UPSC Prelims 2018 GS Paper I · Q38 of 100 History medium

In the Federation established by The Government of India Act of 1935, residuary powers were given to the

  1. (a) Federal Legislature
  2. (b) Governor General ✓ UPSC's answer
  3. (c) Provincial Legislature
  4. (d) Provincial Governors

Why the answer is (b)

• The Government of India Act, 1935 divided powers into Federal, Provincial and Concurrent Lists.

• Residuary powers — subjects in none of the three lists — were vested in the Governor-General, who could authorise either the federal or a provincial legislature to legislate on them at his discretion — option (b).

• India's Constitution later gave residuary powers to Parliament (Article 248), unlike the 1935 scheme.

• Hence option (b).

Why the other options are wrong

(a) Federal Legislature
The Federal Legislature got residuary powers only if the Governor-General allowed.
(c) Provincial Legislature
Provincial Legislatures had no residuary powers of their own.
(d) Provincial Governors
Provincial Governors were not given residuary powers.

Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2018, held on 3 June 2018. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.

Reading the answer is not the same as getting it right under a clock. Practise this question with UPSC's negative marking, and anything you miss goes into an error notebook until you get it right twice.

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