Answer: A

Explanation:

British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald announced a plan on representation of minorities in August 1932. This came to be known as Communal Award. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

The Award not only extended separate electorates to Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Europeans and Anglo-Indians but also extended it to Dalits. Gandhi was deeply distressed by the separate electoral system for Dalits and started a fast in Pune's Yerwada Jail for amendment in the award. Ultimately an agreement was reached between the Congress leaders and the Dalit leaders, which came to be known as the Poona Pact. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.

Answer: C

Explanation:

The Charter Act of 1833 was a decisive step towards the centralization of British India. The features of this Act were as follows:

This Act made the Governor General of Bengal the Governor General of India, vested with all civil and military powers. Thus, this Act created for the first time a government that had complete control over the entire Indian territory under British occupation. Lord William Bentinck was the first Governor General of India. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.

It deprived the Governors of Madras and Bombay of legislative power. The Governor General of India was given unlimited powers of legislature throughout British India. Under this, the laws made earlier were called regulatory laws and the laws made under the new law were called Acts. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.

The activities of the East India Company as a trading body were ended. Now it has become a purely administrative body. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

The Charter Act 1833 attempted to introduce open competition for the selection of civil servants. It stated that Indians should not be debarred from obtaining any post, office or employment in the company, however, due to opposition from the Court of Directors, the provision was abolished. Hence, statement 4 is correct.

Answer: A

Explanation:

In November 1927 (i.e. two years ahead of schedule), the British Government announced the formation of a seven-member Statutory Commission under the leadership of Sir John Simon to find out the position of India in the new Constitution. All the members of the commission were British, so all parties boycotted it. The commission presented its report in 1930. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.

The British Government held three Round Table Conferences with representatives of the British Government, British India and the Indian Princely States to consider the Commission's proposals. The first Round Table Conference was held in 1930, the second in 1931 and the third Round Table Conference between 17 November 1932 and 24 December 1932. Dr. BR. Ambedkar, Tej Bahadur Sapru, M. R. Jayakar, N.M. Joshi and C. N. Mudaliar participated in all three round table conferences.

On the basis of the discussions held in these conferences, a 'White Paper on Constitutional Reforms' was prepared, which was placed before the Joint Select Committee of the British Parliament for consideration. The recommendations of this committee were incorporated (with some amendments) in the Indian Council Act, 1935. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Answer: A

Explanation:

On February 20, 1947, British Prime Minister Clement Attlee announced that British rule in India would end on June 30, 1947. After this the power will be handed over to responsible Indian hands. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

Muslim League agitated on this announcement and talked about the partition of India. On June 3, 1947, the British Government again clarified that the Constitution made by the Constituent Assembly formed in 1946 would not be applicable in those areas which did not accept it. On the same day, June 3, 1947, Viceroy Lord Mountbatten presented a plan of partition, which was called the Mountbatten Plan. This plan was accepted by Congress and Muslim League. Thus the Indian Independence Act, 1947 was enacted and implemented. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Here, statements I and II both are correct and statement II is the correct explanation of statement I. Hence, option (a) is correct.

Answer: D

Explanation:

In the formation of the Constituent Assembly, the members of the Constituent Assembly were not elected on the basis of universal suffrage. Elections were held in the provinces of India in the winter of 1945–46. After this, the provincial parliaments elected the members of the Constituent Assembly. Congress was influential in the new Constituent Assembly. In the provincial elections, the Congress won a landslide victory in the general constituencies and the Muslim League got most of the reserved Muslim seats. But the League considered it appropriate to boycott the Constituent Assembly and continued the demand for Pakistan by making another constitution. Hence, statements 1 and 2 both are incorrect.