Question

The term “scheduled caste” was first used in the act of?
A)1909
B)1919
C)1935
D)1947

Answer 1

Hint: It divided the power between the states and the centre in terms of the Federal List, Provincial list and the concurrent list.
It abolished dyarchy at the provincial level and introduced ‘provincial autonomy’ in its place.

Complete answer:
Within the framework of the Hindu caste system, “scheduled castes” are the sub-communities who have historically faced deprivation, oppression, and extreme social isolation in India due to the ‘low status’ they perceive.
 According to the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, only marginalised Hindu communities can be deemed Scheduled Castes in India.
Option (A) 1909: The Indian Councils Act 1909 is more commonly called as the Morley-Minto Reforms after the Secretary of State for India John Morley and the Viceroy of India, the 4th Earl of Minto. The Act instigated communal representation in Indian politics. Indian participation in the legislative councils, especially at the provincial levels was also increased by this act.

Option (B) 1919: The Government of India Act 1919 was an act of the British Parliament that intended to increase the participation of Indians in their country’s administration. The constitutional reforms presented by this act are known as Montagu-Chelmsford reforms or Montford reforms. The concept of federal structure with a unitary bias was introduced by this act. The participation of Indians in the administration was also increased. For the first time, elections were known to the people and some Indian women also had the right to vote.

Option (C) 1935: In August 1935, the Government of India Act was passed by the British Parliament. At that time it was the longest act enacted by the British Parliament. Hence, it was divided into two separate acts, which were the Government of India Act 1935 and the Government of Burma Act 1935. The term “Scheduled Castes” was adopted for the first time in 1935, when the British listed the lowest-ranking Hindu castes in a Scheduled appended to the Government of India Act for purposes of statutory safeguards.

Option (D) 1947: The Indian Independence Act, 1947 was an act of the British Parliament that partitioned India into two independent dominions of India and Pakistan. The Labour government of Clement Attlee drafted the legislation. The Act was based on the Mountbatten Plan which was formulated after the leaders of the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League agreed to the recommendations of the Viceroy Lord Mountbatten.

Hence, the correct answer is option (C)

Note: 1)The Government of India act 1935 also led to the establishment of the Reserve Bank of India and the Federal Court in 1937.
2)Sindh province was separated from Bombay and Sind Presidency.
3)The State of Burma was completely separated from India (hence, the splitting of the Act of 1935 into India and Burma).