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Consider the following statements : 1. Morley-Minto reforms ended the official majority in state legislative assemblies. 2. Despite the Government of India Act, 1909 the non-officials were elected to local bodies indirectly. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
The Indian Councils Act of 1909, known as the Morley-Minto Reforms, introduced significant changes to the legislative structure in British India. Statement 1 is correct as the Act retained an official majority in the Central Legislative Council but allowed for a non-official majority in the provincial legislative councils [5]. This effectively ended the official majority at the state (provincial) level, although the total non-elected members (nominated plus official) often still outnumbered elected members [1]. Statement 2 is also correct because the Act utilized a system of indirect elections [3]. Members of local bodies like municipal committees and district boards elected an electoral college, which then elected members of the provincial councils [5]. These provincial members, in turn, elected members to the Central Council, maintaining an indirect link between local bodies and the legislative assemblies [3].
Sources
- [4] https://gacbe.ac.in/pdf/ematerial/18BHI44A-U2.pdf
- [5] Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 14: Nationalist Movement 1905—1918 > THE INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS, 1905-1914 > p. 247
- [1] Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 1: Historical Background > The features of this Act were as follows: > p. 5
- [3] https://www.britannica.com/topic/Indian-Councils-Act-of-1909