Government of India Act 1935 — MCQs

All questions with answers and explanations

Read the full set here, or use the practice card above to test yourself one question at a time.

1. The sequence of events leading to the Government of India Act, 1935 was:

   • Round Table Conferences → Simon Commission → White Paper
   • Simon Commission Report (1930) → Round Table Conferences (1930–32) → White Paper (1933) (correct answer)
   • White Paper → Cabinet Mission → Simon Commission
   • Cripps Mission → Simon Commission → Round Table Conferences

   Explanation. Simon Commission Report (1930) → Round Table Conferences (1930–32) → White Paper (1933) → Government of India Act, 1935.

2. The All-India Federation proposed by the Government of India Act, 1935:

   • Came into force immediately in 1935
   • Never actually came into force, because too few princely states acceded (correct answer)
   • Was abolished by the Simon Commission
   • Only applied to the princely states, not British India

   Explanation. The Act planned a Federation of the provinces and the Indian States that acceded (section 5). Too few States acceded, so the federal part never came into force.

3. Under the Government of India Act, 1935, dyarchy was:

   • Abolished everywhere, with no replacement
   • Abolished in the provinces (replaced by provincial autonomy) and planned for the Centre, where it never began (correct answer)
   • Introduced for the first time, in the provinces
   • Extended to the judiciary

   Explanation. Provincial autonomy replaced dyarchy in the provinces. The Act also planned dyarchy at the Centre, but since the federation never began, that plan was never put into operation.

4. Under the Government of India Act, 1935, which subjects remained with the Governor-General rather than going to responsible ministers?

   • Education and health
   • Defence and foreign affairs, among others (correct answer)
   • Agriculture and local self-government
   • Public health and sanitation

   Explanation. Under the planned dyarchy at the Centre, defence, foreign affairs and some other subjects were to remain with the Governor-General, and the rest was to pass to Ministers. The plan was never put into operation.

5. The three-list division of legislative powers (Federal, Provincial, Concurrent) introduced by the 1935 Act is the direct ancestor of:

   • Article 368's amendment procedure
   • The Union List, State List, and Concurrent List in the Seventh Schedule (correct answer)
   • The Fundamental Rights chapter
   • The Directive Principles of State Policy

   Explanation. This is the first time an Indian statute used a three-list division, directly modelling the present Seventh Schedule.

6. The Federal Court established by the Government of India Act, 1935 (1937) is the direct institutional predecessor of:

   • The Privy Council
   • The Supreme Court of India (correct answer)
   • The High Courts
   • The Election Commission

   Explanation. The Federal Court, set up in 1937, decided disputes and heard appeals. It was the earlier form of the Supreme Court.

7. Between August 1947 and 26 January 1950, India's working constitutional document was:

   • The Constitution of India as finally adopted
   • The Government of India Act, 1935, as adapted by the Indian Independence Act, 1947 (correct answer)
   • The Cabinet Mission Plan
   • There was no working constitutional document during this period

   Explanation. The Governor-General served as constitutional head under this adapted 1935 Act framework throughout the transitional period.

8. Which institution, established under the 1935 Act, is the direct ancestor of the Union Public Service Commission?

   • The Federal Public Service Commission (correct answer)
   • The Reserve Bank of India
   • The Federal Court
   • The Council of State

   Explanation. The Act provided for a Federal Public Service Commission and Provincial Public Service Commissions, ancestors of the UPSC and State PSCs.