Women Franchise and Legislative Reservations

Statement 1 is incorrect because the 1919 reforms did not grant universal adult franchise to women above 21; it left it to the provincial legislatures to determine if women could vote based on restrictive property or education criteria. Statement 2 is correct because the Government of India Act, 1935 expanded the electorate and set aside separate electorates and reserved seats explicitly for women in the federal and provincial legislatures. > Political franchise for women evolved gradually, moving from discretionary local voting guidelines in 1919 to dedicated legislative reservations in 1935. Answer: (b).