Which one of the following Acts of British India strengthened the Viceroy's authority over his executive council by substituting 'portfolio' or 'departmental' system for corporate functioning?

Question

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Correct — A, the Indian Councils Act, 1861. This Act let the Viceroy allocate specific 'portfolios' (departments) to individual members of his Executive Council, replacing the earlier 'corporate' system where the council decided everything collectively. Introduced in practice by Lord Canning, this departmental/portfolio system strengthened the Viceroy's control and is the origin of cabinet-style government in India. (The 1861 Act also began associating Indians with law-making and restored legislative powers to Bombay and Madras.)

Why the other options are wrong — (b) Wrong — the 1858 Act abolished the East India Company and transferred Indian administration to the Crown (creating the Secretary of State for India and the office of Viceroy). It did not set up the portfolio system.  (c) Wrong — the 1892 Act enlarged the legislative councils, introduced a limited (indirect) element of election through nomination, and allowed budget discussion. It did not create the departmental/portfolio system.  (d) Wrong — the 1909 Act (Morley–Minto Reforms) expanded councils and introduced separate communal electorates. It is unrelated to the portfolio system, which predates it by nearly half a century.

Concept: The Indian Councils Act, 1861 was a landmark in India's constitutional development after the Revolt of 1857. Its most testable feature is the 'portfolio system': the Viceroy could assign each Executive Council member charge of a particular department (finance, home, etc.) and take decisions in that department, instead of every matter being settled by the council as a whole ('corporate functioning'). It also introduced non-official (including Indian) members into an enlarged legislative council for law-making and decentralised legislative power back to Bombay and Madras.

State PCS 2021 Q82 — History PYQ with Answer

State PCS 2021 Q82 — History PYQ with Answer