Question map
Which one of the following Acts reserved seats for women in Legislatures in accordance with the allocation of seats for different communities?
Explanation
The Government of India Act, 1935, significantly expanded the principle of communal representation by providing separate electorates and reserved seats for various groups, including women. Under this Act, seats in the provincial legislatures were distributed on a communal basis, and approximately 3 percent of seats were reserved for women in almost all provinces. These seats for women were generally communitarian, meaning they were allocated in accordance with the existing communal divisions (such as Muslim, Sikh, or General), except in specific provinces like Assam and Orissa where they were non-communal. This provision was a result of the recommendations from the Joint Select Committee and the earlier Communal Award of 1932, which sought to integrate women into the legislative framework through the lens of communal identity. The Act also introduced direct elections and limited franchise based on property and education.
Sources
- [1] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 19: Civil Disobedience Movement and Round Table Conferences > Civil Disobedience Movement the Salt Satyagraha and Other Upsurges > p. 391
- [2] https://gacbe.ac.in/pdf/ematerial/18BHI14C-U1.pdf