Q. What were the significant provisions of the Government of India Act of 1919, and how did the Indian National Congress react to these changes?

Ans.
The Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms or Government of India Act of 1919 was introduced by the British Government in India to introduce self-governing institutions gradually to India.

• The reforms take their name from Edwin Samuel Montagu, the Secretary of State for India and Lord Chelmsford, the Viceroy of India.

The major features of the Act were:

• Introduction of Dyarchy
  • The Act introduced a dual system of governance, known as diarchy, in the provincial governments. This divided the subjects of administration into two categories:
    • Transferred Subjects – These were to be administered by Indian ministers responsible to the legislative councils.
      9 They included education, public health, public works, agriculture, and local self-government.
    • Reserved Subjects – These were to be administered by the Governor and his executive council without being responsible to the legislative councils.
      9 They included areas such as finance, police, justice, and irrigation.
• Increased Legislative Power of Councils at Provinces
  • The Legislative Councils could initiate legislation but the governor’s assent was required. The governor could veto bills and issue ordinances.
    • The Legislative Councils could reject the budget but the governor could restore it, if necessary.
    • The legislators enjoyed freedom of speech.
• Bicameral Legislature at the Centre
  • The Act established a bicameral legislature at the central level, consisting of the Council of State (upper house) and the Legislative Assembly (lower house).
• Expansion of Legislative Council
  • Provincial legislative councils were further expanded and 70 per cent of the members were to be elected.
• Communal Representation Further Extended
  • The communal representation was extended to include Sikhs, Europeans, and Anglo-Indians.
• Voting Rights to Women
  • Some women got limited voting rights, for the first time, based on certain income criteria.
• Provided for Public Service Commission
  • The Government of India Act 1919 provided for the establishment of a Public Service Commission in India for the first time.

Response of the Congress:

• Declared the reforms to be “Disappointing” and “Unsatisfactory”
  • The Congress met in a special session in August 1918 at Bombay under Hasan Imam’s presidency and declared the reforms to be “disappointing” and “unsatisfactory” and demanded effective self-government instead.
• Termed “unworthy and disappointing”
  • The Montford reforms were termed “unworthy and disappointing—a sunless dawn” by Tilak, even as Annie Besant found them “unworthy of England to offer and India to accept”.
• Boycott and Non-Cooperation
  • The dissatisfaction with the Act led to increased support for the Non-Cooperation Movement, which was launched by Gandhi in 1920.
• Rejection of Limited Franchise
  • The INC was critical of the restricted franchise, which limited voting rights to a small, privileged segment of the population.

Overall, while the Government of India Act of 1919 marked a step towards greater Indian participation in governance, it fell short of the aspirations of the Indian National Congress and other Indian leaders who were seeking more substantial self-rule and independence.

Q. How did the Treaty of Versailles become a major cause of World War 2?

Ans.
The Treaty of Versailles, signed in 1919, was intended to bring an end to World War I. However, its terms had significant long-term consequences that contributed to the outbreak of World War II.

Role of Treaty of Versailles Causing World War 2:

• Harsh Terms on Germany
  • The treaty imposed severe reparations on Germany, demanding payments for war damages, i.e., £6600 million.
    • This crippled the German economy and created widespread resentment among the German population, fostering a sense of injustice and humiliation.
• Territorial Losses
  • Germany lost significant territories and colonies under the treaty, reducing its geographical size and diminishing its economic and military potential.
    • E.g., Alsace-Lorraine to France; North Schleswig to Denmark; Eupen, Moresnet and Malmedy to Belgium.
• Demilitarization
  • The treaty imposed strict limits on the size and capabilities of the German military, i.e., limited to a maximum of 100000 troops and no conscription (compulsory military service).
    • This not only weakened Germany’s defence capabilities but also fueled resentment and a desire to regain military strength.
• War Guilt Clause
  • Article 231 of the treaty, often called the “war guilt clause,” placed full responsibility for the war on Germany.
    • This was seen as deeply unfair by many Germans and contributed to a national narrative of victimhood and injustice.
• Destabilization of Europe
  • New states were created with mixed ethnic and political compositions, leading to tensions and conflicts in the following decades.
    • E.g., Czechoslovakia, Austria, Yugoslavia, etc.
• Rise of Extremism
  • The economic hardship and political instability caused by the treaty’s terms provided fertile ground for extremist ideologies, such as fascism and Nazism, to take root in Germany.
    • Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party exploited these grievances to gain power.
    • E.g., unemployment and humiliation under the Treaty of Versailles were the main causes that allowed Hitler to gain power in Germany.

The treaty’s failure to achieve lasting peace and its role in exacerbating economic hardship and political instability in Germany were pivotal factors in the outbreak of the Second World War.

That’s all for today’s GS answer writing practice!
Stay consistent, write daily, and master the art of structured, crisp, and analytical answers.
Don’t forget to revisit this section daily for updated questions and answers from across GS topics like History, Polity, Economy, HP GK, and more.
Got topic suggestions or doubts? Share them in the comments – we’d love to help!

This initiative is brought to you by Jokta Academy, the most trusted and result-oriented coaching institute for HPAS & Civil Services preparation in Chandigarh.
Join our online or offline mentorship programs to accelerate your success in civil services.