Question

‘Dyarchy’ under the Government of India Act 1919 meant

• A. division of powers between the central and provincial government
• B. separation of judiciary from executive
• C. division of executive departments under elected ministers and the members of the governor’s executive council
• D. separation between legislature and executive

Hint:

Dyarchy = dual government at provincial level under 1919 Act; split into transferred and reserved subjects.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Dyarchy, introduced by the Government of India Act 1919, was a system of dual government at the provincial level.
Under this system, provincial subjects were divided into two categories—“transferred” and “reserved.”
Transferred subjects such as education, health, and agriculture were administered by ministers responsible to the legislative councils.
Reserved subjects such as finance, law and order, and irrigation remained under the direct control of the governor and his executive council.
This created a division of executive responsibilities between elected Indian ministers and appointed British officials.
Option (a) is incorrect because dyarchy did not mean division between central and provincial governments—that is federalism.
Option (b) is incorrect as separation of judiciary from executive is a different constitutional principle.
Option (d) is incorrect because separation between legislature and executive is a parliamentary or presidential feature, not dyarchy.