In how many provinces did the Indian National Congress come to power in the elections held in 1937 under the Government of India Act, 1935?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Eight
Note 1: This question is faulty, as NCERT contradicts itself, so there could be two answers to this question, 7 (Option (2) Seven) and 8 (Option (3) Eight). Such a question was asked from two portions of the pre-rationalised NCERT:
‘Understanding Partition’, Timeline (pre-rationalised edition): “1937-39 Congress ministries come to power in seven out of 11 provinces of British India”
‘Framing the Constitution’, 2.1 The will of the people (pre-rationalised edition): “When elections were held in 1937, under the 1935 Act, the Congress came to power in eight out of the 11 provinces.”
Note 2: The NCERT book (2026-27) no longer has the chapter ‘Understanding Partition’ and gives only the second figure, eight out of the 11 provinces, which is Option (3). Its passage is given below for the benefit of the students.
Note 3: A same/similar question was asked in CUET (UG) in the papers below.
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
| – | – | – | 14-06 S1 19-06 S2* | – |
* A similar question.
NCERT (2026-27): “2.1 The will of the people … In fact, as the demand for representation grew, the British had been forced to introduce a series of constitutional reforms. A number of Acts were passed (1909, 1919 and 1935), gradually enlarging the space for Indian participation in provincial governments. The executive was made partly responsible to the provincial legislature in 1919, and almost entirely so under the Government of India Act of 1935. When elections were held in 1937, under the 1935 Act, the Congress came to power in eight out of the 11 provinces.” |