SSC
The Government of India Act, 1935 came into effect (for the provinces) in:
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Answer: Option A — 1937
Detailed Solution
The Government of India Act, 1935 was the longest and most detailed Act passed by the British Parliament for India. It received royal assent in August 1935, and its provisions on provincial autonomy came into force on 1 April 1937.
The Act was based on the report of the Simon Commission, the discussions at the three Round Table Conferences and a White Paper of 1933. Its main provisions were:
An All-India Federation of British provinces and princely states. This federation never came into existence, because the princely states did not agree to join.
Division of powers between the Centre and the provinces into three lists: the Federal List, the Provincial List and the Concurrent List.
Provincial autonomy, abolishing dyarchy in the provinces, so that ministers responsible to elected legislatures ran the provincial government.
Dyarchy at the Centre, which was never implemented.
A Federal Court, set up at Delhi in 1937.
Establishment of the Reserve Bank of India (in 1935), and of a Federal Public Service Commission and Provincial Public Service Commissions.
Extension of separate electorates to the depressed classes, women and labour.
Elections under the Act were held in early 1937. The Congress won a majority in most provinces and formed ministries in eight of the eleven provinces. These ministries resigned in October-November 1939, protesting against India being made a party to the Second World War without consulting Indians.
Many features of the Indian Constitution, such as the federal scheme, the three lists, the office of Governor, emergency provisions and the Public Service Commissions, were taken from this Act.
Why not the other options?
- ✗1935 is the year the Act was passed, not when its main provisions took effect.
- ✗1939 is the year the Congress ministries resigned.
- ✗1947 is the year of the Indian Independence Act.
Quick tip
Remember: GoI Act 1935 = passed 1935, provincial autonomy from 1937, three lists, Federal Court and RBI; the largest source of the Indian Constitution.
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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.