UPSC Mains 2015 · GS I · Q5 · 12.5 marks · 200 words

It would have been difficult for the Constituent Assembly to complete its historic task of drafting the Constitution for Independent India in just three years but for the experience gained with the Government of India Act, 1935. Discuss.

हिन्दी में

स्वतंत्र भारत के लिए संविधान का मसौदा केवल तीन साल में तैयार करने के ऐतिहासिक कार्य को पूर्ण करना संविधान सभा के लिए कठिन होता, यदि उनके पास भारत सरकार अधिनियम, 1935 से प्राप्त अनुभव नहीं होता। चर्चा कीजिये।

British Policies and Their ImpactPost-Independence

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “Constitutional developments in British India were reactive rather than genuine efforts for good governance. Examine.”

Shakti DubeyAIR 1 · CSE 2024 · 336 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening · a date or context

Battle of Buxar (1764) marked the establishment of British Raj in India with the east India company gaining Diwani rights of Bengal, Bihar & Orissa through Treaty of Allahabad.

Constitutional developments Post Treaty of Allahabad - British Government started constitutional development through series of Acts like :-

Body · points

(1) Regulating Act of 1773 (2) Pitts India Act 1784 (3) Regulating Act 1793 (4) Charter Act of 1813, 1833, 1853.

These acts/developments by British were based on Genuine idea of Good Governance :- because (1) these came in backdrop of rising corruption by the EIC (2) Aim was create a control over

the EIC through Board of control & court of directors (Pitt's India Act) (3) Focus on laid on improving education system (Govt of India Act 1813, 1833) (4) Focussed on socio-economic equality

  • ended slavery (1854) [Charter Act 1833] (5) Codification of laws to ensure smooth criminal Justice system (Charter Act 1833) (6) The reforms were brought to ensure legislative & executive setup - through Charter Act of 1853 [[(1+3)+1]+6]

Reactive constitutional development :-

2 major Events led to reactive policies by British → Revolt of 1857 → Creation of INC (1885)

This led to developments like (1) Act of Good Governance :- Through this India came under crown rule & Annexationist approach was stopped (2) Indian Council Act 1861, 1891 :-

this was result of lobbying by INC for reforms within the council as reforms in council structure. (3) Government of India Act 1909, 1919 - these were aimed at increasing Indian presence in the council and introduced element of elections (4) Govt. of India Act 1919 - introduced Bicameralism, dyarchy, etc (5) Govt. of India Act 1935 - attempt to provide self governance - as INC demanded Dominion status

Close · a summary

Thus - if we clearly demarcate the efforts by British we find that certain reforms were done with an Attempt for Good Governance - though it was also guided by their personal motive of ensuring legitimacy. While most of reforms especially post INC were reactive.

1 more topper’s answer to this question, part by part, and how they all approached it: open the question.

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) Examination 2015, General Studies Paper I, Q5. The paper on upsc.gov.in. Themes and links to toppers’ answers are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.