In which of the following years, were separate electorates introduced in the Imperial Legislative Assembly elections in the name of Morley- Minto Reforms?

The correct answer is Indian Council Act, 1909.

The Morley-Minto Reforms refer to a set of constitutional reforms introduced in British India, named after John Morley (Secretary of State for India) and Lord Minto (Viceroy of India at the time). These reforms were enacted through the Indian Councils Act of 1909.

Step 1: Understanding the Context
By the early 1900s, India was witnessing a growing demand for greater political participation. The British government, in response to mounting pressure from Indian political leaders and in an attempt to appease moderate nationalists while also dividing the Indian political movement along religious lines, introduced a series of legislative reforms.

Step 2: What the Indian Councils Act, 1909 Did
The Indian Councils Act of 1909 made several significant changes to the governance of British India:

• It increased the size of the Legislative Councils at both the central and provincial levels.
• It gave Indians a greater — though still limited — role in the legislative process by allowing elected members into the councils.
• Most critically, it introduced the concept of separate electorates for Muslims, meaning Muslim voters could only vote for Muslim candidates in reserved Muslim seats. This was a landmark and controversial provision.

Step 3: The Concept of Separate Electorates
Separate electorates meant that the electorate was divided on the basis of religion. Under this system:

• Muslims formed a separate electoral roll.
• Only Muslims could vote in constituencies reserved for Muslim representatives.
• This was done at the demand of the All India Muslim League and figures like Aga Khan, who had petitioned Lord Minto in 1906.
• It effectively institutionalized communal representation in Indian politics for the first time.

Step 4: Eliminating the Wrong Options
Let us examine why the other options are incorrect:

• Indian Council Act, 1861: This act set up the legislative council system but had no provisions for elections or separate electorates. It is far too early.
• Government of India Act, 1919: This act (also called the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms) introduced the concept of dyarchy in provinces and expanded the franchise further, but separate electorates had already been introduced in 1909. The 1919 act did extend and continue the communal electorate system but did not originate it.
• Government of India Act, 1935: This was a much later and far more comprehensive act that provided for provincial autonomy and a proposed All-India Federation. It continued communal electorates but, again, was not the origin of the concept.

Step 5: Conclusion
The Indian Councils Act of 1909, passed under the initiative of Morley and Minto, was the first legislation to formally introduce separate electorates in the Imperial Legislative Council (and provincial councils) on religious (communal) grounds. This act is historically significant because it sowed the seeds of communal division in Indian politics, a legacy that had long-lasting consequences for the Indian subcontinent. Hence, the correct answer is the Indian Council Act, 1909.