Question

Which among he following statements are correct?

(A) The imperial and provincial legislative councils were entirely nominated bodies until 1892.

(B) Prior to the India Council Act of 1892, Legislative Councils were granted statutory powers of discussing budget and putting questions.

(C) The Ilbert Bill storm was the most extreme but by no means isolated expression of white racism

(D) The Morley-Minto reforms of 1909 granted dyarchy at the provincial level

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

1. (A), (B) and (D) only
2. (B) and (D) only
3. (C) and (D) only
4. (A) and (C) only

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 4 : (A) and (C) only

The main provisions of the Indian Councils Act 1892 were as follows:

• The number of additional members in Imperial Legislative Councils and the Provincial Legislative Councils was raised.
• In Imperial Legislative Council, now the governor-general could have ten to sixteen non-officials (instead of six to ten previously). 
• Some of these additional members could be indirectly elected.
• Thus an element of the election was introduced for the first time. 
• The imperial and provincial legislative councils were entirely nominated bodies until 1892.
• The budget could be discussed.
• Questions could be asked.
• But, there were certain limitations of these reforms:
• The officials retained their majority in the council, thus leaving ineffective the non-official voice.
• The reformed Imperial Legislative Council met, during its tenure till 1909, on an average for only thirteen days in a year, and the number of unofficial Indian members present was only five out of twenty-four.
• The budget could not be voted upon, nor could any amendments be made to it. 
• Supplementary questions could not be asked, nor could answers be discussed.
• Under Morley-Minto reforms, the number of elected members in the Imperial Legislative Council and Provincial Legislative Council was increased.
• In the Provincial Councils, the non-official majority was introduced but since some of these non-official were nominated and not selected, the overall non-elected majority remained.

Ilbert Bill

• Ilbert Bill was a controversial measure proposed in 1883 that sought to allow senior Indian judges to try European offenders.
• Earlier only European judges could try European offenders.
• The bill was introduced by the then viceroy, Lord Ripon.
• The bill had to face intense criticism from the Europeans and Britishers as they looked at as a humiliation as it placed Indian judges at par with European Judges.
• The bill was named after the framer of the bill, Courtenay Ilbert, who was appointed as legal adviser to the Council of India.
• It was withdrawn due to opposition in Britain and from British settles in India and was reintroduced in the much-diluted state.

Morley-Minto reforms of 1909

• The Indian Councils Act of 1909 introduced reforms that are commonly known as Morley-Minto reforms after the Secretary of State for India John Morley and the viceroy of India.
• The Act intended to stem the growing tide of nationalism in the country by dividing the people into communal lines.
• According to the Morley-Minto reforms, the Legislative Councils at the Centre were to have four categories of members. They are: Ex-officio members, Nominated official members, Nominated non-official members, and Elected members.
• The reforms also led to:
  • Increase in size of the Legislative Councils at the Centre and the provinces.
  • Indians were given membership to the Imperial Legislative Council for the first time.
  • Separate electorates for Muslims.
  • Two Indians were nominated to the Council of the Secretary of State for Indian Affairs.

The Government of India Act 1919 introduced the bi-cameral legislature at the central level in India.

• The Government of India Act 1919 is popularly known as the Montague-Chelmsford reforms.
• Lord Chelmsford was the viceroy of India during the government of India act 1919.
• It introduced dyarchy in provinces by dividing provincial subjects into transferred and reserved.
• This act provided the right to vote for women in India.
• It provided for the establishment of the public service commission which was set up in 1926.

The Act of 1935 abolished dyarchy at the Provincial level and introduced it,  at the Centre.

• Provision for the establishment of Federal Court
• Increase in the Size of Legislatures and Extension of Franchise
• Division of Subject: three lists the Federal List, the Provincial List and the Concurrent list. The Federal list included 49 subjects, the Provincial list 54, and the Concurrent list 36.