Correct Option
The correct option is (a).
Explanation
The electoral system in pre-independence India was characterized by a limited franchise. Voting rights were restricted based on criteria such as property ownership, tax payments, and educational qualifications, rather than being available to all adult citizens.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Correct: During the British administration, the right to vote was extended to only a small fraction of the population (approximately 10% under the Government of India Act, 1935). Consequently, the representatives were elected by a privileged minority (the propertied and educated class), yet their legislative decisions governed the entire population. Thus, the minority electorate effectively determined the political fate of the disenfranchised majority.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: The principle of Universal Adult Franchise (the right of every adult citizen to vote without discrimination) was not adopted in pre-independence India. It was introduced only with the enforcement of the Constitution of India in 1950. Pre-independence acts, such as the Government of India Acts of 1919 and 1935, restricted voting eligibility to specific socio-economic groups.
Key Takeaway: Pre-independence elections were based on restricted franchise (property, tax, education), whereas the post-independence Indian Constitution established Universal Adult Franchise as the basis of elections.