With reference to the Government of India Act, 1935, consider the following statements:

1. It provided for the establishment of an All India Federation based on the union of the British Indian Provinces and Princely States.
2. Defence and Foreign Affairs were kept under the control of the federal legislature. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

The Government of India Act, 1935 aimed to establish the political structure for India.

Statement 1: The Act proposed an All-India Federation comprising both British Indian territories and Princely States. However, this federation never materialized because the required number of princely states did not join.

Statement 2: Defence and Foreign Affairs were reserved under the control of the Governor-General, not the federal legislature. This reflects the introduction of dyarchy at the center.

Other key provisions of the Act included:

• Division of powers into Federal, Provincial, and Concurrent lists.
• Provincial Autonomy by abolishing dyarchy at the provincial level.
• Establishment of a bicameral federal legislature.
• Extension of franchise.
• Provision for a Federal Court.
• Safeguards for minorities.
• Restructuring of provinces (e.g., Sindh separated from Bombay).

Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is not correct. Hence, only statement 1 is correct.