Question

read the passage
chittaranjan das was an indian political activist for the indian independence
movement. the following is from a speech given in october 1917 about responsible
government
from public meeting—mymensingh

i draw your particular attention to the words \progressive realization of
responsible government in india, as an integral part of the british empire.\ that is the
ideal which the secretary of state has sketched out. what is the deduction from this?
what is it that we have got to hope for from this statement? it is this: that there will be
several representative institutions and that these institutions will be responsible
institutions and that these institutions will form the government of india, which will be
an integral part of the british empire. now, what does that mean? it means that there
should be autonomous governments in every province and that these provincial
governments are to be responsible and autonomous, that is to say, responsible not to
the government of india, not to anything which is above them, but to the people, the
electors who would elect the representatives to these autonomous legislative bodies.
that is the doctrine of responsible self - government as it is understood in politics and
in constitutional law.
(from \public meeting—mymensingh\ by chittaranjan das)
what is the author’s main claim in the passage?

1. the british empire should ultimately determine what indian government looks like.
2. a responsible self - government is one that is local and accountable to the people.
3. it is important for representative institutions to stay completely separate from one another.
4. india should be ruled through provincial governments that answer to the government of

india.

Explanation:

• Option 1: The passage emphasizes self - government for India, not British Empire determining Indian government, so this is wrong.
• Option 2: The passage says responsible self - government means provincial governments are responsible to the people (electors) and autonomous legislative bodies, which matches "local and accountable to the people".
• Option 3: The passage talks about representative institutions forming the Government of India as part of the British Empire, not staying separate, so this is wrong.
• Option 4: The passage says provincial governments are responsible to the people, not to the Government of India, so this is wrong.

Answer:

1. A responsible self - government is one that is local and accountable to the people.