Constitutional development & the transfer of power

Answer: (b) the jurisdiction of the central and provincial governments

The 1919 Act (Montagu–Chelmsford reforms) provided for subjects to be classified as 'central' and 'provincial'. This marked out what the Governor-General in Council and the Indian legislature handled, and what the provincial governments and legislatures handled. So it defined the jurisdiction of the central and provincial governments.

• ✗ (a) The Act made no separation of powers between the judiciary and the legislature. It dealt with the executive and legislative structure, including dyarchy in the provinces and a bicameral Centre.
• ✓ (b) The Act enabled rules to classify subjects as central and provincial 'for the purpose of distinguishing the functions' of local governments and legislatures from those of the Governor-General in Council and the Indian legislature. The Devolution Rules then drew up the lists.
• ✗ (c) The Act did not lay down a clear definition of the powers of the Secretary of State and the Viceroy. What it clearly marked out was the division of subjects between the Centre and the provinces.
• ✗ (d) Option (b) is correct, so 'None of the above' cannot be right.

Remember · The 1919 Act classified subjects into central and provincial lists (via Devolution Rules) and introduced dyarchy in the provinces. It did not separate the judiciary from the legislature.

Question: UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) 2015, General Studies Paper I. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 25 Oct 2026 (how we verify). Permalink · Report an error

Answer: (a) 1 only

The Cabinet Mission's statement of 16 May 1946 proposed a Union of India with only a few central subjects. All other powers would vest in the provinces, and provinces could form groups. This is a federal scheme, so only statement 1 is correct. The statement says nothing about widening the powers of Indian courts or about recruiting more Indians to the ICS.

• ✓ 1. The Mission proposed a Union of India covering foreign affairs, defence and communications. All other subjects and residuary powers would go to the provinces, and provinces could form groups. The plan was a federal system meant to keep India together while giving the provinces a degree of autonomy.
• ✗ 2. The 16 May 1946 statement has no proposal to enlarge the powers of Indian courts. It mentions the Federal Court only in a procedural role: the Chairman of the Assembly could consult it on whether a resolution raised a major communal issue.
• ✗ 3. The Mission dealt with the constitution-making machinery, the Union–group–province structure and an interim government. It made no provision for more Indians in the ICS.

Remember · Cabinet Mission (May 1946): a three-tier scheme of Union (foreign affairs, defence, communications), groups and provinces, with residuary powers to the provinces. It did not deal with the ICS or the courts.

📘 Read it in NCERT: Class 12 Themes in Indian History, Part III, Ch 3 (practise this chapter)

Question: UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) 2015, General Studies Paper I. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 25 Oct 2026 (how we verify). Permalink · Report an error