Question 80 from UPSC CSE 2017 - Modern
History

Question

The object of the Butler Committee of 1927 was to

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: D. Improve the relationship between the Government of India and the Indian States.

Strategy: Focus on the context and year—Butler Committee, 1927, formed during the time of princely states' relations with the British government. None of the other options directly align with this timeframe or historical need. The committee was aimed at improving relations specifically between the Government of India and Indian States, as suggested by option D. The other options refer to either earlier or unrelated reforms.

Key Info: The Butler Committee (Indian States Committee) was constituted in 1927 under the chairmanship of Harcourt Butler to examine and report on the relationship between the British Indian government and the Indian princely states. At that time, there were over 560 princely states with varying degrees of autonomy under British paramountcy.

The committee recommended that paramountcy should remain the prerogative of the British Crown and not be subject to transfer to any other authority. This meant that neither the Government of India nor any future Indian legislature could inherit full diplomatic powers over the states.

The committee's work was relevant in the context of discussions leading up to federation proposals in the Government of India Act, 1935. Other options such as press censorship, jurisdiction definition between governments, or powers of the Secretary of State do not pertain to the Butler Committee.

**Notable related terms:**
- **Paramountcy:** The principle under which princely states accepted the British Crown's ultimate authority.
- **Chamber of Princes:** An advisory and consultative body for princely states, relevant in the same era.
- **Government of India Act, 1935:** Later sought further integration of princely states into a federal structure.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option A: Define the jurisdiction of the Central and Provincial Governments.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option B: Define the powers of the Secretary of State for India.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option C: Impose censorship on the national press.