01 Why could the federal scheme of the Government of India Act 1935 not be implemented?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Required participation of princely states was not obtained
Explanation: The direct answer is A: the required participation of the princely states was not obtained. The Act of 1935 proposed an all-India federation made from British Indian provinces and princely states. The federation could begin only if enough rulers joined voluntarily. The rulers did not provide the necessary accession, so the federal part remained only a proposal and was never implemented. Option A is correct because it identifies this missing condition. Option B is wrong because the Congress already existed and was politically active. Option C is wrong because India was still under British rule. Option D is wrong because the Simon Commission did not stop this plan; it came earlier and had a different purpose. Remember: proposed federation plus missing princely-state consent equals no federation.