Chapter 1 Historical Background

1. When did the Britishers first arrive in India and in what form?

2. What exclusive right did the East India Company possess in India?

3. When did the East India Company obtain ‘diwani’ rights and for which regions?

4. When did the British Crown assume direct responsibility for the governance of India?

5. Until when did the British Crown rule in India?

6. When was the Constituent Assembly formed and when did the Constitution come into being?

7. What are the two major headings under which the events of British rule influencing the Indian Constitution are explained?

8. What was the constitutional importance of the Regulating Act of 1773?

9. What was the designation of the Governor of Bengal changed to by the Regulating Act of 1773, and who was the first holder of this new designation?

10. How did the Regulating Act of 1773 change the subordination of presidencies?

11. What judicial body was established by the Regulating Act of 1773 and in which year?

12. What activities were prohibited for the servants of the Company by the Regulating Act of 1773?

13. How did the Regulating Act of 1773 strengthen British Government control over the Company?

14. What was the Amending Act of 1781 also known as, and what was its purpose?

15. What exemptions were granted by the Amending Act of 1781 regarding the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction?

16. What matters were excluded from the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction by the Amending Act of 1781?

17. How did the Amending Act of 1781 address the personal law of defendants in Calcutta?

18. Where could appeals from Provincial Courts be taken according to the Amending Act of 1781?

19. What power was given to the Governor-General-in-Council by the Amending Act of 1781?

20. What was the next important act after the Amending Act of 1781, and what was it also known as?

21. What key distinction was made by Pitt’s India Act of 1784?

22. What new body was created by Pitt’s India Act of 1784 to manage political affairs, and what system did this establish?

23. What powers were given to the Board of Control by Pitt’s India Act of 1784?

24. What were the two significant reasons for the importance of Pitt’s India Act of 1784?

25. Who was appointed Governor-General of Bengal in 1786, and what were his two demands?

26. What was the purpose of the Act of 1786?

27. What were the key features of the Charter Act of 1793?

28. What was the final step towards centralisation in British India?

29. What change did the Charter Act of 1833 make to the designation of the Governor-General of Bengal?

30. Who was the first Governor-General of India?

31. How did the Charter Act of 1833 affect the legislative powers of the Governors of Bombay and Madras?

32. What was the distinction between laws made under previous acts and laws made under the Charter Act of 1833?

33. How did the Charter Act of 1833 change the nature of the East India Company?

34. What provision did the Charter Act of 1833 attempt to introduce regarding civil servants?

35. What was the last of the series of Charter Acts passed by the British Parliament?

36. What significant constitutional landmark was the Charter Act of 1853?

37. What functions were separated for the first time by the Charter Act of 1853?

38. What new body was established by the Charter Act of 1853 for legislative purposes?

39. What system did the Charter Act of 1853 introduce for the selection and recruitment of civil servants?

40. Which committee was appointed in 1854 to implement the open competition system for civil services?

41. How did the Charter Act of 1853 indicate the potential termination of Company rule?

42. What new representation was introduced in the Indian (Central) Legislative Council by the Charter Act of 1853?

43. What was the Government of India Act of 1858 also known as, and what was its purpose?

44. What major historical event led to the enactment of the Government of India Act of 1858?

45. What change in designation was made for the Governor-General of India by the Government of India Act of 1858, and who was the first holder of this new designation?

46. What system of government was ended by the Government of India Act of 1858?

47. What new office was created by the Government of India Act of 1858 to manage Indian administration?

48. What advisory body was established to assist the Secretary of State for India?

49. What was the Secretary of State-in-Council constituted as by the Government of India Act of 1858?

50. What was the primary policy pursued by the British Government after the Revolt of 1857?

51. What were the three Indian Councils Acts enacted by the British Parliament in pursuance of the policy of association?

52. Why is the Indian Councils Act of 1861 considered an important landmark?

53. What was the first step towards representative institutions made by the Indian Councils Act of 1861?

54. Who were the three Indians nominated to the legislative council by Lord Canning in 1862?

55. How did the Indian Councils Act of 1861 initiate the process of decentralisation?

56. What was the result of legislative devolution initiated by the Indian Councils Act of 1861?

57. What new legislative councils were established by the Indian Councils Act of 1861?

58. What system was recognised by the Indian Councils Act of 1861 and introduced by Lord Canning in 1859?

59. What power was given to the Viceroy by the Indian Councils Act of 1861 regarding ordinances?

60. What changes did the Indian Councils Act of 1892 make to the legislative councils?

61. What additional powers were given to the legislative councils by the Indian Councils Act of 1892?

62. How did the Indian Councils Act of 1892 provide for the nomination of non-official members?

63. What was the Indian Councils Act of 1909 also known as?

64. Who were Lord Morley and Lord Minto in relation to the Morley-Minto Reforms?

65. How did the Indian Councils Act of 1909 affect the size of legislative councils?

66. What was the majority composition in the Central and Provincial legislative councils after the Indian Councils Act of 1909?

67. What deliberative functions were enlarged by the Indian Councils Act of 1909?

68. What significant provision was made for the first time by the Indian Councils Act of 1909 regarding Indians in executive councils?

69. Who was the first Indian to join the Viceroy’s Executive Council, and what was his appointment?

70. What system of representation was introduced by the Indian Councils Act of 1909 for Muslims?

71. What was Lord Minto known as due to the introduction of communal electorate?

72. What other groups were provided with separate representation by the Indian Councils Act of 1909?

73. When did the British Government declare its objective of gradual introduction of responsible Government in India?

74. What was the Government of India Act of 1919 also known as?

75. Who were Montagu and Lord Chelmsford in relation to the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms?

76. How did the Government of India Act of 1919 classify subjects of administration?

77. How did the Government of India Act of 1919 divide provincial subjects?

78. What was the dual scheme of governance introduced by the Government of India Act of 1919 known as?

79. What electoral and legislative changes were introduced for the first time by the Government of India Act of 1919?

80. What was the composition of the bicameral legislature under the Government of India Act of 1919?

81. What was the requirement for Indian members in the Viceroy’s Executive Council under the Government of India Act of 1919?

82. What new categories were granted separate electorates by the Government of India Act of 1919?

83. What was the basis for franchise granted by the Government of India Act of 1919?

84. What new office was created in London by the Government of India Act of 1919?

85. What commission was provided for by the Government of India Act of 1919 to inquire into its working?

86. What chamber was proposed to be established by the Government of India Act of 1919?

87. When was the Simon Commission appointed, and what was its purpose?

88. Why did all parties boycott the Simon Commission?

89. What were the recommendations of the Simon Commission in its 1930 report?

90. What was the ‘White Paper on Constitutional Reforms’ based on?

91. What was the Communal Award, and when was it announced?

92. To whom did the Communal Award extend separate electorates?

93. Why did Gandhiji undertake a fast unto death in Yerawada Jail?

94. What was the Poona Pact, and what did it achieve?

95. What was the basis for the composition of central and provincial legislatures under the Government of India Act of 1935?

96. What was the Government of India Act of 1935 considered a milestone for?

97. What was the structure of the All-India Federation proposed by the Government of India Act of 1935?

98. How did the Government of India Act of 1935 divide powers between the Centre and units?

99. What happened to the residuary powers under the Government of India Act of 1935?

100. Why did the All-India Federation proposed by the Government of India Act of 1935 never come into being?

101. What change did the Government of India Act of 1935 introduce in the provinces?

102. When did responsible Governments come into effect in provinces under the Government of India Act of 1935, and when were they discontinued?

103. What did the Government of India Act of 1935 provide for at the Centre?

104. How many provinces introduced bicameralism under the Government of India Act of 1935?

105. What reservations did the Government of India Act of 1935 include for depressed classes, women, and labour?

106. What body was abolished by the Government of India Act of 1935?

107. How did the Government of India Act of 1935 affect franchise?

108. What financial institution was provided for by the Government of India Act of 1935?

109. What public service commissions were provided for by the Government of India Act of 1935?

110. What court was established in 1937 as per the Government of India Act of 1935?

111. What territorial changes were made by the Government of India Act of 1935 regarding Burma and new provinces?

112. What authority was provided for by the Government of India Act of 1935 to administer railways?

113. What office was provided for by the Government of India Act of 1935 to audit accounts?

114. When did the British Prime Minister Clement Atlee declare the end of British rule in India?

115. When was the Mountbatten Plan put forth, and what did it propose?

116. When did the Indian Independence Act of 1947 come into force?

117. What major change did the Indian Independence Act of 1947 make to British rule in India?

118. What did the Indian Independence Act of 1947 provide for regarding the partition of India?

119. What office was abolished by the Indian Independence Act of 1947, and what was provided in its place?

120. What powers were given to the Constituent Assemblies of the two dominions by the Indian Independence Act of 1947?

121. How did the Indian Independence Act of 1947 affect the British Monarch’s right to veto bills?

122. What was the status of the Governor-General of India and provincial governors after the Indian Independence Act of 1947?

123. What title was dropped from the royal titles of the King of England by the Indian Independence Act of 1947?

124. What changes were made to civil services by the Indian Independence Act of 1947?

125. Who became the first Governor-General of the new Dominion of India?

126. Who was sworn in as the first Prime Minister of independent India?

127. What body became the Parliament of the Indian Dominion after independence?

128. Who held the portfolio of Vice-President of the Council, External Affairs and Commonwealth Relations in the Interim Government (1946)?

129. Who held the portfolio of Home, Information and Broadcasting in the Interim Government (1946)?

130. Who held the portfolio of Food and Agriculture in the Interim Government (1946)?

131. Who held the portfolio of Industries and Supplies in the Interim Government (1946)?

132. Who held the portfolio of Labour in the Interim Government (1946)?

133. Who held the portfolio of Defence in the Interim Government (1946)?

134. Who held the portfolio of Works, Mines and Power in the Interim Government (1946)?

135. Who held the portfolio of Finance in the Interim Government (1946)?

136. Who held the portfolio of Posts and Air in the Interim Government (1946)?

137. Who held the portfolio of Railways and Transport in the Interim Government (1946)?

138. Who held the portfolio of Education and Arts in the Interim Government (1946)?

139. Who held the portfolio of Commerce in the Interim Government (1946)?

140. Who held the portfolio of Health in the Interim Government (1946)?

141. Who held the portfolio of Law in the Interim Government (1946)?

142. Who was designated as the Vice-President of the Viceroy’s Executive Council in the Interim Government (1946)?

143. Who became the Prime Minister in the First Cabinet of Independent India (1947)?

144. What portfolios did Jawaharlal Nehru hold in the First Cabinet of Independent India (1947)?

145. What portfolios did Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel hold in the First Cabinet of Independent India (1947)?

146. What portfolio did Dr. Rajendra Prasad hold in the First Cabinet of Independent India (1947)?

147. What portfolio did Maulana Abul Kalam Azad hold in the First Cabinet of Independent India (1947)?

148. What portfolio did Dr. John Mathai hold in the First Cabinet of Independent India (1947)?

149. What portfolio did R.K. Shanmugham Chetty hold in the First Cabinet of Independent India (1947)?

150. What portfolio did Dr. B.R. Ambedkar hold in the First Cabinet of Independent India (1947)?

151. What portfolio did Jagjivan Ram hold in the First Cabinet of Independent India (1947)?

152. What portfolio did Sardar Baldev Singh hold in the First Cabinet of Independent India (1947)?

153. What portfolio did Raj Kumari Amrit Kaur hold in the First Cabinet of Independent India (1947)?

154. What portfolio did C.H. Bhabha hold in the First Cabinet of Independent India (1947)?

155. What portfolio did Rafi Ahmed Kidwai hold in the First Cabinet of Independent India (1947)?

156. What portfolio did Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee hold in the First Cabinet of Independent India (1947)?

157. What portfolio did V.N. Gadgil hold in the First Cabinet of Independent India (1947)?

158. What was the ‘Diwani’ granted to the Company after the Battle of Buxar?

159. Who introduced the Pitt’s India Act in the British Parliament?

160. How were the Civil Services of the Company classified at that time?

161. What was the system of Budget introduced in British India?

162. What was the policy of His Majesty’s Government regarding the association of Indians in administration?

163. On whose recommendation was the Central Public Service Commission set up in 1926?

164. When was the Indian Independence Bill introduced in the British Parliament and when did it receive Royal Assent?

165. How were the boundaries between the two Dominions determined?