Consider the following statements : 1. Morley-Minto reforms ended the official majority in state legislative assemblies. 2. Despite the Government of India Act, 1909 the non-officials were elected to local bodies indirectly. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

The Indian Councils Act of 1909, also known as the Morley-Minto Reforms, introduced significant changes to the legislative structure in British India.

Statement 1 is correct: The Act retained an official majority in the Central Legislative Council but allowed for a non-official majority in the provincial legislative councils (conceptually similar to modern state assemblies). This effectively ended the official majority at the provincial level, although nominated non-officials and officials combined often still outnumbered elected members.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The 1909 Act provided for indirect elections to the Legislative Councils, not to the local bodies. The members of local bodies (like municipal committees and district boards) were elected directly by voters with limited franchise. These local bodies then elected an electoral college, which indirectly elected non-official members to the provincial legislative councils.