RAS question
The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms introduced the concept of:
Correct answer: (B) Dyarchy in provinces.
The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms introduced dyarchy in the provinces, dividing provincial administration between reserved and transferred subjects.
Explanation
The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms, later embodied in the Government of India Act, 1919, introduced dyarchy in the provinces. Under this arrangement, provincial subjects were split into two groups: reserved subjects and transferred subjects. Reserved subjects remained under British control through the Governor, while transferred subjects were administered through Indian ministers. That is why the answer is dyarchy in provinces. The reform did not create a federation or full responsible government; it only made a limited division of provincial power. IGNOU eGyanKosh, Unit 10: Constitutional Developments describes this as the most important change introduced by the 1919 reforms, with provincial powers divided into reserved and transferred halves.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Federation is wrong because federation belongs with the Government of India Act, 1935, not with the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms.
- (C) Complete responsible government is wrong because the 1919 reforms gave only partial responsibility through transferred subjects, while reserved subjects stayed under the Governor.
- (D) Separate electorates is wrong because separate electorates are linked to the 1909 reforms, not to the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms.
Concept
This tests constitutional reforms in modern Indian history, especially the staged British approach to limited provincial self-government. It recurs in RAS because the 1909, 1919 and 1935 reform Acts are often compared through their signature features.