UPSC CSE Prelims
Committees and Commissions under British Rule Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Practice solved questions for Committees and Commissions under British Rule with detailed step-by-step solutions, key insights, and trend analysis for UPSC CSE PRELIMS.
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Consider the following statements:
- The Factories Act, 1881 was passed with a view to fix the wages of industrial workers and to allow the workers to form trade unions.
- N.M. Lokhande was a pioneer in organizing the labour movement in British India.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 2 — 2 only
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: The Factories Act, 1881 was primarily concerned with regulating the working conditions of children in factories, not fixing wages or allowing trade unions. It prohibited the employment of children below 7 years of age, restricted working hours for children (7-12 years) to 9 hours per day, and mandated one day off per week. The Act did not address wage fixation or trade union formation—these aspects came much later in labour legislation.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: N.M. Lokhande (Narayan Meghaji Lokhande) is recognized as a pioneer of the labour movement in British India. He founded the Bombay Mill Hands Association in 1890, one of the first labour organizations in India. He actively campaigned for workers' rights, including the abolition of the contract system, weekly holidays, and shorter working hours. His efforts led to significant improvements in working conditions for industrial workers in Bombay.
The objective of the Butler Committee of 1927 was to?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 4 — Improve the relationship between the Government of India and the Indian States.
The Butler Committee was appointed in December 1927 under the chairmanship of Sir Harcourt Butler to examine the relations between the British Government of India and the Indian Princely States.
The committee aimed to clarify and improve the nature of paramountcy (supreme authority of the British Crown over princely states) and address grievances of the rulers.
It recommended that Indian States should deal directly with the Crown through the Viceroy, not through the Government of India.
The committee's work was significant in defining the political relationship between the paramount power and native states during the British Raj.
The people of India agitated against the arrival of Simon Commission because:
Detailed Explanation:
The Simon Commission (1927) was appointed to review the working of the Government of India Act, 1919.
The commission consisted of seven British Members of Parliament with no Indian members, leading to widespread protests with the slogan "Simon Go Back" as Indians viewed this all-white composition as an insult to their self-respect and demand for self-determination.
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The Ilbert Bill controversy was related to the:
Detailed Explanation:
The Ilbert Bill (1883) was introduced by Lord Ripon's government to remove the judicial disqualification that prevented Indian magistrates and sessions judges from trying European British subjects in criminal cases.
The bill aimed to eliminate racial discrimination in the judiciary, but faced massive opposition from the European community in India, leading to its withdrawal in a diluted form.
With reference to Indian History, the Members of the Constituent Assembly from the Provinces were:
Detailed Explanation:
Members of the Constituent Assembly from the Provinces were elected by the Provincial Legislative Assemblies using the single transferable vote system of proportional representation.
The Assembly was indirectly elected, not directly elected by the people, and members were not nominated by political parties or selected by the Government for expertise.
The Rowlatt Act aimed at:
Detailed Explanation:
The Rowlatt Act (1919), officially the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act, empowered the British government to imprison suspects without trial and conduct trials using summary procedures without juries.
It aimed to suppress nationalist and revolutionary activities post-World War I by curtailing civil liberties, leading to widespread protests including the Jallianwala Bagh massacre (1919).
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