Q. The system of ‘Dyarchy’ was first introduced by
(a) Montague-Chelmsford Reforms
(b) Minto-Morley Reforms
(c) Government of India Act, 1935
(d) None of the above
Ans: (a) Montague-Chelmsford Reforms
Explanation: The system of ‘Dyarchy’ was first introduced by (a) Montague-Chelmsford Reforms.
The Montague-Chelmsford Reforms, also known as the Government of India Act 1919, introduced the system of dyarchy in British India. The act was a significant constitutional reform that aimed to provide limited self-government and expand political participation in India.
Under the dyarchy system, certain subjects of governance were divided into two categories: reserved subjects and transferred subjects. The reserved subjects remained under the control of the British-appointed Governor and his executive council, while the transferred subjects were placed under the control of Indian ministers responsible to the legislative councils.
The transferred subjects included areas such as education, health, local government, public works, and agriculture. The idea behind dyarchy was to grant Indians a degree of responsibility and participation in the administration of these transferred subjects while retaining control over more crucial matters in the hands of the British government.
The system of dyarchy was an attempt to gradually introduce limited self-government and political reforms in India. However, it did not fully satisfy Indian nationalist aspirations for complete self-rule and faced criticism for being a form of “diarchy” or “double government” that perpetuated British control.
The Minto-Morley Reforms of 1909, on the other hand, introduced limited electoral representation for Indians but did not include the dyarchy system. The Government of India Act 1935, which was a more extensive constitutional reform, did not introduce dyarchy either. Therefore, the correct answer is the Montague-Chelmsford Reforms for the introduction of the dyarchy system in India.
