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Q62 (IAS/2017) History & Culture â€ș National Movement (1857–1947) â€ș Constitutional reforms acts Official Key

In the context of Indian history, the principle of 'Dyarchy (diarchy)' refers to

Result
Your answer: —  Â·  Correct: D
Explanation

The correct answer is option D. The principle of Dyarchy was introduced at the level of provincial government, where it meant rule of two—executive councillors and popular ministers[1]. This system involved dividing provincial subjects into two categories: 'reserved' subjects (such as law and order, finance, land revenue, police, administration of justice) and 'transferred' subjects (such as education, health, local government, agriculture, public health)[2]. The reserved subjects were administered by the Governor with his executive councillors, while transferred subjects were administered by ministers responsible to the legislature. This division of subjects delegated to provinces into two categories is the defining feature of Dyarchy. Options A, B, and C are incorrect as they refer to bicameral legislature, federal structure, and colonial dual control respectively, none of which capture the essence of Dyarchy as a system of dual administration within provincial governments.

Sources
  1. [1] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 15: Emergence of Gandhi > Provincial Government—Introduction of > p. 308
  2. [2] Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 1: Historical Background > The features of this Act were as follows: > p. 6
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Q. In the context of Indian history, the principle of 'Dyarchy (diarchy)' refers to [A] Division of the central legislature into two houses

At a glance
Origin: Books + Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 2.5/10 · 5/10
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This is a foundational 'Sitter' question. It tests the most distinct feature of the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms (1919). If you confuse 'Bicameralism' (Legislature) with 'Dyarchy' (Executive), you lose easy marks. This comes straight from the first chapter of Laxmikanth or the Constitutional Developments chapter in Spectrum.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
In Indian history, did the principle of Dyarchy (diarchy) mean the division of the central legislature into two houses?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Now, why is dyarchy not a good form of government ? The answer to this question is very simple. Dyarchy is a bad form of government because it is opposed to the principle of collective responsibility."
Why this source?
  • Defines dyarchy as a form of government problem related to administrative responsibility, not a change in legislative structure.
  • States dyarchy is opposed to collective responsibility and concerns the impartibility of governmental work — implying division of functions, not creation of two legislative chambers.
Web source
Presence: 3/5
"From these differences in the constitution and procedure of the Central and Provincial Governments, it must not be supposed that the provincial Governments were less irresponsible with regard to their Legislatures than the Central Government was. The fact that since 1909 there was no majority of official members in the Provincial Legislature as there was in the Central Legislature was"
Why this source?
  • Discusses differences in constitution and procedure between the Central and Provincial Governments and their legislatures, indicating the issues relate to composition and procedure rather than a split of the central legislature into two houses.
  • Mentions provincial legislative arrangements (no standing majority of official members) contrasting with the Central Legislature — context about governance structure rather than bicameral division of the central body.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 15: Emergence of Gandhi > Provincial Government—Introduction of > p. 308
Strength: 5/5
“● Provincial Government—Introduction of Dyarchy The Act introduced dyarchy for the executive at the level of the provincial government. Executive (i) Dyarchy, i.e., rule of two—executive councillors and popular ministers—was introduced. The governor was to be the executive head in the province. (ii) Subjects were divided into two lists: 'reserved' which included subjects such as law and order, finance, land revenue, irrigation, etc., and 'transferred' subjects such as education, health, local government, industry, agriculture, excise, etc.”
Why relevant

Explicitly defines Dyarchy in the provincial context as 'rule of two' for the executive, with subjects divided into 'reserved' and 'transferred'.

How to extend

A student could use this to infer dyarchy concerned division of executive subjects at provincial level, so check whether that concept was used for central legislature instead.

Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 1: THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND > Utility of a Historical Retrospect. > p. 5
Strength: 5/5
“The main features of the system introduced by the Government of India Act, 1919, were as follows-hMain Features of the System introduced by the Act of 1919. I. Dyarchy in the Provinces. Resp o nsibl egovernments in the Provisions were to be introduced, without impairing the responsibility of the Government (through the Governor-General), for the administration of the Province, by resorting to device known as 'Dyarchy' or dual government. The subjects of administration were to be divided (by Rules made under the Act) into two categories-Central and Provincial. or the matters assigned to the Provinces, the transferred subjects were to be administered by the Government with the aid of Ministers responsible to the Legislative Council in which the proportion of elected members was raised to 70 per cent.”
Why relevant

States that the Government of India Act, 1919 introduced 'Dyarchy' or dual government in provinces and describes subject-division and administration by ministers responsible to the Legislative Council.

How to extend

Use this rule-pattern (dyarchy = dual executive government in provinces) to contrast with any claim that dyarchy referred to dividing the central legislature into houses.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 26: Constitutional, Administrative and Judicial Developments > Government of India Act, 1919 > p. 510
Strength: 4/5
“was introduced, though the franchise was much restricted being based on qualifications of property, tax or education. ● The principle of communal representation was extended with separate electorates for Sikhs, Christians and Anglo-Indians, besides Muslims. ● The Act introduced dyarchy in the provinces, which indeed was a substantial step towards transfer of power to the Indian people. ● The provincial legislature was to consist of one house only (legislative council). ● The Act separated for the first time the provincial and central budgets, with provincial legislatures being authorised to make their budgets. ● A High Commissioner for India was appointed, who was to hold his office in London for six years and whose duty was to look after Indian trade in Europe.”
Why relevant

Notes again that the Act introduced dyarchy in the provinces and that the provincial legislature was to consist of one house only (legislative council).

How to extend

A student can combine this with the fact that provinces had a single legislative house to argue dyarchy did not mean creating two legislative houses at centre.

Indian Constitution at Work, Political Science Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: LEGISLATURE > WHY DO WE NEED TWO HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT? > p. 102
Strength: 4/5
“The term 'Parliament' refers to the national legislature. The legislature of the States is described as State legislature. The Parliament in India has two houses. When there are two houses of the legislature, it is called a bicameral legislature. The two Houses of the Indian Parliament are the Council of States or the Rajya Sabha and the House of the People or the Lok Sabha. The Constitution has given the States the option of establishing either a unicameral or bicameral legislature. At present only six States have a bicameral legislature.”
Why relevant

Defines the modern Indian Parliament as having two houses (bicameral) and names the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha — the standard term for two legislative chambers.

How to extend

A student could contrast the explicit term 'bicameral' for two houses with 'dyarchy' to test if dyarchy was ever used to mean bicameralism at the centre.

Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science, Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 6: The Parliamentary System: Legislature and Executive > Composition of the Parliament of India > p. 142
Strength: 4/5
“The Indian Parliament is composed of the President and two houses: the Lok Sabha (House of the People / Lower House) and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States / Upper House). This structure with two houses is called a 'bicameral' system ('bi' means two, 'cameral' means chamber / house).”
Why relevant

Also defines the Parliament as composed of two houses and explains the meaning of 'bicameral' ('bi' = two).

How to extend

Use this clear definition of bicameral legislature to distinguish it from dyarchy; a student should check historical sources to see which term applied to which institution.

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Statement analysis

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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

IAS · 2012 · Q52 Relevance score: -0.58

Which of the following is/are the principal feature(s) of the Government of India Act, 1919? 1. Introduction of dyarchy in the executive government of the provinces 2. Introduction of separate communal electorates for Muslims 3. Devolution of legislative authority by the centre to the provinces Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

CDS-I · 2003 · Q65 Relevance score: -0.60

Assertion(A): The Government of India Act, 1919 was passed by the British Parliament to introduce 'Diarchy' in the provincial government. Reason (R) : Montague-Chelmsford Reforms Committee had recommended the introduction of 'Diarchy' in the provincial government.

CDS-I · 2010 · Q72 Relevance score: -1.08

'Diarchy' was first introduced in India under

CDS-I · 2013 · Q93 Relevance score: -1.13

The Government of India Act, 1919— 1. established a bicameral legislature at the Centre 2. introduced dyarchy in the provincial executive 2, introduced a federal system of government in India Select the correct answer using the codes given below—

NDA-I · 2008 · Q50 Relevance score: -1.36

By virtue of which Act, dyarchy was introduced in India?