The Rowlatt Act aimed at

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UPSC Prelims is a competitive examination conducted in India. This question is from the 2012 UPSC Prelims History paper.

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Question

The Rowlatt Act aimed at

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: B — Imprisonment without trial and summary procedures for trialSolution:The Rowlatt Act (officially the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act, 1919) was enacted by the Imperial Legislative Council in March 1919, passed on the recommendations of the Sedition Committee chaired by British judge Sir Sidney Rowlatt. It effectively extended the wartime emergency measures of the Defence of India Regulations Act (1915) into peacetime — allowing the government to imprison persons suspected of sedition or terrorism for up to two years without trial, and providing for special courts with summary trial procedures with no right of appeal.Gandhi called it the 'Black Act' and it became the immediate trigger for his nationwide Satyagraha campaign — which culminated tragically in the Jallianwala Bagh massacre (13 April 1919) when General Dyer ordered troops to fire on a peaceful gathering in Amritsar, killing hundreds.Why other options are incorrect:Option A (Compulsory war support): Compulsory war support (recruitment, economic contributions) was the concern of earlier wartime legislation. The Rowlatt Act came AFTER World War I ended (November 1918) — it was specifically aimed at continuing repressive powers into the post-war period, not for war support.Option C (Suppression of Khilafat Movement): The Khilafat Movement (1919-1924) emerged as a separate issue — the Rowlatt Act targeted revolutionary nationalists and was enacted before the Khilafat issue reached its peak.Option D (Press restrictions): Press restrictions were imposed through separate legislation like the Indian Press Act, 1910. The Rowlatt Act focused specifically on preventive detention and trial procedures — not press freedom.Key Concept: The Rowlatt Act was passed despite the unanimous opposition of all elected Indian members of the Imperial Legislative Council. Gandhi launched the Rowlatt Satyagraha calling for hartal (strike), civil disobedience, and peaceful resistance. The resulting protests — particularly in Punjab — led to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. The massacre was a turning point — it alienated many moderate Indians from the British and transformed Gandhi into a mass leader. The Rowlatt Act was never actually used after its passage — it was repealed in 1922 — but its symbolic impact on the freedom struggle was enormous.

The Rowlatt Act aimed at

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The Rowlatt Act aimed at

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