Historical Background of the Indian Constitution

Welcome, aspirants! If you are preparing for UPSC, State PCS, SSC, or Railway exams, understanding the Historical Background of the Indian Constitution (Samvidhan ki Aitihasik Prishthbhumi) is your first step to mastering Indian Polity.

The Indian Constitution was not created in a single day. Its roots lie deep in the laws passed by the British Parliament to govern India. Understanding these historical Acts will help you easily grasp how our current government system works.

Let us break down this complex topic into simple, easy-to-remember parts.

Click Here to Start Your Test (Historical Background of the Indian Constitution )

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1: The idea of forming the Constituent Assembly of India was first given by whom?

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2: In which year did the idea of a Constituent Assembly first arise in India?

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3: When did the Indian National Congress for the first time officially demand the formation of a Constituent Assembly for framing the Constitution of India?

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4: When did Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, on behalf of the Indian National Congress, declare that the Constitution of independent India will be framed by a Constituent Assembly elected on the basis of adult franchise?

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5: Consider the features of the proposals suggested under the Cabinet Mission Plan.
1. Seats were to be allocated to each province and princely state in proportion to their population.
2. Roughly one seat was to be allocated for every one million (ten lakh) people. Which of the above statement(s) is/are incorrect?

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6: What was the total proposed membership of the Constituent Assembly under the Cabinet Mission Plan?

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7: How many members were fixed for British India in the Constituent Assembly formed under the Cabinet Mission Plan?

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8: How many seats were to be allocated to the Princely States in the Constituent Assembly formed under the Cabinet Mission Plan?

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9: Out of the 296 seats allocated to British India under the Cabinet Mission Plan, how many members were to be drawn from the Governor's provinces?

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10: How many members were to be drawn from the Chief Commissioners' provinces in the Constituent Assembly formed under the Cabinet Mission Plan?

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11: Under the Cabinet Mission Plan, when was the Constituent Assembly formed?

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12: How were the members from the Princely States to be selected in the Constituent Assembly proposed by the Cabinet Mission Plan?

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13: When were the elections for the Constituent Assembly held?

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14: Out of the 296 seats allocated to British India, how many seats did the Indian National Congress win in the Constituent Assembly elections held in July-August 1946?

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15: Out of the 296 seats allocated to British India, how many seats did the Muslim League win in the Constituent Assembly elections held in July-August 1946?

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16: Consider the following statements:
1. The election to the Constituent Assembly was held directly by the adult voters of India.
2. All communities got representation in it except women.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?

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17: When was the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly held?

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18: How many members participated in the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly?

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19: Who presided over the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly?

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20: Following the practice of which country was the senior-most member, Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha, elected as the temporary President of the Constituent Assembly?

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21: Who was made the permanent President of the Constituent Assembly?**

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22: Who was elected as the Vice-President of the Constituent Assembly?**

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23: What was the number of Vice-Presidents in the Constituent Assembly?**

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24: When was the Objective Resolution introduced in the Constituent Assembly?**

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25: By whom was the Objective Resolution introduced in the Constituent Assembly?**

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26: When was the Preamble (Objective Resolution) accepted by the Constituent Assembly?**

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27: When was the Constitution adopted by the Constituent Assembly?**

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28: When was India's membership of the Commonwealth verified by the Constituent Assembly?**

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29: When was the National Flag adopted by the Constituent Assembly?**

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30: When was the National Anthem adopted by the Constituent Assembly?**

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31: When was the National Song adopted by the Constituent Assembly?

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32: When was Dr. Rajendra Prasad elected as the President of India?

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33: How much time did it take to frame the Constitution in total?

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34: For how many days did the Constituent Assembly deliberate on the draft of the Constitution?

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35: What was the total expenditure incurred on making the Constitution?

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36: When was the final meeting of the Constituent Assembly held?

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37: Who was the Chairman of the Union Powers Committee formed for framing the Constitution?

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38: Who was the Chairman of the Union Constitution Committee?

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39: Who was the Chairman of the Provincial Constitution Committee?

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40: Who was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constitution?

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41: Who was the chairman of the committee constituted for Fundamental Rights for framing the Constitution?

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42: Who was the chairman of the Advisory Committee constituted for minorities in the Constituent Assembly?

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43: Who was the chairman of the Advisory Committee constituted for tribes and excluded areas in the Constituent Assembly?

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44: Who was the chairman of the Fundamental Rights Sub-Committee constituted for framing the Constitution?

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45: Who was the chairman of the Minorities Sub-Committee constituted in the Constituent Assembly?

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46: Who was the chairman of the Sub-Committee constituted for the Excluded and Partially Excluded Areas (Other than those in Assam)?

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47: Who was the chairman of the Steering/Rules of Procedure Committee?

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48: Who was the chairman of the States Committee or the Committee for Negotiating with States in the Constituent Assembly?

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49: Under whose chairmanship was a committee constituted to consider issues related to finance and staff in the Constituent Assembly?

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50: Who was the chairman of the Credentials Committee in the Constituent Assembly?

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51: Dr. K. M. Munshi was associated with which committee?

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52: Who was the chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee on the National Flag formed for framing the Constitution?

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53: Who was elected as the chairman of the 'House Committee'?

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54: Which of the following persons were chairpersons of committees formed for framing the Constitution but were NOT members of the Constituent Assembly?

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55: Who was the chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee on the Supreme Court in the Constituent Assembly?

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56: Who was the chairman of the Committee on the Functions of the Constituent Assembly?

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57: Who was the chairman of the Committee on Chief Commissioners' Provinces in the Constituent Assembly?

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58: Who was the chairman of the Expert Committee on the Financial Provisions of the Union Constitution?

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59: Who was the chairman of the Linguistic Provinces Commission in the Constituent Assembly?

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60: Who was the chairman of the Special Committee to Examine the Draft Constitution?

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61: When was the Drafting Committee (เคชเฅเคฐเคพเคฐเฅ‚เคช เคธเคฎเคฟเคคเคฟ) constituted by the Constituent Assembly?

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62: How many members were there in the Drafting Committee, including the Chairman?

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63: Who among the following was NOT a member of the Drafting Committee?

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64: Who replaced B. L. Mitter in the Drafting Committee after he resigned due to ill health?

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65: Who replaced D. P. Khaitan in the Drafting Committee after his death in 1948?

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66: When did the Drafting Committee publish the first draft of the Constitution of India?

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67: How much time was given to the people of India to discuss the first draft and propose amendments?

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68: When did Dr. B. R. Ambedkar introduce the final draft of the Constitution in the Assembly (first reading)?

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69: When did the second reading (clause-by-clause consideration) of the Constitution start?

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70: How many amendments were proposed in total during the consideration of the draft Constitution?

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71: How many meetings did the Drafting Committee hold?

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72: When did Dr. B. R. Ambedkar introduce the final draft of the Constitution in the Constituent Assembly?

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73: When was the Constitution read for the first time in the Constituent Assembly?

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74: From when to when did the first general discussion on the Constitution take place in the Constituent Assembly?

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75: Who moved the motion 'The Constitution as settled by the Assembly be passed' in the Constituent Assembly?

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76: A total of how many members signed the Indian Constitution?

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77: How many articles were there in the original Constitution?

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78: How many schedules were there in the original Constitution?

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79: Why was the Constitution implemented on 26 January 1950?

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80: How many members were there in the Expert Committee appointed by the Congress Party to prepare materials for the Constituent Assembly?

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81: Which of the following was adopted as the symbol (seal) of the Constituent Assembly?

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82: Who was appointed as the Constitutional Advisor (Legal Advisor) to the Constituent Assembly?

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83: Who was the Secretary of the Constituent Assembly?

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84: Who was the Chief Draftsman of the Constitution in the Constituent Assembly?

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85: Who was the calligrapher of the original Indian Constitution (who handwritten it in a flowing italic style)?

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86: The original version of the Constitution was beautified and decorated by artists from Shantiniketan, including:

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87: Who illuminated and elegantly decorated the Preamble of the original Constitution?

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88: Who did the calligraphy for the Hindi version of the original Constitution?

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89: Who elegantly decorated the Hindi version of the original Constitution?

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ย 90: How many sessions were held by the Constituent Assembly to frame the Constitution?

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91: After the partition of India, the total membership of the Constituent Assembly was reduced to how much?

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92: Out of the 299 members in the post-partition Constituent Assembly, what was the representation of the Indian Provinces and Princely States respectively?

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93: How many total women members were there in the Constituent Assembly of India?

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94: Who was the only Muslim woman member of the Indian Constituent Assembly?

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95: Which of the following constitutional provisions came into force immediately on 26 November 1949?

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96: From which date did the Constituent Assembly cease to exist as a constitution-making body and act solely as the Provisional Parliament of India?

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97: The concept of 'Directive Principles of State Policy' in the Indian Constitution was adopted from the constitution of which country?

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98: The provision of 'Fundamental Rights' in the Indian Constitution was inspired by the constitution of:

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99: The concept of the 'Concurrent List' in the Indian Constitution was borrowed from which country?

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100: The idea of the suspension of Fundamental Rights during a National Emergency was taken from the constitution of which country?

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101. เคธเค‚เคตเคฟเคงเคพเคจ เคธเคญเคพ เคฎเฅ‡เค‚ เคชเคพเคฐเคธเฅ€ เคธเคฆเคธเฅเคฏเฅ‹เค‚ เค•เฅ€ เคธเค‚เค–เฅเคฏเคพ เค•เคฟเคคเคจเฅ€ เคฅเฅ€

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102. เคธเค‚เคตเคฟเคงเคพเคจ เคธเคญเคพ เคฎเฅ‡เค‚ เคฎเคฆเฅเคฐเคพเคธ เคฐเคพเคœเฅเคฏ เคธเฅ‡ เค•เคฟเคคเคจเฅ‡ เคธเคฆเคธเฅเคฏ เคถเคพเคฎเคฟเคฒ เคนเฅเค เคฅเฅ‡ ?

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103. เคธเค‚เคตเคฟเคงเคพเคจ เคธเคญเคพ เคฎเฅ‡เค‚ เคฌเฅ‰เคฎเฅเคฌเฅ‡ เคชเฅเคฐเคพเค‚เคค เคธเฅ‡ เค•เคฟเคคเคจเฅ‡ เคธเคฆเคธเฅเคฏ เคถเคพเคฎเคฟเคฒ เคนเฅเค เคฅเฅ‡ ?

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104. เคธเค‚เคตเคฟเคงเคพเคจ เคธเคญเคพ เคฎเฅ‡เค‚ เคชเคถเฅเคšเคฟเคฎ เคฌเค‚เค—เคพเคฒ เคฐเคพเคœเฅเคฏ เคธเฅ‡ เคธเคฆเคธเฅเคฏ เคถเคพเคฎเคฟเคฒ เคนเฅเค เคฅเฅ‡เค‚-

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105.เคธเค‚เคตเคฟเคงเคพเคจ เคธเคญเคพ เคฎเฅ‡เค‚ เคชเฅ‚เคฐเฅเคตเฅ€ เคชเค‚เคœเคพเคฌ เคธเฅ‡ เคธเคฆเคธเฅเคฏเฅ‹เค‚ เค•เฅ€ เคธเค‚เค–เฅเคฏเคพ เค•เคฟเคคเคจเฅ€ เคฅเฅ€ ?

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106. เคธเค‚เคตเคฟเคงเคพเคจ เคธเคญเคพ เคฎเฅ‡เค‚ เคฌเคฟเคนเคพเคฐ เคชเฅเคฐเคพเค‚เคค เคธเฅ‡ เค•เคฟเคคเคจเฅ‡ เคธเคฆเคธเฅเคฏ เคจเฅ‡ เคญเคพเค—
เคฒเคฟเคฏเคพ เคฅเคพ ?

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107. เคธเค‚เคตเคฟเคงเคพเคจ เคธเคญเคพ เคฎเฅ‡เค‚ เคธเค‚เคฏเฅเค•เฅเคค เคชเฅเคฐเคพเค‚เคค เคธเฅ‡ เค•เฅเคฒ เค•เคฟเคคเคจเฅ‡ เคธเคฆเคธเฅเคฏเฅ‹เค‚ เคจเฅ‡ เคญเคพเค— เคฒเคฟเคฏเคพ เคฅเคพ ?

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108.ย  เคธเค‚เคตเคฟเคงเคพเคจ เคธเคญเคพ เคฎเฅ‡เค‚ เคฎเคงเฅเคฏ เคชเฅเคฐเคพเค‚เคค เคเคตเค‚ เคฌเคฐเคพเคฐ เคธเฅ‡ เค•เฅเคฒ เค•เคฟเคคเคจเฅ‡ เคธเคฆเคธเฅเคฏเฅ‹เค‚ เคจเฅ‡ เคญเคพเค— เคฒเคฟเคฏเคพ เคฅเคพ ?

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109. เคธเค‚เคตเคฟเคงเคพเคจ เคธเคญเคพ เคฎเฅ‡เค‚ เค…เคธเคฎ เคชเฅเคฐเคพเค‚เคค เคธเฅ‡ เค•เคฟเคคเคจเฅ‡ เคธเคฆเคธเฅเคฏเฅ‹เค‚ เคจเฅ‡ เคญเคพเค— เคฒเคฟเคฏเคพ เคฅเคพ ?

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110. เคธเค‚เคตเคฟเคงเคพเคจ เคธเคญเคพ เคฎเฅ‡เค‚ เค‰เคกเคผเฅ€เคธเคพ เคชเฅเคฐเคพเค‚เคค เคธเฅ‡ เค•เฅเคฒ เค•เคฟเคคเคจเฅ‡ เคธเคฆเคธเฅเคฏเฅ‹เค‚ เคจเฅ‡ เคญเคพเค— เคฒเคฟเคฏเคพ เคฅเคพ ?

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111. เคธเค‚เคตเคฟเคงเคพเคจ เคธเคญเคพ เคฎเฅ‡เค‚ เคจเคฟเคฎเฅเคจเคฒเคฟเค–เคฟเคค เคฎเฅ‡เค‚ เคธเฅ‡ เค•เคฟเคจ เคฐเคพเคœเฅเคฏเฅ‹เค‚ เคธเฅ‡ เคธเคฆเคธเฅเคฏเฅ‹เค‚ เค•เฅ€ เคธเค‚เค–เฅเคฏเคพ เค•เฅ‡เคตเคฒ 1 เคฅเฅ€ ?

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112. เคธเค‚เคตเคฟเคงเคพเคจ เคธเคญเคพ เคฎเฅ‡เค‚ เคจเคฟเคฎเฅเคจเคฒเคฟเค–เคฟเคค เคฎเฅ‡เค‚ เคธเฅ‡ เค•เคฟเคจ เคฆเฅ‡เคถเฅ€ เคฐเคฟเคฏเคพเคธเคคเฅ‹เค‚ เคธเฅ‡ เคธเคฆเคธเฅเคฏเฅ‹เค‚ เค•เฅ€ เคธเค‚เค–เฅเคฏเคพ เคธเคฐเฅเคตเคงเคฟเค• เคฅเฅ€ ?

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113. เคธเค‚เคตเคฟเคงเคพเคจ เคธเคญเคพ เค•เคพ เคชเคนเคฒเคพ เคธเคคเฅเคฐ เค•เคฌ เคธเฅ‡ เค•เคฌ เคคเค• เคšเคฒเคพ ?

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114. เคธเค‚เคตเคฟเคงเคพเคจ เคธเคญเคพ เค•เคพ เค•เฅŒเคจ-เคธเคพ เคธเคคเฅเคฐ เค•เฅ‡เคตเคฒ เคเค• เคฆเคฟเคจ เค•เคพ เคฅเคพ ?

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115. เคธเค‚เคตเคฟเคงเคพเคจ เคธเคญเคพ เค•เคพ เค›เค เคพ เคธเคคเฅเคฐ เค•เคฌ เค‰เค• เคฆเคฟเคจ เค•เฅ‡ เคฒเคฟเค เคฌเฅเคฒเคพเคฏเคพ เค—เคฏเคพ ?

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116. เคธเค‚เคตเคฟเคงเคพเคจ เคธเคญเคพ เค•เคพ เคธเคฌเคธเฅ‡ เคฒเค‚เคฌเคพ เคธเคคเฅเคฐ เค•เฅŒเคจ-เคธเคพ เคšเคฒเคพ เคฅเคพ ?

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117. เคธเค‚เคตเคฟเคงเคพเคจ เคธเคญเคพ เค•เฅ€ เค…เค‚เคคเคฟเคฎ เคธเคคเฅเคฐ เค…เคฐเฅเคฅเคพเคค เค—เฅเคฏเคพเคฐเคนเคตเคพเค‚ เคธเคคเฅเคฐ เคœเฅ€.เค เค•เฅ€ เค…เคตเคงเคฟ เค•เฅเคฏเคพ เคฅเฅ€ ?

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118. เคธเค‚เคตเคฟเคงเคพเคจ เคธเคญเคพ เค•เคพ เค•เคฟเคธ เคธเคคเฅเคฐ เค•เฅ€ เค•เคพเคฐเฅเคฏ เค…เคตเคงเคฟ 20-25 เคœเคจเคตเคฐเฅ€ 1947 เคฅเฅ€ ?

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119. เคธเค‚เคตเคฟเคงเคพเคจ เคธเคญเคพ เค•เฅ€ เคคเฅ€เคธเคฐเคพ เคธเคคเฅเคฐ เค•เฅ€ เค•เคพเคฐเฅเคฏ เค…เคตเคงเคฟ เค•เฅเคฏเคพ เคฅเฅ€ ?

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120. เคธเค‚เคตเคฟเคงเคพเคจ เคธเคญเคพ เค•เฅ€ เคšเฅŒเคฅเคพ เคธเคคเฅเคฐ เค•เคพ เค•เคพเคฐเฅเคฏ เค…เคตเคงเคฟ เค•เฅเคฏเคพ เคนเฅˆ

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121. เคธเค‚เคตเคฟเคงเคพเคจ เคธเคญเคพ เค•เฅ€ เคชเคพเค‚เคšเคตเคพ เคธเคคเฅเคฐ เค•เฅ€ เค•เคพเคฐเฅเคฏ เค…เคตเคงเคฟ เค•เฅเคฏเคพ เคฅเฅ€ ?

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122. เคธเค‚เคตเคฟเคงเคพเคจ เคธเคญเคพ เค•เฅ€ เค•เคฟเคธ เคธเคคเฅเคฐ เค•เคพ เค•เคพเคฐเฅเคฏเค•เคพเคฒ 4 เคจเคตเค‚เคฌเคฐ 1948 เคธเฅ‡ 8 เคœเคจเคตเคฐเฅ€ 1949 เคคเค• เคฅเคพ ?

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123.เคธเค‚เคตเคฟเคงเคพเคจ เคธเคญเคพ เค•เฅ€ เค•เคฟเคธ เคธเคคเฅเคฐ เค•เคพเคฐเฅเคฏเค•เคพเคฒ 16 เคฎเคˆ เคธเฅ‡ 16 เคœเฅ‚เคจ 1949 เคคเค• เคฅเคพ ?

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124. เคธเค‚เคตเคฟเคงเคพเคจ เคธเคญเคพ เค•เฅ‡ เคฆเคธเคตเคพเค‚ เคธเคคเฅเคฐ เค•เฅ€ เค•เคพเคฐเฅเคฏเค•เคพเคฒ เค•เฅ€ เค…เคตเคงเคฟ เค•เฅเคฏเคพ เคฅเฅ€ ?

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1. Introduction: How It All Started

The British arrived in India in 1600 as traders in the form of the East India Company (EIC). In 1765, they obtained the Diwani rights (rights over revenue and civil justice) of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa. As their power grew, the British Parliament started passing Acts to control and regulate the Company.

For exam purposes, the historical background is divided into two main phases:

  1. The Company Rule (1773 โ€“ 1858): Laws passed when the East India Company ruled.
  2. The Crown Rule (1858 โ€“ 1947): Laws passed after the British Queen took direct control following the Revolt of 1857.

2. The Company Rule (1773 โ€“ 1858)

Regulating Act of 1773

This was the first step taken by the British Parliament to control the East India Company.

  • Key Change: The Governor of Bengal was renamed the Governor-General of Bengal.
  • First Person: Lord Warren Hastings became the first Governor-General of Bengal.
  • Supreme Court: It established a Supreme Court at Calcutta (1774) with 1 Chief Justice and 3 other judges.

Pittโ€™s India Act of 1784

This Act created a system of “Double Government”.

  • Board of Control: Created to manage political affairs.
  • Court of Directors: Managed commercial (trading) affairs.

Charter Act of 1833

This was the final step towards complete centralization in British India.

  • Key Change: The Governor-General of Bengal was made the Governor-General of India.
  • First Person: Lord William Bentinck became the first Governor-General of India.
  • Law Commission: Established under Lord Macaulay to codify Indian laws.

Charter Act of 1853

  • Separation of Powers: For the first time, the legislative (law-making) and executive (law-implementing) functions of the Governor-Generalโ€™s council were separated.
  • Civil Services: It introduced an open competition system for the selection of civil servants (Macaulay Committee was appointed in 1854).

3. The Crown Rule (1858 โ€“ 1947)

Government of India Act 1858

Passed after the Revolt of 1857 (Sepoy Mutiny), this act ended the East India Company’s rule.

  • Direct Rule: India was now directly governed by the British Crown.
  • Viceroy: The designation of the Governor-General of India was changed to Viceroy of India.
  • First Person: Lord Canning became the first Viceroy of India.
  • Secretary of State: A new office was created in London with complete authority over Indian administration.

Indian Councils Act of 1861 & 1892

  • 1861 Act: Introduced the Portfolio system (started by Lord Canning) and gave the Viceroy the power to issue Ordinances (similar to Article 123 of our current Constitution).
  • 1892 Act: Gave legislative councils the power to discuss the budget and introduced the principle of indirect elections.

Indian Councils Act of 1909 (Morley-Minto Reforms)

  • Separate Electorate: It introduced a system of communal representation for Muslims. Only Muslim voters could vote for Muslim candidates.
  • Father of Communal Electorate: Lord Minto is known by this title.
  • Indian in Council: Satyendra Prasad Sinha became the first Indian to join the Viceroyโ€™s Executive Council.

Government of India Act of 1919 (Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms)

  • Dyarchy in Provinces: The subjects of administration were divided into “Transferred” (handled by Indian ministers) and “Reserved” (handled by British officials).
  • Bicameralism: Introduced a two-house parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha concept) at the center.
  • Direct Elections: Introduced direct elections in the country for the first time.

Government of India Act of 1935

This is the most important Act because nearly 70% of the current Indian Constitution is borrowed from it!

  • All-India Federation: Proposed a federation of provinces and princely states (though it never came into effect).
  • Provincial Autonomy: Ended Dyarchy in the provinces and gave them independent powers.
  • Key Establishments: It provided for the establishment of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Federal Public Service Commission, and a Federal Court (which became the Supreme Court in 1950).

Indian Independence Act of 1947

  • Declared India as an independent and sovereign state from August 15, 1947.
  • Created two independent dominions: India and Pakistan.

4. Quick Revision Facts for Exams

  • 1773: First Supreme Court at Calcutta.
  • 1784: Double Government (Board of Control & Court of Directors).
  • 1833: Final step of centralization; Governor-General of India created.
  • 1858: End of Company Rule; Viceroy post created.
  • 1909: Separate Electorate for Muslims (Morley-Minto).
  • 1919: Dyarchy in Provinces; Bicameralism at the center.
  • 1935: Provincial Autonomy; RBI established; Federal Court set up.

5. 🚨 Common Exam Traps & Confusing Points

Examiners love to trick students with these overlapping facts. Memorize these differences:

Confusing PointThe Reality / Correct Fact
First Governor-General of BengalLord Warren Hastings (1773)
First Governor-General of IndiaLord William Bentinck (1833)
First Viceroy of IndiaLord Canning (1858)
Morley-Minto vs. Montagu-Chelmsford1909 = Morley-Minto; 1919 = Montagu-Chelmsford. (Trick: 1909 has a shorter name “Minto”, 1919 has a longer name “Montagu”)
Dyarchy in Provinces vs. Center1919 Act introduced Dyarchy in Provinces. 1935 Act abolished it in provinces and introduced it at the Center.

6. Previous Year Exam Relevance

  • UPSC / State PCS: Questions often ask you to match the Act with its main feature (e.g., Match 1909 with Separate Electorates). They also ask conceptual questions about the difference between the 1919 and 1935 Acts regarding Dyarchy.
  • SSC / Railway: Direct factual questions are common. For example: “Which Act established the Supreme Court at Calcutta?” or “Who was the first Viceroy of India?”

7. Mock Test: Practice MCQs

Q1. Which of the following Acts established the Supreme Court at Calcutta?

A) Regulating Act of 1773

B) Pitt’s India Act of 1784

C) Charter Act of 1833

D) Charter Act of 1853

Answer: A > Explanation: The Regulating Act of 1773 established the Supreme Court at Calcutta in 1774 with one Chief Justice and three other judges.

Q2. Who was the first Governor-General of India?

A) Lord Warren Hastings

B) Lord William Bentinck

C) Lord Canning

D) Lord Mountbatten

Answer: B

Explanation: The Charter Act of 1833 made the Governor-General of Bengal the Governor-General of India. Lord William Bentinck was the first to hold this post. (Hastings was GG of Bengal; Canning was the first Viceroy).

Q3. The system of ‘Dyarchy’ in the provinces was introduced by which Act?

A) Indian Councils Act, 1909

B) Government of India Act, 1919

C) Government of India Act, 1935

D) Indian Independence Act, 1947

Answer: B

Explanation: The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms (1919) introduced Dyarchy (dual rule) in the provinces, dividing subjects into Transferred and Reserved.

Q4. Which Act provided for the establishment of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)?

A) Government of India Act, 1919

B) Charter Act of 1853

C) Government of India Act, 1935

D) Indian Independence Act, 1947

Answer: C

Explanation: The Government of India Act 1935 provided for the creation of the RBI to control the currency and credit of the country.

Q5. Who is known as the ‘Father of Communal Electorate’ in India?

A) Lord Montagu

B) Lord Minto

C) Lord Chelmsford

D) Lord Macaulay

Answer: B

Explanation: Lord Minto introduced the separate electorate for Muslims in the Indian Councils Act of 1909, hence earning this title.

8. Revision Summary

To master the Samvidhan ki Aitihasik Prishthbhumi, remember the shift of power. From 1773 to 1853, the British Parliament slowly took control from the East India Company. After the 1857 revolt, the British Crown took direct control (1858). From 1861 to 1935, Indians were slowly given more representation, moving from mere advisors to having provincial autonomy, finally leading to the Independence Act of 1947.

Would you like me to create a similar study guide for the Making of the Indian Constitution (Constituent Assembly) next?