Which major constitutional feature was first introduced by the Government of India Act, 1935 and later adopted in the Indian Constitution?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
The correct answer is Option 2 i.e. Federal structure with Provincial Autonomy.
The Government of India Act, 1935 was a milestone that proposed an "All India Federation" consisting of provinces and princely states. It introduced Provincial Autonomy, replacing the "dyarchy" system, and divided powers into Federal, Provincial, and Concurrent lists—a blueprint used for the current Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
Explanation of Other Options:
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Fundamental Duties: These were not in the 1935 Act or the original 1950 Constitution. They were added via the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976, inspired by the USSR Constitution.
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Parliamentary Sovereignty: This is a British concept. India follows Constitutional Supremacy, where the judiciary can review laws, unlike the absolute power of the UK Parliament.
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Universal Adult Franchise: While the 1935 Act expanded voting rights to about 10% of the population, "Universal" suffrage (voting rights for all adults) was only established with the commencement of the Indian Constitution in 1950.