1. It provided for the establishment of an All India Federation based on the union of the British Indian Provinces, and Princely States.
2. Defence and Foreign Affairs were kept under the control of the federal legislature.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
The Government of India Act was passed by the British parliament in 1935 and came into effect in 1937. It was based on a report by a Joint Select Committee, led by Lord Linlithgow, set up the two houses of the British parliament. Some of the key features of the Act were:
The creation of a ‘Federation of India’ that consisted of two levels: a central executive and parliament, and below it, provinces and princely states. Hence, Statement 1 is correct. It discarded the ‘dyarchy’ system at the provincial level and allowed for the emergence of popularly elected provincial legislatures. Dyarchy was introduced at the central level, key subjects like defence and foreign affairs were under the direct control of the Governor General. Hence, Statement 2 is incorrect. A federal court was established. The franchise was expanded to 14% of the population from 3%. Separate electorates were provided for Muslims, Sikhs and others, but not to Depressed Classes. The governor enjoyed critical emergency powers.
For S2, Would the British Empire in 1935 be willing to hand over Defence and Foreign Affairs -- its most critical imperial powers -- to an Indian legislature? Unlikely Hence plausibly false.