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Modern India & the freedom struggle

Prelims · Modern India & the freedom struggle · 14 questions

Constitutional development & the transfer of power

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Constitutional development & the transfer of power questions per year: 2016: 1, 2017: 2, 2018: 1, 2019: 1, 2020: 0, 2021: 1, 2022: 2, 2023: 1, 2024: 1, 2025: 0, 2026: 1 Asked in 9 of 11 years · most in 2022 (2)

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UPSC syllabus: “History of India and Indian National Movement.” Sub-topics in the detailed syllabus →

भारतीय शासन अधिनियम, 1935 के द्वारा स्थापित संघ में अवशिष्ट शक्तियाँ किसे दी गई थीं ?

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In the Federation established by The Government of India Act of 1935, residuary powers were given to the

(a) Federal Legislature · (b) Governor General · (c) Provincial Legislature · (d) Provincial Governors

उत्तर और व्याख्या · explanation in English

Answer: (b) गवर्नर जनरल को

Under the Government of India Act, 1935 the residuary powers went to the Governor-General, not to the Federal or the Provincial Legislature. Section 104 let him, acting in his own discretion, authorise either legislature to make a law on a matter not listed in the Seventh Schedule.

  • ✓ (b) Section 104(1) says the Governor-General may by public notification empower either the Federal Legislature or a Provincial Legislature to legislate on a matter not enumerated in any list of the Seventh Schedule, and Section 104(2) says he acts in his discretion.
  • ✗ (a) The Federal Legislature had only the powers given in the Federal List and the Concurrent List. It could make a law on an unlisted matter only if the Governor-General empowered it.
  • ✗ (c) The Provincial Legislature likewise held only the Provincial and Concurrent Lists and had no residuary power of its own.

Remember · 1935 Act: residuary powers with the Governor-General (Section 104). The Constitution of India changed this: Article 248 gives them to Parliament.

Sources

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2018, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

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