UPSC Static Quiz – Modern India : 7 September 2024

Solution: b)

Statement 1 is correct. The Indian National Congress, while strongly disagreeing with the Communal Award, decided neither to accept it nor to reject it. The Congress’s position was nuanced, reflecting its complex internal debates and the broader political landscape.

Statement 2 is incorrect. Gandhi did not believe that separate electorates for the depressed classes would help in abolishing untouchability. On the contrary, he argued that it would entrench the social divisions and perpetuate the marginalized status of the depressed classes, thus harming both Hinduism and the broader Indian society.

Statement 3 is correct. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar supported the Communal Award because it provided separate electorates for the depressed classes, which he believed was necessary to ensure their political representation and protect their rights in a dominantly upper-caste society.

Solution: c)

Statement 1 is incorrect. While the Government of India Act, 1935, did establish a Federal Court, it did not directly become the Supreme Court of India. The Federal Court continued to function until India gained independence, after which the Supreme Court of India was established in 1950.

Statement 2 is incorrect. The Act did not abolish separate electorates; in fact, it continued and even expanded separate electorates to include more groups, such as women and minorities.

Statement 3 is correct. The Government of India Act, 1935, significantly extended the franchise, increasing the percentage of the population eligible to vote from 3% to about 14%. This was an important step towards broader political participation, although the franchise was still limited by property, income, and educational qualifications.

Solution: c)

The 1937 provincial elections were a significant moment in India’s struggle for independence. The Indian National Congress emerged as the single largest party in several provinces, including Bengal, NWFP (North-West Frontier Province), Assam, and Bombay. However, it did not fare well in Punjab and Sindh, where other parties performed better.

Although the Congress won a majority in six provinces, it delayed the formation of ministries due to concerns about the governors’ special powers. This delay was a strategic move to demonstrate that the Congress was not eager to gain power but rather focused on ensuring genuine autonomy in governance.

Solution: b)

Statement 1 is incorrect. While the British government mentioned the possibility of setting up a “consultative committee,” this was a vague and conditional offer, not an immediate action. The committee was intended to be consulted only when the British government deemed it necessary, rather than being a genuine step towards Indian self-governance.

Statement 2 is correct. The Defence of India Rules were indeed promulgated by the British government to maintain control over India during the war. These rules were used to suppress any defiance against British authority and to ensure that Indian resources could be fully exploited for the war effort.

Solution: d)

The Rajagopalachari Formula included the condition that the terms would only become operative if Britain transferred full powers to India. This condition underscored the demand for complete independence as a prerequisite for implementing the proposed plebiscite and other provisions, thereby linking the resolution of the political deadlock to the broader objective of ending British rule in India.