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Which of the following was/were the main feature(s) of the Government of India Act, 1919 ? 1. Introduction of separate electorates for Muslims. 2. Devolution of legislative authority by the Centre to the Provinces. 3. Expansion and reconstitution of Central and Provincial Legislatures. Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Explanation
The Government of India Act, 1919, also known as the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms, introduced several landmark changes. Statement 1 is incorrect because separate electorates for Muslims were first introduced by the Morley-Minto Reforms of 1909 [t2][t6]; the 1919 Act merely extended this system to Sikhs, Indian Christians, and Anglo-Indians [t3][t4]. Statement 2 is correct as the Act facilitated the devolution of legislative authority by dividing subjects into Central and Provincial categories, establishing 'Dyarchy' in the provinces [c1][c4]. Statement 3 is correct because the Act significantly expanded and reconstituted the legislatures; it replaced the Imperial Legislative Council with a bicameral system (Council of State and Legislative Assembly) at the Centre and enlarged the Provincial Legislative Councils with elected majorities [c1][c2][t1]. Thus, only features 2 and 3 are correct.
Sources
- [1] History , class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 4: Advent of Gandhi and Mass Mobilisation > 4.2 Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms > p. 44
- [2] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 26: Constitutional, Administrative and Judicial Developments > Government of India Act, 1919 > p. 509
- [3] Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 1: THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND > Utility of a Historical Retrospect. > p. 5