UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — a hundred years ago July 16, 1926

Q1. The Lee Commission (1923–24) described the creation of which one of the following as a 'cardinal feature' of its report, essential to operationalise its recruitment recommendations for the superior services?

  • A. A statutory Public Service Commission
  • B. A Federal Court of India
  • C. The Central Legislative Assembly
  • D. The Indian Audit and Accounts Department

Q2. Under the Lee Commission's recommended recruitment formula for the superior civil services, what percentage of future entrants was to be filled by direct recruitment of Indians?

  • A. 20 per cent
  • B. 25 per cent
  • C. 40 per cent
  • D. 60 per cent

Q3. Which one of the following was the first official commission to recommend a fixed proportion of Indians (about one-fourth) in the higher/superior services?

  • A. Islington Commission (1912)
  • B. Lee Commission (1923–24)
  • C. Aitchison Commission (1886–87)
  • D. Macaulay Committee (1854)

Q4. In the context of these commissions, the term 'Indianisation of the services' most precisely refers to which one of the following?

  • A. The progressive increase in the proportion of Indians recruited to, and holding, the superior/covenanted services
  • B. The transfer of all provincial subjects to elected Indian ministers
  • C. The replacement of English by Indian languages as the language of administration
  • D. The shifting of ICS training institutions from England to India

Q5. The Public Service Commission set up in 1926 is described as a 'statutory' commission. In this context, 'statutory' most precisely means that it was:

  • A. Established under a provision of an Act of the legislature (Section 96C of the Government of India Act, 1919)
  • B. Created by an executive resolution of the Governor-General in Council
  • C. Established directly by a written Constitution of India
  • D. Set up as an advisory panel by the Secretary of State without any legal backing

Q6. With regard to the Public Service Commission constituted on 1 October 1926, which one of the following statements is correct?

  • A. It was the first Public Service Commission actually established in India, with Sir Ross Barker (of the Home Civil Service) as its first Chairman
  • B. It conducted recruitment exclusively for the provincial services and never for all-India services
  • C. It was empowered solely by the Government of India Act, 1935
  • D. It functioned entirely free of any control by the Secretary of State from its very inception

Q7. The Government of India's 1926 scheme for recruitment and training of superior railway officers, framed 'in pursuance of the Lee Commission Recommendations', set which of the following as the target proportion for Indianisation of vacancies 'as soon as practicable'?

  • A. 40 per cent
  • B. 50 per cent
  • C. 75 per cent
  • D. 100 per cent

Q8. Consider the following statements comparing the 1926 railway officers' recruitment scheme with the general Lee Commission recommendations for the superior civil services: 1. The general Lee Commission formula fixed direct Indian recruitment at 40%, whereas the 1926 railway scheme targeted 75% Indianisation of vacancies. 2. The 1926 railway scheme covered the Transportation/Commercial, Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering departments. 3. Unlike the general civil-service recommendations, the 1926 railway scheme required no approval from the Secretary of State. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The general Lee Commission formula fixed direct Indian recruitment at 40%, whereas the 1926 railway scheme targeted 75% Indianisation of vacancies.
  2. The 1926 railway scheme covered the Transportation/Commercial, Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering departments.
  3. Unlike the general civil-service recommendations, the 1926 railway scheme required no approval from the Secretary of State.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q9. The enabling provision under which a statutory Public Service Commission could be established in India was contained in which section of the Government of India Act, 1919?

  • A. Section 96C
  • B. Section 84A
  • C. Section 52A
  • D. Section 45A

Q10. With reference to the Government of India Act, 1919, consider the following: 1. It introduced dyarchy at the provincial level. 2. It contained an enabling provision (Section 96C) for a statutory Public Service Commission. 3. It provided for the ICS examination to be held in India (from 1922) in addition to London. 4. It abolished the office of the Secretary of State for India. Which of the statements given above are correctly identified as provisions/consequences of the Act?

  1. It introduced dyarchy at the provincial level.
  2. It contained an enabling provision (Section 96C) for a statutory Public Service Commission.
  3. It provided for the ICS examination to be held in India (from 1922) in addition to London.
  4. It abolished the office of the Secretary of State for India.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 3 and 4
  • D. 1 and 2 only

Q11. The early nationalist (Moderate) demand that the Indian Civil Service examination be held simultaneously in India was conceded and first implemented through which of the following?

  • A. The Government of India Act, 1919, with the ICS examination held in India from 1922
  • B. The Lee Commission report of 1924
  • C. The Islington Commission report of 1912
  • D. The Aitchison Commission of 1886–87

Q12. The Moderate nationalists' long-standing demand was that the Indian Civil Service examination be held simultaneously in how many locations?

  • A. One (in India only)
  • B. Two (in India and in England)
  • C. Three
  • D. Four