Which new province was created out of the Bombay Presidency under the 1935 Act?
- Sind
- Baluchistan
- NWFP
- Orissa
Explanation: To appease Muslim demands for Muslim-majority provinces, Sind was formally separated from the Bombay Presidency to become a distinct, separate province.
What did the Act replace the provincial 'Dyarchy' system with?
- Princely Rule
- Provincial Autonomy
- Military Dictatorship
- Direct British Rule
Explanation: The Act abolished the unpopular system of dyarchy (introduced in 1919) at the provincial level and replaced it with 'provincial autonomy', allowing elected Indian ministers to run provincial administration.
Which schedule detailed the three legislative lists in the Act?
- Seventh Schedule
- Fifth Schedule
- First Schedule
- Ninth Schedule
Explanation: The Seventh Schedule of the Government of India Act 1935 explicitly delineated the Federal, Provincial, and Concurrent legislative lists, a structure adopted by the modern Indian Constitution.
Which of the following provinces was given a bicameral legislature under the Act?
Explanation: Bengal, along with Bombay, Madras, Bihar, UP, and Assam, was given a bicameral legislature consisting of a Legislative Council (upper) and a Legislative Assembly (lower).
What was the upper house of the proposed Federal Legislature named?
- House of Lords
- Senate
- Federal Assembly
- Council of State
Explanation: The proposed bicameral Federal Legislature was to consist of a lower house called the Federal Assembly and an upper house called the Council of State.
What was the primary basis for the expansion of franchise?
- Property qualifications
- Educational qualifications
- Military service
- Universal adult suffrage
Explanation: Voting rights were severely restricted and primarily based on property ownership, taxation, and educational qualifications, enfranchising only about 10-14% of the population.
The 'Instrument of Instructions' in the 1935 Act inspired which part of the 1950 Indian Constitution?
- Directive Principles
- Fundamental Rights
- Fundamental Duties
- Preamble
Explanation: The Directive Principles of State Policy in the Indian Constitution are largely based on the 'Instrument of Instructions' issued to the Governors and the Governor-General under the 1935 Act.
What replaced the abolished Council of India to assist the Secretary of State?
- Team of advisors
- High Commissioner
- British Parliament
- Privy Council
Explanation: The outdated Council of India was abolished, and the Secretary of State for India was instead provided with a team of advisors (not less than three, not more than six).
How were representatives from the princely states to be selected for the Federal Legislature?
- Selected by Viceroy
- Direct elections
- Indirect elections
- Nominated by rulers
Explanation: Unlike British Indian representatives who were elected, the representatives of the Princely States in the Federal Legislature were to be autocratically directly nominated by their respective rulers.
Under the Act, who functioned as the executive head of a province?
- Chief Minister
- Provincial Secretary
- Viceroy
- Governor
Explanation: The executive authority of a province was formally vested in the Governor, who acted as the Crown's representative and was required to act on the advice of elected ministers.
Which nationalist leader called the Act a 'new charter of slavery'?
- Sardar Patel
- Subhas Chandra Bose
- Mahatma Gandhi
- Jawaharlal Nehru
Explanation: Nehru bitterly rejected the Act, stating it offered no real power or sovereignty to Indians, famously describing it as a 'new charter of slavery' designed to perpetuate British exploitation.
Which new administrative body was created to manage railway operations free from political interference?
- Federal Railway Authority
- Transport Ministry
- Imperial Railway Council
- Railway Board
Explanation: The Act established a statutory Federal Railway Authority to insulate railway administration from democratic political control and secure British commercial and strategic interests.
The Act proposed a Federal Assembly with how many members?
- 150 members
- 250 members
- 500 members
- 375 members
Explanation: The proposed lower house, the Federal Assembly, was to have 375 members, comprising 250 representatives from British India and 125 from the Princely States.
Under Dyarchy at the Center, defense and external affairs were categorized as what?
- Transferred subjects
- Residuary subjects
- Concurrent subjects
- Reserved subjects
Explanation: Crucial portfolios like defense, external affairs, ecclesiastical affairs, and tribal areas were 'Reserved Subjects', exclusively administered by the Viceroy with the help of his executive councilors.
The Act provided for the establishment of which apex financial institution to control currency?
- Reserve Bank
- Imperial Bank
- Federal Bank
- State Bank
Explanation: The 1935 Act legally mandated the establishment of the Reserve Bank of India to regulate the issuance of bank notes and control the currency and credit system of the country.
The Act established an Auditor General of India appointed by?
- Secretary of State
- The Viceroy
- The Crown
- Indian Parliament
Explanation: To independently audit the accounts of the Federation and the Provinces, the Act provided for an Auditor-General of India, appointed directly by the British Crown.
What voting principle was maintained for Muslims under the Act?
- General electorates
- Joint electorates
- Reserved seats only
- Separate electorates
Explanation: The Act continued and expanded the divisive practice of separate electorates for Muslims, Sikhs, Europeans, Indian Christians, and Anglo-Indians, deepening communal political lines.
In which year were the first provincial elections held under this Act?
Explanation: Following the implementation of the provincial part of the Act, highly contested elections to the provincial legislatures were successfully held in the winter of 1936-1937.
Which of these provinces had a unicameral legislature?
- Bengal
- Punjab
- Madras
- Bombay
Explanation: While Bengal, Bombay, Madras, Bihar, UP, and Assam had bicameral legislatures (two houses), Punjab and four other provinces remained unicameral.
Who held the absolute power to declare a constitutional emergency?
- British Prime Minister
- The Viceroy
- Secretary of State
- Provincial Governor
Explanation: Section 45 of the Act empowered the Governor-General/Viceroy to declare a constitutional breakdown and assume all federal powers directly, bypassing the legislature.
Which party won massive majorities in most provinces in the 1937 elections?
- Justice Party
- Muslim League
- Unionist Party
- Indian National Congress
Explanation: The Indian National Congress swept the 1937 elections, eventually forming powerful ministries in eight out of the eleven British Indian provinces.
How did Muhammad Ali Jinnah famously describe the Government of India Act 1935?
- Step to freedom
- Thoroughly rotten
- Machine without engine
- Charter of slavery
Explanation: Jinnah heavily criticized the Act's federal scheme and Hindu-majority implications, rejecting it entirely and describing it as 'thoroughly rotten, fundamentally bad and totally unacceptable'.
Who was designated to administer the 'Transferred' subjects at the federal level?
- Secretary of State
- Viceroy with councilors
- Viceroy with ministers
- Provincial Governors
Explanation: Transferred subjects at the federal level were to be administered by the Governor-General/Viceroy acting on the advice of a Council of Ministers responsible to the federal legislature.
By expanding the franchise, roughly what percentage of the total population acquired voting rights?
- Thirty percent
- Ten percent
- Universal adult franchise
- Twenty percent
Explanation: The Act significantly extended the franchise based on property, tax, and educational qualifications, ultimately enfranchising approximately 10% to 14% of the total Indian population.
In the provincial legislatures, who officially represented the Crown?
- High Commissioner
- The Viceroy
- Chief Minister
- The Governor
Explanation: The Provincial Governor was appointed directly by the British Crown and exercised massive discretionary executive authority on the Crown's behalf within the province.
Did the proposed 'All India Federation' ever come into actual existence?
- Yes in 1937
- Yes in 1947
- Yes in 1939
- No never
Explanation: The Federal part of the Act never came into operation because the required minimum number of Princely States refused to sign the Instruments of Accession.
Which major ideological groups strongly condemned the 1935 Act?
- Muslim League
- Indian National Congress
- Princely states alone
- Both Congress League
Explanation: Both the INC and the Muslim League fundamentally rejected the Act's federal provisions, although they eventually agreed to participate in the provincial elections of 1937.
Which commission's report heavily influenced the 1935 Act?
- Hunter Commission
- Cabinet Mission
- Simon Commission
- Cripps Mission
Explanation: The Simon Commission's report, combined with the outcomes of the three Round Table Conferences in London, provided the foundational basis for the 1935 Act.
Did the 1935 Act grant Dominion Status to India?
- Only to provinces
- After ten years
- No it didn't
- Yes immediately
Explanation: The Act deliberately omitted any mention of Dominion Status, deeply frustrating Indian nationalists who had been fiercely demanding full self-government or dominion status.
Which document formed the immediate foundational basis for drafting the 1935 Act?
- Simon Commission Report
- Nehru Report
- August Offer
- White Paper 1933
Explanation: Following the three Round Table Conferences, the British Government published a 'White Paper' in 1933 detailing the proposed constitutional reforms that directly formed the 1935 Act.
What primary political structure did the Government of India Act 1935 propose at the national level?
- Sovereign Republic
- Dominion Status
- All India Federation
- Provincial Autonomy
Explanation: The Act proposed an All India Federation consisting of British Indian Provinces and Princely States, though it never materialized because the required number of princely states refused to join.
Who famously described the 1935 Act as a 'machine with strong brakes but no engine'?
- Subhas Bose
- BR Ambedkar
- Mahatma Gandhi
- Jawaharlal Nehru
Explanation: Jawaharlal Nehru sharply criticized the Act's heavy safeguards, veto powers, and lack of real transfer of sovereignty, famously calling it a machine with 'strong brakes, no engine'.
Under the Act, the proposed Federal Legislature was to be?
- Tricameral
- Non existent
- Unicameral
- Bicameral
Explanation: The central legislature was designed to be bicameral, consisting of the Federal Assembly (lower house) and the Council of State (upper house).
Did the Government of India Act 1935 contain a new Preamble?
- Borrowed from USA
- Borrowed from France
- A new preamble
- No new preamble
Explanation: Uniquely, the 1935 Act lacked its own preamble; instead, the preamble from the Government of India Act 1919 (promising gradual self-government) was retained.
The ultimate power to amend the 1935 Act resided with?
- Federal Legislature
- Indian National Congress
- British Parliament
- Viceroy of India
Explanation: Indian legislatures (federal or provincial) had absolutely no power to amend the Act; the supreme authority for any constitutional amendment remained solely with the British Parliament.
The Act placed the 'Federal Railway Authority' under whose direct control?
- Federal Legislature
- The Viceroy
- British Parliament
- Provincial Governments
Explanation: The Federal Railway Authority, created to manage railways on commercial lines, was kept largely outside democratic legislative control and operated under the Viceroy's direct supervision.
The Act completely abolished which advisory body located in London?
- Council of India
- Privy Council
- House of Lords
- Board of Control
Explanation: The Act abolished the Council of India, which had been established in 1858 to assist the Secretary of State for India, replacing it with a smaller team of advisors.
Besides Muslims, who retained their separate electorates under the Act?
- Only Europeans
- Sikhs and Europeans
- Only Sikhs
- Neither of them
Explanation: The communal representation system of separate electorates was extended or retained for Muslims, Sikhs, Europeans, Indian Christians, and Anglo-Indians.
The Act provided for the establishment of which types of Public Service Commissions?
- Provincial only
- Federal Provincial Joint
- Federal and Provincial
- Federal only
Explanation: The Act comprehensively provided for a Federal Public Service Commission, Provincial Public Service Commissions, and Joint Public Service Commissions for two or more provinces.
Which new province was carved out of Bihar and inaugurated in 1936 due to this Act?
- Bengal
- Orissa
- Chhattisgarh
- Jharkhand
Explanation: The Government of India Act 1935 legally mandated the creation of the new separate province of Orissa by carving it out of the Bihar and Orissa Province based on linguistic lines.
The Federal Court had original jurisdiction in disputes between?
- Military and civilians
- Center and Provinces
- Private citizens
- British and Indians
Explanation: The Federal Court, established in Delhi, had exclusive original jurisdiction over legal disputes involving the Federation and its constituent units (Provinces/States).
Which specific political feature of the 1935 Act was actually implemented in 1937?
- Dyarchy at center
- Princely integration
- Provincial autonomy
- Federal part
Explanation: While the federal components failed entirely, the provincial part of the Act successfully came into force in 1937, officially replacing provincial dyarchy with full provincial autonomy.
How long did the provincial ministries formed under this Act last?
- Five full years
- Barely one year
- 28 months
- 10 years
Explanation: The Congress ministries resigned en masse in October-November 1939, after just 28 months in power, fiercely protesting Britain's unilateral decision to drag India into World War II without consultation.
Aside from Burma, which region was separated from British India?
Explanation: The Act formally detached the strategic port city of Aden from the administrative control of British India, establishing it as a separate Crown Colony.
The Act aimed to provide safeguards to protect which groups?
- Only Muslims
- Only Sikhs
- All minority groups
- No minority groups
Explanation: The Act included extensive 'safeguards' and 'special responsibilities' for Governors to explicitly protect the interests of minorities, civil servants, and British commercial interests.
Who was granted special responsibilities and could veto bills passed by the provincial legislature?
- Viceroy
- Monarch
- Chief Minister
- Governor
Explanation: Despite 'provincial autonomy', Provincial Governors retained massive discretionary powers and 'special responsibilities', allowing them to veto legislation and overrule elected ministers.
While abolished in the provinces, where was the system of 'Dyarchy' introduced by this Act?
- In local bodies
- In princely states
- British Parliament
- At the Center
Explanation: The Act abolished dyarchy in the provinces and introduced 'provincial autonomy', but simultaneously introduced dyarchy at the Federal/Central level, dividing subjects into 'reserved' and 'transferred'.
How was the Governor-General advised in his non-reserved functions?
- British Parliament
- Indian Princes
- Council of Ministers
- Provincial Governors
Explanation: For 'Transferred' subjects, the Governor-General was to be advised by a Council of Ministers (maximum 10) who were legally responsible to the federal legislature.
Which judicial body was established in Delhi in 1937 under the provisions of the 1935 Act?
- Federal Court
- High Court
- Privy Council
- Supreme Court
Explanation: A Federal Court was established in Delhi in 1937, comprising one Chief Justice and two puisne judges, to resolve disputes between the center and provinces and to interpret the Act.
The Act introduced bicameralism in how many of the eleven provinces?
Explanation: Bicameral legislatures (an upper and a lower house) were introduced in six out of the eleven provinces: Bengal, Bombay, Madras, Bihar, Assam, and the United Provinces.
Under the 1935 Act, who was vested with the residuary legislative powers?
- Federal Legislature
- The Viceroy
- Secretary of State
- Provincial Governor
Explanation: Residuary powers, which were not included in the Federal, Provincial, or Concurrent lists, were vested exclusively in the Governor-General/Viceroy, granting him immense discretionary control.
Which groups were newly granted separate electorates by the Government of India Act 1935?
- Indian Christians
- Anglo Indians
- Europeans
- Women and labor
Explanation: The Act further expanded the divisive 'divide and rule' communal representation system by providing separate electorates for depressed classes, women, and labor/workers.
How many legislative lists divided the powers between the Center and the Provinces?
Explanation: The Act meticulously divided legislative powers into three lists: the Federal List (for the Center), the Provincial List (for provinces), and the Concurrent List (for both).
Which territory was completely separated from British India by the provisions of this Act?
Explanation: The Act formally separated Burma from the British Indian Empire, which took effect in 1937, establishing a separate administration to weaken the broader anti-colonial movement.
The Act mandated a Federal Public Service Commission and what else?
- Village Commissions
- Municipal Commissions
- Provincial Commissions
- District Commissions
Explanation: To ensure bureaucratic efficiency and loyalty, the Act provided for the establishment of both a Federal Public Service Commission and Provincial Public Service Commissions.
What was the primary reason the Federation failed to materialize?
- Princes refused joining
- British withdrew offer
- Muslim League opposed
- Congress rejected it
Explanation: The princely states saw the proposed federation as a direct threat to their absolute internal sovereignty and autocratic powers, and thus declined to join.
What power did the Governor-General hold over federal legislation?
- No real power
- Financial power only
- Advisory power only
- Veto power
Explanation: The Governor-General retained absolute veto power over bills passed by the federal legislature and could also unilaterally enact 'Governor-General's Acts'.
Which Round Table Conference's outcomes directly shaped the 1935 Act?
- Third Conference
- All three conferences
- First Conference
- Second Conference
Explanation: The 1935 Act was the complex legal culmination of extensive constitutional discussions held over all three Round Table Conferences (1930-1932) in London.
What percentage of the federal budget was non-votable by the legislature?
- Ten percent
- Eighty percent
- Zero percent
- Fifty percent
Explanation: A massive portion (roughly 80%) of the federal budget, including defense, debt servicing, and ecclesiastical expenditures, was categorized as 'non-votable' and immune from legislative control.
Who was the British Prime Minister when the Act passed?
- Clement Attlee
- Ramsay MacDonald
- Stanley Baldwin
- Winston Churchill
Explanation: Stanley Baldwin was the Conservative Prime Minister of the United Kingdom when the Government of India Act received Royal Assent in August 1935.