Act 1773 created the position of Governor-General of Bengal, who had supervisory authority over:
Correct Answer: C. The other Presidencies of Bombay and Madras as well
The Regulating Act 1773 created the position of Governor-General of Bengal who had supervisory authority over the other Presidencies of Bombay and Madras as well, making the Bengal Presidency the most important. This centralized authority under one position for the first time. The act was the first step toward a unified British Indian administration.
The Charter Act of 1853 introduced competitive examinations for the Indian Civil Service, which meant:
Correct Answer: D. ICS appointments were based on merit through exams rather than patronage
The Charter Act of 1853 introduced competitive examinations for the Indian Civil Service based on merit rather than patronage, opening the ICS to competition. While the exams were initially held only in London (making it practically difficult for Indians), this was a significant constitutional change. The first Indian to pass the ICS examination was Satyendranath Tagore in 1863.
The Government of India Act 1935 is considered the most comprehensive constitutional legislation before independence because:
Correct Answer: A. It had 321 sections and 10 schedules covering all aspects of governance
The Government of India Act 1935 was the most comprehensive constitutional legislation for India before independence, consisting of 321 sections and 10 schedules covering all aspects of governance from the centre to the provinces. It served as the provisional constitution of both India and Pakistan after independence in 1947. Much of the Government of India Act 1935 was incorporated into the Constitution of India adopted in 1950.
Which Indian political leader resigned from the Imperial Legislative Council in protest against the Rowlatt Act?
Correct Answer: B. Mohammed Ali Jinnah
Mohammed Ali Jinnah resigned from the Imperial Legislative Council in protest against the Rowlatt Act of 1919. He had famously described the act with the phrase 'no appeal, no wakeel, no daleel.' Jinnah's resignation from the council was a rare act of principled protest and demonstrated the extent to which the Rowlatt Act was opposed even by moderate politicians.
The Indian Independence Act 1947 fixed the date of independence for India and Pakistan as:
Correct Answer: C. August 15, 1947
The Indian Independence Act 1947 fixed August 15, 1947 as the date of independence for both India and Pakistan. The act was passed by the British Parliament on July 18, 1947. Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy, oversaw the transfer of power and became the Governor-General of India after independence.
The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms (Government of India Act 1919) were criticized for not extending dyarchy to:
Correct Answer: D. The central government, where the Viceroy retained full control
A major criticism of the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms was that dyarchy was only introduced at the provincial level while the central government remained under the full control of the Viceroy and his executive council without any division between transferred and reserved subjects. Indians had no responsibility over central finances, defence, or foreign affairs. This left the national government completely in British hands.
Lord Morley, who co-authored the Morley-Minto Reforms, held which position?
Correct Answer: A. Secretary of State for India
Lord Morley served as the Secretary of State for India from 1905 to 1910 and co-authored the Morley-Minto Reforms (Indian Councils Act 1909) along with Viceroy Lord Minto. Though Morley was a Liberal who personally opposed separate electorates, he agreed to the measure due to political pressures. His reforms laid the groundwork for the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms that followed.
The significance of the Government of India Act 1935 for the Constitution of India 1950 was that:
Correct Answer: B. Many of its provisions, including the federal structure and fundamental rights framework, were incorporated into the Indian Constitution
Many provisions of the Government of India Act 1935 were incorporated into the Constitution of India adopted in 1950, including the federal structure, division of powers, emergency provisions, and the framework for fundamental rights. B.R. Ambedkar acknowledged this inheritance in the Constituent Assembly debates. The 1935 Act is therefore often described as the most significant precursor to the Indian Constitution.
Under the Indian Councils Act of 1909 (Morley-Minto Reforms), the number of members in the Imperial Legislative Council was increased to:
Correct Answer: C. 60
The Morley-Minto Reforms increased the number of members in the Imperial Legislative Council to 60. This included both official (government-appointed) and non-official members. The act introduced elections for some non-official seats, including the controversial separate electorates for Muslims.
The Jallianwala Bagh massacre of April 13, 1919 occurred during the implementation of which act's provisions?
Correct Answer: D. Rowlatt Act 1919
The Jallianwala Bagh massacre occurred in the context of protests against the Rowlatt Act of 1919 and the martial law imposed in Punjab to suppress anti-Rowlatt agitation. General Dyer's firing on the crowd was an extreme use of the martial law powers invoked to enforce the Rowlatt Act's anti-agitation provisions. The massacre became the defining symbol of British colonial brutality in India.