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Question 49 of 59 · British Acts & Policies
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A bicameral legislature was introduced at the Centre in British India by the:

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Answer: Option B — Government of India Act, 1919

Detailed Solution

The Government of India Act, 1919, based on the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms, introduced a bicameral legislature at the Centre for the first time.

The two Houses created by the Act:

  • The Council of State (upper house), with 60 members, of whom 34 were elected.
  • The Central Legislative Assembly (lower house), with 145 members, of whom 104 were elected.
  • Members of the Council of State had a term of five years, and members of the Legislative Assembly had a term of three years.
  • Most members were elected directly, but the franchise was very limited, based on property, tax or education.

Main features of the 1919 Act:

  • It introduced dyarchy (dual government) in the provinces.
  • Provincial subjects were divided into "transferred" subjects, administered by ministers responsible to the legislature, and "reserved" subjects, administered by the Governor and his executive council.
  • It separated central and provincial subjects and relaxed central control over the provinces.
  • It extended communal representation to Sikhs, Indian Christians, Anglo-Indians and Europeans.
  • It required that three of the six members of the Viceroy's Executive Council, other than the Commander-in-Chief, be Indians.
  • It created the office of High Commissioner for India in London.
  • It provided for a Public Service Commission.
  • It provided that a statutory commission would be set up after ten years to review its working, which led to the Simon Commission.

Background:

  • Edwin Montagu, the Secretary of State for India, announced in August 1917 that the British aimed at the gradual development of self-governing institutions in India.
  • Lord Chelmsford was the Viceroy at that time.

Reaction:

  • The Indian National Congress found the reforms disappointing and inadequate.
  • The reforms came at the same time as the Rowlatt Act and the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919, which caused widespread anger.

Why not the other options?

  • ✗The Indian Councils Act, 1909 introduced separate electorates for Muslims.
  • ✗The Government of India Act, 1935 introduced provincial autonomy.
  • ✗The Charter Act, 1833 made the Governor-General of Bengal the Governor-General of India.

Quick tip

Remember: Bicameralism at the Centre = Government of India Act, 1919 (Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms); also dyarchy in provinces.

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British Acts & Policies — Preparation

This question tests your understanding of British Acts & Policies, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.

This topic covers the constitutional and administrative acts passed during British rule, from the Regulating Act of 1773 and Pitt's India Act of 1784 to the Charter Acts, the Indian Councils Acts, the Government of India Acts of 1919 and 1935, and the Indian Independence Act of 1947, along with British economic, land revenue and education policies. Exam questions usually ask what a particular act introduced: the Indian Councils Act 1909 introduced separate electorates for Muslims, the Government of India Act 1919 brought dyarchy to the provinces, and the 1935 Act provided for a federation and provincial autonomy. Land revenue systems (Permanent Settlement, Ryotwari and Mahalwari) and education milestones such as Wood's Despatch (1854) are also tested. Practise the British acts and policies questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.

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