SSC
The Indian Majority Act, which fixed the age of majority (adulthood) for persons domiciled in India at 18 years, was passed in:
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Answer: Option B — 1875
Detailed Solution
The Indian Majority Act (Act IX of 1875) was passed in 1875.
About the Act:
- It fixed the age of majority (the age at which a person becomes an adult in the eyes of the law) at 18 years for persons domiciled in India.
- For a minor whose person or property was under the care of a guardian appointed by a court, or under the Court of Wards, the age of majority was fixed at 21 years.
- In 1999, an amendment made the age of majority 18 years in all cases, removing the special provision of 21 years.
What it means:
- A person who has reached the age of majority can enter into contracts, sue and be sued in his or her own name, and manage his or her own property.
- A contract made by a minor is void under the Indian Contract Act (1872).
Exceptions:
- The Act does not affect the capacity of any person in matters of marriage, divorce, dower and adoption; these continue to be governed by the personal laws of the different religious communities.
- For example, the age of marriage is governed by separate laws.
- The Act also does not affect the religion or religious rites and usages of any class of persons.
Significance:
- The Act is still in force in India, and is one of the oldest laws on the statute book.
- It created a uniform age of majority for civil and contractual purposes across British India.
Other important laws of the period:
The Indian Contract Act and the Indian Evidence Act (both 1872).
Ages in Indian law today:
- Voting age: 18 years (reduced from 21 by the 61st Constitutional Amendment, 1988).
- Minimum age of marriage: 21 years for men; 18 years for women.
Why not the other options?
- ✗1860 is not the year of this Act.
- ✗1891 was the year of the Age of Consent Act.
- ✗1929 was the year of a law on child marriage.
Quick tip
Remember: Indian Majority Act = 1875 (age of majority 18; 21 for wards under court-appointed guardians until 1999); does not cover marriage, divorce, adoption.
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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.