1. Consider the following statements about the Morley-Minto reforms of 19

Consider the following statements about the Morley-Minto reforms of 1909:

  • 1. They were named after the British Parliamentarians, Minto and Morley
  • 2. They provided for limited self-government by increasing the number of elected Indians in the Legislative Councils
  • 3. They contained provisions that ensured that British officials retained their majority in the Imperial Legislative Council

Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

1 only
2 and 3 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2016
The correct answer is C, as statements 1 and 3 are correct while statement 2 is incorrect.
– Statement 1: “They were named after the British Parliamentarians, Minto and Morley”. Lord Morley was the Secretary of State for India (a member of the House of Lords, thus a Parliamentarian). Lord Minto was the Viceroy of India. While Minto wasn’t a sitting Parliamentarian while Viceroy, the reforms are universally known as Morley-Minto Reforms, named after these two key figures responsible for them. In the context of such questions, the statement is likely considered correct, focusing on Morley’s role as a Parliamentarian and Minto as the Viceroy linked to the parliamentary process.
– Statement 2: “They provided for limited self-government by increasing the number of elected Indians in the Legislative Councils”. This is incorrect. The reforms explicitly aimed *not* at introducing self-government or a parliamentary system. Morley himself stated they had no intention of establishing a parliamentary system in India. They increased Indian representation but retained British control.
– Statement 3: “They contained provisions that ensured that British officials retained their majority in the Imperial Legislative Council”. This is correct. Although the number of elected and nominated non-official members was increased, an official majority was deliberately maintained in the Imperial Legislative Council to ensure the government could pass its legislation. In some provincial councils, a non-official majority (including elected and nominated non-officials) was allowed.
The Morley-Minto Reforms (Indian Councils Act 1909) aimed to appease moderate nationalists and avert further unrest after the Swadeshi movement. They introduced separate electorates for Muslims, which is often considered a significant step towards communal politics in India. The reforms increased Indian participation in legislative councils but retained ultimate British power and control.

2. The provision for separate electorate for Muslims was given in

The provision for separate electorate for Muslims was given in

Morley-Minto Reforms, 1909
Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms, 1919
Communal Award, 1932
Government of India Act, 1935
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-1 – 2022
The provision for separate electorate for Muslims was first introduced in the Morley-Minto Reforms of 1909.
– The Morley-Minto Reforms (Indian Councils Act 1909) introduced communal representation by providing separate electorates for Muslims.
– This meant that Muslim members would be elected by Muslim voters only in specific constituencies.
– The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms (Government of India Act 1919) extended separate electorates to Sikhs, Indian Christians, Anglo-Indians, and Europeans.
– The Communal Award of 1932, announced by Ramsay MacDonald, extended separate electorates to the Depressed Classes (later modified by the Poona Pact).
– The Government of India Act, 1935, further continued and extended the system of communal electorates.