Q. Regarding the Indian Councils Act of 1861, consider the following statements:
1.It initiated the process of decentralization by restoring the legislative powers to the Bombay and Madras Presidencies.
2.It empowered the Governor-General to issue ordinances, but without the concurrence of the legislative council, during an emergency.
3.It gave a statutory recognition to the ‘portfolio’ system, introduced by Lord Canning in 1859.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Answer: C
Notes:
Explanation:
Statement 1: Correct. This reversed the centralizing trend that started with the Regulating Act of 1773.
Statement 2: Incorrect. It empowered the Governor-General to issue ordinances, the concurrence of the legislative council, during an emergency. The life of such an ordinance was six months.
Statement 3: Correct. Under this, a member of the GG’s Council was made in charge of one or more departments and was authorized to issue final orders on behalf of the Council.
