Theme T18 · Modern India & Freedom Struggle

Making of the Constitution: Government of India Act 1935 to Constituent Assembly

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What UPSC asks

Questions ask how the Government of India Act 1935 helped the Constituent Assembly, and whether that Act laid down a federal constitution.

Prepare these

• GoI Act 1935: federation, provincial autonomy, dyarchy at centre, federal court, lists
• Borrowings into the Constitution
• Constituent Assembly working and timeline

Answer writing

• Show specific provisions carried over
• Link to Indian federalism's 'strong Centre' character

Directive words in these PYQs: Discuss (2).

Linked themes

Builds on: study these first

These come earlier in the roadmap. Questions in this theme use them.

Syllabus lines covered

• GS1-L3 — The Freedom Struggle - its various stages and important contributors /contributions from different parts of the country.
• GS2-L1 — Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.

All 2 PYQs, newest first

1. GS22016GS2-POL-01-M2016-S01

   Did the Government of India Act, 1935 lay down a federal constitution? Discuss.

   Also needs: T87 Centre–State relations: cooperative, competitive & confrontational federalismCopyReport a typo
2. GS12015GS1-HIS-07-M2015-S01

   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.

   CopyReport a typo