Consider the following assertion :
The genesis of political alliances based on community lay in the very nature of the Montague-Chelmsford Reforms, 1919.
Which of the following statements support/supports the above assertion ?
- 1.Reforms retained and extended the principle of separate electorates.
- 2.Separate electorates were supposed to counter Indian nationalism, which was growing stronger.
- 3.Deprived classes rallied around the favours inherent in separate electorates.
Select the answer using the code given below :
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Answer: D. All three support the assertion. The 1919 reforms kept separate electorates for Muslims and extended them to Sikhs, Europeans, Anglo-Indians and others (1). The British saw separate electorates as a way to weaken the growing national movement (2). Groups gathered around the benefits that came with separate electorates, encouraging politics based on community (3). So 1, 2 and 3.
Watch for: Students stop at the factual statement 1 and miss the motives and effects in 2 and 3.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Wrong because statements 2 and 3 also support the assertion.
- B. Wrong because statement 1 is the most direct support and is left out.
- C. Wrong because statement 3 also supports the assertion.
Source to check: Bipan Chandra et al., 'India's Struggle for Independence', chapter on communalism; NCERT Class 8 'Our Pasts III' and Spectrum 'A Brief History of Modern India' chapter on Government of India Act 1919
Answer from the provisional UPSC key; it may change when the final key is out. Written and fact-checked by AI against the official key. Spotted a mistake? Report it.