SSC
When it was enacted, the Government of India Act, 1935 consisted of:
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)View answer ▾Hide ▴
Answer: Option C — 321 sections and 10 schedules
Detailed Solution
The Government of India Act, 1935 was a very long and detailed law, containing 321 sections and 10 schedules. It was the longest Act passed by the British Parliament up to that time.
Background:
- The Act was based on the report of the Simon Commission, the discussions at the three Round Table Conferences, the White Paper of 1933 and the report of a Joint Select Committee.
- It received royal assent in August 1935.
Main features of the Act:
- It provided for an All-India Federation of British Indian provinces and princely states, but the federation never came into being because the princely states did not join.
- It divided powers between the Centre and the units into three lists: the Federal List, the Provincial List and the Concurrent List.
- It introduced provincial autonomy, ending dyarchy in the provinces and making provincial governments responsible to elected legislatures.
- It introduced dyarchy at the Centre, but this part was never implemented.
- It extended separate electorates to depressed classes, women and labour.
- It set up a Federal Court and a Reserve Bank of India.
- It extended the franchise to about 10 per cent of the population.
- It provided for a Federal Public Service Commission and Provincial Public Service Commissions.
- It abolished the Council of India set up under the Government of India Act, 1858.
Elections of 1937:
Provincial elections were held in 1937 under this Act, and the Congress formed ministries in most provinces.
Influence on the Constitution of India:
- A large part of the Constitution of India, including its federal scheme, the office of Governor, the judiciary, public service commissions and emergency provisions, was drawn from this Act.
- Nehru described the Act as "a machine with strong brakes but no engine".
Comparison with the Constitution:
The original Constitution of India had 395 Articles and 8 Schedules.
Why not the other options?
- ✗395 Articles and 8 Schedules describe the original Constitution of India.
- ✗Good to know
- ✗The other combinations do not match the Act of 1935.
Quick tip
Remember: Government of India Act, 1935 = 321 sections and 10 schedules; provincial autonomy; never-implemented federation.
💬 Discussions on this question
Ask a doubt ›Still stuck on this question? Ask our faculty and fellow students — answers appear here.
Ask a doubtMore British Acts & Policies Questions
View all ›- Q1.Under the Regulating Act of 1773, the Supreme Court was established at:
- Q2.Pitt's India Act was passed in the year:
- Q3.The Government of India Act, 1935 came into effect (for the provinces) in:
- Q4.The English Education Act of 1835 made English the medium of instruction for:
- Q5.The Vernacular Press Act and the Arms Act, both of 1878, were passed during the time of:
More General Knowledge Questions
- Q1.The techniques of Rasa and Bhava used in Indian classical dance trace their origin to which ancient text?Indian Dance Forms
- Q2.Lavani, Powada, Koli, Waghya Murali and Dhangari Gaja are folk dances of which state?Indian Dance Forms
- Q3.The one-act play associated with the Sattriya tradition of Assam is called:Indian Dance Forms
- Q4.Which dance form of Goa is known as the 'Warrior Dance'?Indian Dance Forms
- Q5.Manipuri dance is based on the Rasleela themes of:Indian Dance Forms
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.