Which one of the following statements about the Government of India Act 1919 is not correct?

A) It extended the practice of communal representation
B) It made the Central Executive responsible to the Legislature
C) It is also known as the Montague-Chelmsford Reforms
D) It paved the way for federalism by clearly separating the responsibilities of the Centre and the Provinces

The Government of India Act 1919, also known as the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms [5], introduced significant changes but did not make the Central Executive responsible to the Legislature. While it introduced 'dyarchy' in the provinces—making provincial ministers responsible to the legislative councils for 'transferred' subjects [2]—the Central Executive remained accountable only to the Secretary of State and the British Parliament [4]. The Act expanded communal representation by providing separate electorates for Sikhs, Indian Christians, Anglo-Indians, and Europeans. It also paved the way for federalism by demarcating and separating central and provincial subjects, allowing provinces a degree of administrative and financial autonomy. However, the central government's structure remained essentially unitary and the Governor-General retained overriding powers over the central legislature.

Sources

1. [3] Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 1: Historical Background > Government of India Act of 1919 > p. 6
2. [5] Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 1: Historical Background > Government of India Act of 1919 > p. 6
3. [1] History , class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 4: Advent of Gandhi and Mass Mobilisation > 4.2 Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms > p. 44
4. [2] Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 1: THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND > Utility of a Historical Retrospect. > p. 5
5. [4] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 26: Constitutional, Administrative and Judicial Developments > Government of India Act, 1919 > p. 509