Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1909 - Constitutional Developments - Morley-Minto Reforms
The 1909 Act did NOT establish separate electorates for the:
A. Muslims
B. Sikhs under the original scheme
C. Muslim landholders
D. Muslim constituencies
Correct Answer: B
Separate Sikh representation developed in later constitutional reforms, particularly after 1919.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1909 - Constitutional Developments - Morley-Minto Reforms
Which community received constitutionally recognized separate electorates under the 1909 scheme?
A. Muslims
B. Sikhs first and exclusively
C. All castes through adult franchise
D. Europeans only
Correct Answer: A
The landmark communal provision of 1909 specifically established separate electorates for Muslims.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1909 - Constitutional Developments - Morley-Minto Reforms
The separate electorate principle was later extended to additional communities under the:
A. Government of India Act 1919
B. Regulating Act 1773
C. Charter Act 1813
D. Indian Independence Act 1947
Correct Answer: A
The Montagu–Chelmsford arrangements widened communal and special representation beyond the 1909 Muslim electorates.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1909 - Constitutional Developments - Morley-Minto Reforms
Separate electorates were criticized by Congress as an instrument of:
A. Divide and rule
B. Universal democracy
C. Economic nationalism
D. Provincial independence
Correct Answer: A
Nationalists argued that communal electorates divided Indians politically and weakened common nationalism.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1909 - Constitutional Developments - Morley-Minto Reforms
Lord Minto is often called the:
A. Father of Communal Electorates
B. Father of Dyarchy
C. Father of Provincial Autonomy
D. Father of the Cabinet Mission
Correct Answer: A
His acceptance of separate communal representation led to this frequently used description.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1909 - Constitutional Developments - Morley-Minto Reforms
The term 'weightage' in this context means:
A. Representation greater than strict population proportion
B. Reduction of all Muslim seats
C. Voting by body weight
D. Appointment only by British judges
Correct Answer: A
Weightage gave a community a larger share of seats than its population alone would justify.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1909 - Constitutional Developments - Morley-Minto Reforms
Muslim representation under the reforms sometimes involved:
A. Weightage beyond numerical proportion
B. Complete exclusion from councils
C. Universal Muslim adult franchise
D. No reserved seats
Correct Answer: A
The scheme considered Muslim political importance as well as population and could provide representation exceeding strict numerical proportion.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1909 - Constitutional Developments - Morley-Minto Reforms
Which organization benefited politically from the recognition of separate Muslim representation?
A. All-India Muslim League
B. Indian National Army
C. Unionist Party of Britain
D. Justice Party alone
Correct Answer: A
The reform validated a core Muslim League demand and strengthened its constitutional role.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1909 - Constitutional Developments - Morley-Minto Reforms
The demand for separate electorates was strongly advanced by the:
A. Simla Deputation
B. Simon Commission
C. Nehru Report
D. Cabinet Mission
Correct Answer: A
The 1906 Simla Deputation requested distinct and adequate Muslim representation.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1909 - Constitutional Developments - Morley-Minto Reforms
The Morley–Minto Reforms recognized Muslims constitutionally as a:
A. Distinct political community
B. Non-political association
C. Provincial civil service
D. Single linguistic group only
Correct Answer: A
Separate representation acknowledged Muslims as a distinct political category in the electoral system.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1909 - Constitutional Developments - Morley-Minto Reforms
Under a separate Muslim electorate:
A. Muslim voters elected Muslim candidates
B. All voters elected only British officials
C. Hindu voters elected Muslim candidates
D. The Viceroy elected every member
Correct Answer: A
Separate electorates created Muslim constituencies in which Muslim electors selected Muslim representatives.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1909 - Constitutional Developments - Morley-Minto Reforms
The most controversial feature of the Morley–Minto Reforms was the introduction of:
A. Separate electorates for Muslims
B. Provincial autonomy
C. Dyarchy
D. Bicameralism
Correct Answer: A
The Act institutionalized separate Muslim electorates for the first time in British Indian constitutional arrangements.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1909 - Constitutional Developments - Morley-Minto Reforms
The reforms are important in parliamentary history because they expanded the:
A. Representative and deliberative element
B. Absolute monarchical element only
C. Military rule
D. Judicial review by elected courts
Correct Answer: A
They broadened the participation of Indians in council discussions and introduced a more explicit elective element.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1909 - Constitutional Developments - Morley-Minto Reforms
The provincial non-official majority was limited in effect because:
A. Governors retained veto and nomination powers
B. Provinces became independent
C. All officials resigned
D. The British Parliament lost authority
Correct Answer: A
Executive veto, nominated members and restricted legislative powers prevented real provincial self-government.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1909 - Constitutional Developments - Morley-Minto Reforms
Which feature protected the government at the centre from defeat by Indian members?
A. Official majority
B. Adult franchise
C. Joint electorates
D. Provincial autonomy
Correct Answer: A
The official bloc ensured that the colonial executive could ordinarily command the central legislature.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1909 - Constitutional Developments - Morley-Minto Reforms
The 1909 reforms increased Indian participation mainly in:
A. Deliberative councils
B. The sovereign executive cabinet
C. The British House of Commons
D. The armed forces command
Correct Answer: A
Indian representatives gained a larger forum for debate but not responsibility for governing.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1909 - Constitutional Developments - Morley-Minto Reforms
The Governor-General retained authority to:
A. Nominate members and frame election regulations subject to approval
B. Abolish the British Parliament
C. Grant universal franchise independently
D. Remove the Secretary of State
Correct Answer: A
The Act empowered the Governor-General in Council to regulate qualifications, nomination and election, subject to the Secretary of State's approval.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1909 - Constitutional Developments - Morley-Minto Reforms
Which composition best describes a provincial council after the reforms?
A. Officials, nominated non-officials and elected non-officials
B. Only elected ministers
C. Only judges and generals
D. Only Muslim members
Correct Answer: A
The councils mixed official and non-official membership, with both nomination and election.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1909 - Constitutional Developments - Morley-Minto Reforms
The largest constituencies under the restricted franchise contained only a very small number of:
A. Electors
B. Provinces
C. Viceroys
D. British Acts
Correct Answer: A
Official historical accounts note that the electorate was extremely small compared with India's population.
Pakistan Affairs (P.A)
1909 - Constitutional Developments - Morley-Minto Reforms
The right to vote under the reform regulations generally depended on qualifications such as:
A. Property, taxation, office or status
B. Adult citizenship alone
C. Military conscription alone
D. Religious conversion
Correct Answer: A
The franchise was narrow and based on property, tax payments, institutional membership or official position.