2002 General Studies, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2002 · General Studies

Question 54: History and Culture

The real intention of the British to include the princely states in the Federal Union proposed by the India Act of 1935 was to

aexercise more and direct political and administrative control over the princely states
binvolve the princes actively in the administration of the colony
cfinally effect the complete political and administrative take-over of all the princely states by the British
duse the princes to counter-balance the anti-imperialist doctrines of the nationalist leaders

AnswerThe answer is (d).

The Government of India Act 1935 proposed an all-India federation of provinces and princely states. The princes, who were loyal and conservative, were to hold about a third of the seats in the federal assembly and a larger share in the upper house, so that they could counter-balance the nationalists of British India. That was the real intention behind including them, not tighter British control over their states.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) The federation did not give Britain more direct control over the states.
  • (b) Involving princes in administration was the stated reason, not the real intention.
  • (c) There was no plan for a complete take-over of the states.
  • (d) Right: the princes were meant to balance the nationalist leaders.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2002, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.