Constitutional development & the transfer of power

Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only

The 1919 Act (Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms) brought in diarchy in the provinces and shifted powers from the Centre to the provinces. Separate communal electorates for Muslims had been introduced earlier, by the Morley–Minto Act of 1909.

• ✓ 1. The Act split provincial government into 'transferred' subjects, run by Indian ministers answerable to the legislature, and 'reserved' subjects, run by the Governor and his executive council. This is diarchy. It applied in the eight major Governors' Provinces; there was no diarchy at the Centre.
• ✗ 2. Separate electorates for Muslims came with the Indian Councils Act of 1909 (Morley–Minto Reforms), which followed Viceroy Minto's wish to give Muslims separate representation. The 1919 Act kept and extended communal representation, but it did not introduce it.
• ✓ 3. The 1919 Act transferred some functions to the provincial governments, which also became responsible for raising taxes to fund them. Subjects were divided into central and provincial lists, and provincial legislatures gained wider powers.

Remember · 1909 Morley–Minto Act: separate electorates for Muslims. 1919 Montagu–Chelmsford Act: diarchy in the provinces, with devolution to them, and a bicameral Centre. 1935 Act: provincial autonomy.

Question: UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) 2012, General Studies Paper I. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 25 Oct 2026 (how we verify). Permalink · Report an error

Answer: (c) Government of India Act, 1935

The Government of India Act, 1935 was the first law to divide legislative powers between a central (federal) legislature and the provinces by means of three lists. The Seventh Schedule of the Constitution (Union, State and Concurrent Lists) keeps this three-list scheme.

• ✓ (c) The 1935 Act made the provinces autonomous in their own spheres. It divided legislative subjects into Federal, Provincial and Concurrent Lists. The Constitution retained this arrangement as the Union, State and Concurrent Lists, but gave residuary powers to the Union; under the 1935 Act they had rested with the Governor-General.
• ✗ (b) The 1919 Act (Montagu-Chelmsford) separated central and provincial subjects and introduced diarchy in the provinces. It had no three-list scheme and did not create a federation.
• ✗ (a) The 1909 Morley-Minto Reforms enlarged the legislative councils and introduced separate electorates for Muslims. They did not divide powers between the Centre and the provinces.
• ✗ (d) The Indian Independence Act, 1947 created the two dominions of India and Pakistan and ended British rule. It did not lay down a scheme for dividing powers between the Centre and the States.

Remember · The three-list division (Union, State, Concurrent) of the Seventh Schedule comes from the Government of India Act, 1935. The one change was residuary powers, which the Constitution gives to the Union.

Question: UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) 2012, General Studies Paper I. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 25 Oct 2026 (how we verify). Permalink · Report an error