Question 72 from UPSC CSE 2021 - Modern History

Question

Consider the following statements:
1. The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms of 1919 recommended granting voting rights to all women above the age of 21.
2. The Government of India Act of 1935 gave women reserved seats in the legislature.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. 2 only

Strategy: First, note that the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms (1919) only cautiously allowed some women to vote, subject to property or education criteria, not universal franchise for women over 21. This directly invalidates Statement 1. Next, recall that the Government of India Act, 1935, introduced several reserved seats, including for women, in legislative bodies - making Statement 2 factually correct. By eliminating the overbroad claim in Statement 1 and confirming the legislative provision in Statement 2, Option B stands out as the answer.

Key Info: ## Government of India Act, 1919

The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms, enacted through the Government of India Act, 1919, introduced limited franchise reforms in British India. For the first time, a small number of women, subject to criteria such as property holding, educational attainment, or status, were allowed to vote. However, universal adult suffrage - the right for all women above 21 to vote - was not granted; the electorate remained highly restricted.

## Government of India Act, 1935

The Government of India Act, 1935, was a landmark statute that expanded communal representation. This Act provided reserved seats for women in legislatures, alongside reserved seats for minorities, labour, and scheduled castes. Reserved seats meant that certain constituencies were specifically set aside for women candidates, and in many cases, only women electors could vote in such constituencies. These reforms aimed to increase the political participation of women but still operated within the framework of separate electorates and limited franchise. Universal adult suffrage in India was introduced much later, under the Constitution of India (1950).

Answer

Option A: 1 only

Answer

Option C: Both 1 and 2

Answer

Option D: Neither 1 nor 2

Consider the following statements: The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms of 1919 recommended granting voting rights to all women above the age of 21. The Government of India Act of 1935 gave women reserved seats in the legislature. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following statements:

The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms of 1919 recommended granting voting rights to all women above the age of 21.

The Government of India Act of 1935 gave women reserved seats in the legislature.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?