FAQs on Historical Development of the Constitution of India (1919-1932)- 4

Question 1

1. What were the key differences between the 1919 Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms and earlier constitutional proposals for India?

Accepted Answer

Ans. The 1919 Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms introduced dyarchy-a system dividing provincial administration into reserved and transferred subjects-marking the first significant power-sharing attempt between British authorities and Indian leaders. Unlike previous proposals, these reforms expanded the legislative council and introduced separate electorates, fundamentally reshaping India's constitutional evolution during this transformative period.

Question 2

2. Why did Indian nationalists reject the 1920 Government of India Act despite its promised constitutional changes?

Accepted Answer

Ans. Indian nationalists viewed the 1920 Government of India Act as inadequate because dyarchy concentrated real power in the hands of British governors while reserving important subjects like finance and defence. The Act failed to grant dominion status or genuine self-governance, prompting leaders like Gandhi and Nehru to advocate for complete independence rather than partial constitutional concessions.

Question 3

3. How did the Simon Commission of 1927 impact the constitutional development of India?

Accepted Answer

Ans. The Simon Commission, comprising only British members with no Indian representation, proposed further constitutional reforms but intensified nationalist anger over this exclusion. Its recommendation for greater provincial autonomy while maintaining British control actually accelerated the independence movement, as Indian leaders recognised that constitutional progress required their active participation in shaping governance structures.

Question 4

4. What was the significance of the Nehru Report in India's constitutional journey between 1919 and 1932?

Accepted Answer

Ans. The 1928 Nehru Report represented Indian nationalists' comprehensive constitutional blueprint, demanding dominion status and outlining a federal structure with fundamental rights. This document became crucial in constitutional history as it demonstrated Indians could draft their own constitution independently, directly influencing the framework later adopted by the Constituent Assembly in 1950.

Question 5

5. How did the Communal Award of 1932 affect India's constitutional development and communal representation?

Accepted Answer

Ans. The 1932 Communal Award established separate electorates for minority communities, including scheduled castes, fragmenting Indian electoral unity and creating lasting communal divisions. This controversial measure, introduced through constitutional decree, intensified debates about minority rights and representation mechanisms that continued shaping India's constitutional framework through subsequent amendments and reforms.

00:00	Introduction
00:52	Government of India Act 1919
13:13	Simon Commission
15:04	Nehru’s report after the Lord Birkenhead Challenge & Jinnah’s Fourteen Points
18:56	Civil Disobedience movement & Round Table Conferences
21:19	Government of India act in 1935
21:48	Test Yourself
More

00:00	Introduction
00:52	Government of India Act 1919
13:13	Simon Commission
15:04	Nehru’s report after the Lord Birkenhead Challenge & Jinnah’s Fourteen Points
18:56	Civil Disobedience movement & Round Table Conferences
21:19	Government of India act in 1935
21:48	Test Yourself
More

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