UPSC Prelims 2017 · Question 12 of 99
UPSC Prelims 2017 question on Dyarchy Principle
- ExamUPSC CSE
- Year2017
- PaperGeneral Studies Paper I
- SubjectModern History
- TopicConstitutional Development
- DifficultyMedium
- TypeDirect
In the context of Indian history, the principle of ‘Dyarchy (diarchy)’ refers to
Show answer
Answer: D. Division of the subjects delegated to the provinces into two categories.
Verdict
The answer is the division of the subjects delegated to the provinces into two categories.
Analysis
Dyarchy was introduced by the Government of India Act, 1919. Provincial subjects were divided into transferred subjects, administered by ministers responsible to the legislative council, and reserved subjects, administered by the Governor and his executive council without such responsibility. The word means rule by two, and the duality lies within provincial government, not between institutions. The bicameral legislature option, the central and state government option and the two capitals option all describe other dualities that the Act did not create in this sense.
Source
NCERT material on the Indian Constitution and administration.
How to crack it
Decode the word first, since di means two and archy means rule, so the answer must describe two authorities exercising rule over the same territory. Then locate where the Act placed that split, which was inside provincial administration. Keep the 1919 and 1935 Acts contrasted, because the 1935 Act abolished provincial dyarchy while introducing dyarchy at the centre, and UPSC has tested that reversal directly.