Consider the following statements about the debate on the powers of the Centre and the provinces:
(A) Many members from the provinces echoed the fears expressed by K. Santhanam.
(B) Before Partition the Congress had agreed to grant considerable autonomy to the provinces.
(C) More items were placed on the Concurrent list than desired by the provinces.
(D) Fewer items were placed under exclusive Union control than in other federations.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → A, B and C only
(A) Many members from the provinces echoed the fears expressed by K. Santhanam. — Correct. Santhanam feared that the allocation of powers would cripple the states, and many others from the provinces echoed the same fears, fighting for fewer items on the Concurrent and Union lists.
(B) Before Partition the Congress had agreed to grant considerable autonomy to the provinces. — Correct. Before Partition the Congress had agreed to considerable autonomy for the provinces, partly to assure the Muslim League.
(C) More items were placed on the Concurrent list than desired by the provinces. — Correct. The Draft Constitution placed more items on the Concurrent list than the provinces desired.
(D) Fewer items were placed under exclusive Union control than in other federations. — Incorrect. It was the other way round: many more items were placed under exclusive Union control than in other federations.
NCERT (2026-27): “4. The Powers of the State … “… Santhanam predicted a dark future if the proposed distribution of powers was adopted without further scrutiny. In a few years, he said, all the provinces would rise in “revolt against the Centre”.” “Many others from the provinces echoed the same fears. They fought hard for fewer items to be put on the Concurrent and Union lists. A member from Orissa warned that “the Centre is likely to break” since powers had been excessively centralised under the Constitution.” “Before Partition the Congress had agreed to grant considerable autonomy to the provinces. …” |