Question Details

The Montague-Chelmsford Proposals were related to

Options

A

social reforms

B

educational reforms

C

reforms in police administration

D

constitutional reforms

Show Answer

Correct Answer :

Option D

constitutional reforms

Solution :

The correct answer is constitutional reforms.

The Montagu-Chelmsford Proposals (also written as Montague-Chelmsford) were directly and exclusively concerned with constitutional reforms in British India. Let us understand this step by step.

Who were Montagu and Chelmsford?
Edwin Samuel Montagu was the Secretary of State for India, and Lord Chelmsford was the Viceroy of India at the time. Together, they jointly authored a landmark report in 1918 that proposed sweeping changes to the governance structure of India.

What did the Proposals contain?
The proposals recommended a system known as "Dyarchy" (dual governance) at the provincial level. Under this system:

- Certain subjects like education, public health, agriculture, and local self-government were transferred to elected Indian ministers (called "Transferred Subjects").
- Other subjects like law and order, finance, and land revenue were retained by the British-appointed Governor and his Executive Council (called "Reserved Subjects").

This was a constitutional restructuring of how India was to be governed — it redefined the distribution of legislative and executive powers between the British and Indians.

What was the constitutional outcome?
These proposals formed the basis of the Government of India Act, 1919, which was a formal constitutional legislation. This Act:

- Expanded the legislative councils at both central and provincial levels.
- Introduced a limited form of self-governance for Indians at the provincial level.
- Extended the franchise (voting rights), though in a limited manner.

Why the other options are incorrect?
- Social reforms: The proposals did not target social issues like caste, widow remarriage, or untouchability.
- Educational reforms: Although education was later listed as a "transferred subject" under the resulting Act, the proposals themselves were not about educational reform.
- Reforms in police administration: Police was a "reserved subject" and the proposals made no specific recommendations for reforming police administration.

Conclusion:
The Montagu-Chelmsford Proposals were entirely focused on restructuring the political and legislative framework of British India — the very definition of constitutional reforms. They represented a critical milestone in India's constitutional history, ultimately shaping the path toward greater Indian participation in governance, and eventually, independence.

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