By which of the following Acts, the system of 'Chamber of Princes' with 120 members was created?
- (a)Act of 1919
- (b)Charter Act of 1853
- (c)Act of 1909
- (d)Act of 1793
Correct — A, the Government of India Act, 1919 (Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms). It provided for the Chamber of Princes (Narendra Mandal), a consultative/advisory body of the rulers of the princely states, which was formally inaugurated by the Duke of Connaught in 1921. It had 120 members — rulers of the larger states sitting in their own right together with elected representatives of the smaller states — and was presided over by the Viceroy.
- (b)Charter Act of 1853 — The Charter Act of 1853 renewed the East India Company's charter, added a legislative wing to the Governor-General's Council and opened the civil service to open competition — it had nothing to do with the princely states.
- (c)Act of 1909 — The Indian Councils Act of 1909 (Morley-Minto Reforms) expanded the legislative councils and introduced separate electorates for Muslims; it did not create the Chamber of Princes.
- (d)Act of 1793 — The Charter Act of 1793 merely renewed the Company's charter and trade monopoly for another 20 years — it predates any institution of the princes by well over a century.
The Chamber of Princes (Narendra Mandal) was an advisory assembly of the rulers of India's princely states, created under the Government of India Act, 1919 and inaugurated in 1921. It gave the princes a forum to voice their concerns to the Crown but had no legislative or executive power over the states — it was purely consultative and met once a year under the Viceroy.
The trap is the string of colonial Acts as options; the candidate must anchor 'Chamber of Princes' to the Montagu-Chelmsford reform package. Remember the sequence: 1793/1853 are Charter Acts about the Company; 1909 is Morley-Minto (separate electorates); 1919 is Montagu-Chelmsford, the reform that also set up the Chamber of Princes. The '120 members' detail is a signpost to the 1919 Act.
- Chamber of Princes (Narendra Mandal): created under the Government of India Act, 1919; inaugurated by the Duke of Connaught in 1921.
- It had 120 members — rulers of the major states in their own right plus elected representatives of the numerous smaller states.
- It was a purely advisory/consultative body presided over by the Viceroy, with no authority over the internal affairs of the states.
- The Government of India Act, 1919 (Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms) also introduced dyarchy in the provinces and a bicameral central legislature.
- Confusing the 1919 Act (Montagu-Chelmsford) with the 1909 Act (Morley-Minto).
- Assuming the Chamber of Princes had legislative power — it was only advisory/consultative.
UPPSC/UPSC test the Chamber of Princes by pairing it with the correct Act (1919) or by asking about paramountcy and the status of princely states under successive reforms.
Which of the following is/are the principal feature(s) of the Government of India Act, 1919? 1. Introduction of dyarchy in the executive government of the provinces 2. Introduction of separate communal electorates for Muslims 3. Devolution of legislative authority by the Centre to the provinces
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer(c) 1 and 3 only
Both test the provisions of the Government of India Act, 1919 — this UPSC question probes its principal features (dyarchy, devolution), the same Act that created the Chamber of Princes.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The Government of India Act, 1919 is also known as the:
- (a)Morley-Minto Reforms
- (b)Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms
- (c)Regulating Act
- (d)Pitt's India Act
Answer(b) Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms — it also introduced dyarchy in the provinces.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The relationship between the princely states and the British paramount power was examined by the:
- (a)Simon Commission
- (b)Butler Committee
- (c)Hunter Committee
- (d)Sapru Committee
Answer(b) Butler Committee (1927) — it studied Crown-princely state relations.