UPSC Prelims 2012 · Question 83 of 98
UPSC Prelims 2012 question on Centre State Powers 1935 Act
- ExamUPSC CSE
- Year2012
- PaperGeneral Studies Paper I
- SubjectPolity
- TopicCentre-State Relations
- DifficultyEasy
- TypeDirect
The distribution of powers between the Centre and the States in the Indian Constitution is based on the scheme provided in the
Show answer
Answer: C. Government of India Act, 1935
Verdict
Correct Answer: Government of India Act, 1935
Analysis
The distribution of powers between the Centre and the States in the Indian Constitution is largely based on the Government of India Act, 1935.
This Act introduced a federal scheme with separate lists of subjects.
1. Morley-Minto Reforms, 1909 — Incorrect
The Morley-Minto Reforms mainly expanded legislative councils and introduced separate electorates for Muslims.
They did not provide a federal distribution of powers between the Centre and provinces.
2. Montagu-Chelmsford Act, 1919 — Incorrect
The 1919 Act introduced dyarchy at the provincial level.
It divided subjects into Central and Provincial categories, but it did not establish a proper federal distribution of powers like the present Constitution.
3. Government of India Act, 1935 — Correct
This Act provided for an All-India Federation and introduced a three-fold division of legislative powers.
It had Federal, Provincial and Concurrent Lists, which influenced the present Union, State and Concurrent Lists.
4. Indian Independence Act, 1947 — Incorrect
This Act mainly dealt with partition and transfer of power to India and Pakistan.
It did not create the scheme of distribution of powers between the Centre and States.
Extra UPSC info
* The Government of India Act, 1935 is the most important source of many features of the Indian Constitution.
* It introduced the idea of a federal structure, though the federation never fully came into operation.
* The present Constitution distributes subjects through the Seventh Schedule.
* Article 246 deals with the distribution of legislative powers between Union and States.
* Article 248 gives residuary powers to Parliament.
* Under the 1935 Act, residuary powers were with the Governor-General.
* The Indian Constitution gives a strong Centre, influenced partly by the Canadian model.
How to crack it
The present Centre-State distribution of powers in India is mainly derived from the Government of India Act, 1935.