(a) Social reforms
(b) Education reforms
(c) Reforms in public administration
(d) Constitutional reforms
Answer: (d)
After Montagu took over as the Secretary of State for India in July 1917, he made a historic declaration that British policy in India would have an overall objective of “gradual development of self-governing institutions, with a view to the progressive realisation of responsible government in India as an integral part of the British empire”. Option (d) is correct: The Montford (MontagueChelmsford) proposals were related to Constitutional reforms. The Montford (Montague-Chelmsford) commission submitted its report in 1918. It professed to give a way for self-government in India. However, it also aimed at appeasing Indians to persuade them to support the British during the First World War (1914-18). This reform was important in a way that it was the first-time government showed its intention of gradual introduction of responsible government in India. It established parliamentary democracy in India and began the process of decolonisation. Provisions of the Government of India Act of 1919 included Provincial Dyarchy in the form of a dual form of government for the major provinces. It relaxed control over provinces by demarcating subjects as ‘central subjects’ and ‘provincial subjects.
