Which of the following statements are correct?
1. The Third Round Table Conference met in London in November 1932 without the participation of Congress.
2. The discussions in the Third Round Table Conference led to the passing of the Government of India Act, 1935.
3. The Government of India Act, 1935 did not favor the idea of provincial autonomy.
4. The Governor was not given any power in the Act of 1935 to take over and run the administration of a province.
Select the answer using the code given below:
Statement 2: The discussions in the Third Round Table Conference led to the passing of the Government of India Act, 1935. This is correct. The three Round Table Conferences, along with the recommendations of the Simon Commission (1930) and subsequent discussions including the White Paper of 1933, formed the basis for the drafting of the Government of India Bill, which was eventually passed as the Government of India Act, 1935.
Statement 3: The Government of India Act, 1935 did not favor the idea of provincial autonomy. This is incorrect. The Government of India Act, 1935 is a landmark act precisely because it introduced provincial autonomy, replacing the system of dyarchy in the provinces introduced by the 1919 Act. Provinces were granted considerable autonomy in their own sphere.
Statement 4: The Governor was not given any power in the Act of 1935 to take over and run the administration of a province. This is incorrect. Although provincial autonomy was granted, the Act of 1935 provided the provincial Governors with significant discretionary powers and ‘special responsibilities’. These powers allowed the Governor, under certain circumstances (e.g., failure of constitutional machinery), to act on their own judgment, even overriding the elected provincial government, and potentially take over the administration.
Therefore, only statements 1 and 2 are correct.