Consider the following statements regarding government policies towards Dalit backward castes in Bri...........

Modern Indian History 1885-1905

Consider the following statements regarding government policies towards Dalit/backward castes in British India:

1. The first attempt to replace the term scheduled castes with depressed classes was made by the Councils Act of 1891.

2. The Government of India Act 1909 was the first statute to provide political representation to the depressed classes in the provincial legislature through nomination.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 only

2 only

Both 1 and 2

Neither 1 nor 2

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Explanation:

• Statement 1 is not correct: The term Depressed Classes was first used by Britishers. The first attempt for a separate enumeration of the Depressed Classes by any of the Census Commissioners was made in 1911.
• The Government of India Act 1935 replaced the term ‘depressed classes’ with ‘Scheduled Castes’. Accordingly, separate lists of Scheduled Castes were notified for various provinces in 1936. The Act also defined races or tribes which appear to His Majesty-in-Council to correspond to the classes of persons formerly known as the depressed classes as His Majesty-in-Council may specify’.
• Statement 2 is not correct: The legal origin of Reservation Policy in India began with the Government of India Act, 1919 which came during the turbulent period of World War I. It provided the depressed classes with 13 seats in provincial legislative council to be filled on the basis of nomination. Accordingly, Madras was to send 5 members; Bihar, Orissa and Central Provinces 2 each; and, Assam and Bengal one each.