Question

Which of the following statements are true with reference to the Montague-Chelmsford Reforms?

• A. The reforms introduced federalism in the subcontinent, and were thus welcomed by nationalists.
• B. Indians were given no administrative power in the fields of law and order and land revenue.
• C. Indians were given control over minor departments like health and agriculture.
• D. Indians were given full administrative power over the irrigation department.

Answer 1

Answer: (B), (C)

The correct options are
B Indians were given no administrative power in the fields of law and order and land revenue.
C Indians were given control over minor departments like health and agriculture.

As per the Montague-Chelmsford reforms, the 'Reserved' subjects were irrigation, land revenue, law and order, etc. These would be under the Governor and the Executive Council. The 'Transferred' subjects included health and agriculture, which would be controlled by the Indian ministers who were responsible to the provincial legislature. Thus, the Act of 1919 introduced a system of dyarchy, albeit an assymetrical one, where Indian ministers were only given control over minor departments.