Constitutional History of British India (Miscellenous MCQs)

The North‑West Frontier Province held a referendum to determine accession, complementing boundary awards elsewhere.

The Government of India Act of 1858, passed in the wake of the 1857 revolt, transferred the powers of the East India Company to the British Crown. It abolished the dual system of governance established by Pitt's India Act of 1784 by doing away with the Board of Control and the Court of Directors, placing Indian administration directly under the Secretary of State for India.

The Indian Council Act of 1861 was a significant landmark in the constitutional history of India. It restored the legislative powers to the Bombay and Madras Presidencies, which had been taken away by the Charter Act of 1833, and brought the three separate presidencies into a unified common system while also introducing the portfolio system of administration.

The Indian Council Act of 1892 introduced the principle of representation, although the word 'election' was not used in the act. It expanded the size and functions of the legislative councils and allowed members to discuss the budget and address questions to the executive, effectively laying the groundwork for a parliamentary form of government.

The Government of India Act of 1935 abolished 'Dyarchy' in the provinces and introduced 'Provincial Autonomy' in its place. This allowed provinces to act as autonomous units of administration in their defined spheres, with the executive being made responsible to the provincial legislature through the council of ministers.

The Government of India Act of 1935 made provision for the establishment of a Federal Court of India to settle disputes between provinces and the federation, as well as between the federation and the princely states. The court was eventually inaugurated in 1937 and functioned until the establishment of the Supreme Court of India in 1950.

The Indian Council Act of 1909 is famously known as the Morley-Minto Reforms, named after John Morley (Secretary of State) and Lord Minto (Viceroy). This act is significant for introducing separate electorates for Muslims, which effectively legalized communalism in Indian politics and significantly increased the number of elected members in the councils.

The Government of India Act of 1919, also known as the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms, introduced the system of 'Dyarchy' (rule of two) in the provinces. Under this system, provincial subjects were divided into 'Reserved' subjects, managed by the Governor and his executive council, and 'Transferred' subjects, managed by the Governor and his Indian ministers.

The Government of India Act of 1919 recommended the establishment of a Public Service Commission to recruit civil servants. Consequently, the Central Public Service Commission was set up in 1926 following the recommendations of the Lee Commission, marking a major step in the professionalization of the Indian bureaucracy.

The Charter Act of 1813 significantly curtailed the commercial powers of the East India Company by ending its monopoly on Indian trade, allowing other British merchants to trade with India. However, the Company was permitted to retain its monopoly on the tea trade and trade with China for another twenty years.

The Charter Act of 1833 was a major step toward centralization in British India. It elevated the Governor-General of Bengal to the position of Governor-General of India, vesting in him all civil and military powers. Lord William Bentinck became the first Governor-General of India under this Act.

While the Government of India Act of 1935 divided legislative powers into three lists (Federal, Provincial, and Concurrent), it did not assign the remaining or 'residuary' powers to any legislature. Instead, these powers were vested in the Governor-General, giving him the discretion to assign them as needed.

Following the Revolt of 1857, the British Parliament passed the Government of India Act 1858, which created the office of the Secretary of State for India. This official was a member of the British Cabinet and was assisted by a 15-member Council of India, ensuring absolute parliamentary control over Indian affairs.

The Government of India Act of 1919 replaced the Indian Legislative Council with a bicameral legislature consisting of an Upper House (Council of State) and a Lower House (Legislative Assembly). It also introduced direct elections, though the franchise was highly restricted based on property, tax, and education.

Pitt's India Act of 1784 established a Board of Control consisting of six commissioners to supervise the civil, military, and revenue affairs of the East India Company. This established a system of 'dual government' where the Company managed commerce through the Court of Directors while the Crown managed political affairs through the Board of Control.

The Regulating Act of 1773 was the first step by the British government to regulate the affairs of the East India Company. It created the post of Governor-General of Bengal and a Supreme Court at Fort William. Separate electorates were not introduced until the Morley-Minto Reforms of 1909.

Although the Act of 1892 expanded the legislative councils and allowed for budget discussion, early nationalists opposed it because it denied Indians any real control over public finances. The members could discuss the budget but had no power to vote on it or amend it, leaving the executive's financial authority absolute.

Pitt's India Act of 1784 was the first time that the Company's territories in India were officially referred to as the 'British possessions in India.' This reflected the British government's increasing assertion of its sovereign right over the Indian territories held by the Company.

The Trade Disputes Act of 1929 was passed to curb the rising industrial unrest and strike movements. It provided for the establishment of Courts of Inquiry and Conciliation Boards (tribunals) to settle disputes and placed a ban on strikes and lockouts in public utility services like railways and postal services.

Lord Curzon passed the Calcutta Corporation Act in 1899, which significantly reduced the number of elected members in the corporation and increased the number of nominated (British) officials. This move was seen as an attempt to diminish the power of local self-government institutions.