Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1940- Constitutional Proposals - White Paper
The most powerful constitutional office under the federal proposals was the:
A. Governor-General
B. Speaker of a provincial assembly
C. Mayor of Delhi
D. President of the Muslim League
Correct Answer: A
The Governor-General retained major reserved, discretionary and emergency powers.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1940- Constitutional Proposals - White Paper
Which statement best compares provincial and central arrangements?
A. Dyarchy was abolished everywhere
B. Dyarchy remained only in villages
C. Provinces had no responsible government
D. Dyarchy was to end in provinces but operate at the centre
Correct Answer: D
This contrast was one of the defining features of the scheme.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1940- Constitutional Proposals - White Paper
Why was central dyarchy criticised by Indian nationalists?
A. It abolished the Governor-General
B. It gave complete control of defence to elected Indians
C. Key subjects remained outside elected control
D. It created universal adult franchise
Correct Answer: C
Defence and external affairs remained reserved, limiting real responsibility.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1940- Constitutional Proposals - White Paper
Transferred federal subjects were to be administered with the assistance of:
A. British judges only
B. Ministers responsible to the federal legislature
C. Military commanders
D. The Chamber of Princes alone
Correct Answer: B
The transferred side of dyarchy introduced a limited form of responsible government at the centre.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1940- Constitutional Proposals - White Paper
Who would administer reserved subjects at the centre?
A. Governor-General with appointed counsellors
B. Prime Minister elected by universal franchise
C. Congress Working Committee
D. Provincial governors collectively
Correct Answer: A
Reserved subjects remained under the Governor-General rather than ministers responsible to the legislature.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1940- Constitutional Proposals - White Paper
The administration of tribal areas was placed mainly under:
A. Provincial elected ministers in every case
B. The Federal Assembly alone
C. The Indian National Congress
D. The Governor-General's reserved authority
Correct Answer: D
The later Act listed tribal-area administration with reserved central responsibilities.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1940- Constitutional Proposals - White Paper
Ecclesiastical affairs under the White Paper were classified as:
A. A provincial transferred subject only
B. A municipal subject
C. A reserved subject
D. A subject controlled by Congress
Correct Answer: C
Ecclesiastical affairs were listed among matters administered directly by the Governor-General.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1940- Constitutional Proposals - White Paper
Which was another reserved central subject?
A. Agriculture
B. External affairs
C. Local sanitation
D. Primary education
Correct Answer: B
Foreign and external affairs remained outside responsible ministerial control.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1940- Constitutional Proposals - White Paper
Which was a reserved subject under the proposed central scheme?
A. Defence
B. Education
C. Local government
D. Public health
Correct Answer: A
Defence was retained under the direct control of the Governor-General.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1940- Constitutional Proposals - White Paper
Under central dyarchy, federal subjects were divided into:
A. Urban and rural subjects
B. Hindu and Muslim subjects
C. Judicial and non-judicial provinces
D. Reserved and transferred subjects
Correct Answer: D
Some subjects remained under the Governor-General while others were handled with responsible ministers.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1940- Constitutional Proposals - White Paper
What system did the White Paper propose at the federal centre?
A. Complete parliamentary sovereignty
B. Presidential federalism
C. Dyarchy
D. Direct democracy
Correct Answer: C
The White Paper proposed dyarchy at the centre and responsible government in the provinces.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1940- Constitutional Proposals - White Paper
Which province was given special gubernatorial responsibility concerning the Sukkur Barrage?
A. Bengal
B. Sind
C. Madras
D. Orissa
Correct Answer: B
The White Paper proposals recognised Sind's special financial obligations regarding the Sukkur Barrage.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1940- Constitutional Proposals - White Paper
Under the proposed system, irrigation was generally treated as:
A. A transferred provincial subject
B. A British foreign-affairs subject
C. A matter reserved for the Chamber of Princes only
D. A subject outside government
Correct Answer: A
The parliamentary debate specifically referred to irrigation as a transferred subject.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1940- Constitutional Proposals - White Paper
Which concern was used to justify provincial safeguards?
A. Expansion of private armies
B. Ending all elections
C. Creation of Pakistan in 1933
D. Protection of minorities and maintenance of order
Correct Answer: D
The British Government defended special powers as necessary for minorities, stability and obligations.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1940- Constitutional Proposals - White Paper
A governor could intervene especially in matters involving:
A. Only university examinations
B. Only municipal sanitation
C. Special responsibilities and emergencies
D. Only political party membership
Correct Answer: C
The scheme preserved intervention powers to protect specified interests and constitutional stability.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1940- Constitutional Proposals - White Paper
Did provincial autonomy remove every power of the governors?
A. Yes, governors became ceremonial immediately
B. No, governors retained special responsibilities and discretionary authority
C. Yes, governors were abolished
D. No, because provincial legislatures were abolished
Correct Answer: B
Provincial responsibility was limited by safeguards and reserve powers.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1940- Constitutional Proposals - White Paper
The White Paper aimed to separate provincial powers from those of the:
A. Central federal government
B. Municipal governments
C. British political parties
D. European commercial chambers
Correct Answer: A
Parliamentary debate described a clearer constitutional separation between provincial and central authority.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1940- Constitutional Proposals - White Paper
Provincial ministers were expected to be responsible to:
A. The British monarch alone
B. The Federal Court alone
C. The Chamber of Princes
D. Provincial legislatures
Correct Answer: D
Responsible government meant ministers would normally depend on legislative support.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1940- Constitutional Proposals - White Paper
Under the later 1935 Act, provincial autonomy replaced:
A. Separate electorates
B. Provincial legislatures
C. Dyarchy in the provinces
D. The office of governor
Correct Answer: C
The 1919 system of divided provincial subjects was abolished.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1940- Constitutional Proposals - White Paper
The provincial reform proposed in the White Paper is generally called:
A. Central absolutism
B. Provincial autonomy
C. Communal federation
D. Military provincialism
Correct Answer: B
The proposals aimed to transfer day-to-day provincial administration to responsible ministries.