Consider the following statements : 1. The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms of 1919 recommended granting voting rights to all the women above the age of 21. 2. The Government of India Act of 1935 gave women reserved seats in legislature. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A
1 only
B
2 only
Correct Answer
C
Both 1 and 2
D
Neither 1 nor 2
Explanation
Statement 2 is correct because the Government of India Act of 1935 expanded the system of communal representation by providing separate electorates and reserved seats for women, as well as for depressed classes and labor. Statement 1 is incorrect because the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms of 1919 did not grant universal suffrage to women; it instead left the decision to provincial legislatures, and even then, voting rights were strictly limited by property, tax, and education criteria. This question tests the core concept of constitutional developments and the evolution of the franchise (voting rights) under British rule.
Modern Indian HistoryWomen's Rights and Legislative ReformsMontagu-Chelmsford Reforms 1919Government of India Act 1935Voting rightsWomenAge 21Reserved seatsLegislature