Consider the following statements:The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms of 1919 recommended granting voting

Question

Consider the following statements:The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms of 1919 recommended granting voting rights to all the women above the age of 21.The Government of India Act of 1935 gave women reserved seats in legislature.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

In line with the government policy contained in Montagu’s statement of August 1917, the government announced further constitutional reforms in July 1918, known as Montagu-Chelmsford reforms. Based on these, the Government of India Act, 1919 was enacted. Under the Act, women were given the right to vote. But there was no universal adult suffrage. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.The Government of India Act, 1935 extended the principle of communal representation by providing separate electorates for depressed classes (scheduled castes), women, and labourers (workers). A separate electorate meant that not only were the seats reserved for a specific group, but voting for the reserved constituency was allowed for only members of that specific community. Hence, statement 2 is correct.