2021 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2021 · GS Paper I

Question 42: History and Culture

Consider the following statements :

  1. 1.The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms of 1919 recommended granting voting rights to all the women above the age of 21.
  2. 2.The Government of India Act of 1935 gave women reserved seats in legislature.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a1 only
b2 only
cBoth 1 and 2
dNeither 1 nor 2

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).

The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms (Government of India Act, 1919) did not give women the vote on a uniform basis. They left the decision on women's franchise to the provincial legislatures. The Government of India Act, 1935 gave women reserved seats in the legislatures and extended the franchise to more women. Remember: the 1919 Act delegated women's suffrage to the provinces; 1935 reserved seats for women.

  • 1. The 1919 reforms left women's voting rights to provincial legislatures, not a uniform right for all women above 21.
  • 2. The 1935 Act reserved legislative seats for women.

How you could have got this

  1. If you were sure statement 1 is not correct, (a) and (c) go: each of them includes 1.

    What you needed to know: The 1919 reforms left women's voting rights to provincial legislatures, not a uniform right for all women above 21.

    The red flag in statement 1 is “all”. In UPSC’s papers, statements with “all” were true 41% of the time (76 statements). A hint, not a rule.

  2. Then, if you were sure statement 2 is correct, (d) goes: it leaves 2 out.

    What you needed to know: The 1935 Act reserved legislative seats for women.

Only (b) is left. This one needs every statement.

Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Wrong: statement 1 is false, since the 1919 reforms left women's franchise to the provinces.
  • (b) Right: only statement 2 is correct.
  • (c) Wrong: statement 1 is false.
  • (d) Wrong: statement 2 is correct.

Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2021, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.