By which one of the following Acts was created the Federal Court in India ?

The correct answer is D. The Federal Court of India was created by the Government of India Act, 1935 and began functioning in October 1937. None of the three Acts listed as options A to C set it up.

Why the others are wrong:

• A) Indian Council Act, 1861 expanded the Viceroy's Executive Council with non-official members and started the legislative councils. It had nothing to do with a federal court.
• B) Government of India Act, 1909 (Morley-Minto Reforms) enlarged the legislative councils and introduced separate electorates for Muslims. It did not create any court.
• C) Government of India Act, 1919 (Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms) introduced dyarchy in the provinces and a bicameral central legislature. It did not create the Federal Court.

The core concept is the evolution of the colonial judicial structure. The Federal Court had original, appellate and advisory jurisdiction, and Sir Maurice Gwyer was its first Chief Justice. It was replaced by the Supreme Court of India under the Constitution in January 1950. This is useful for Mains on the constitutional history of federalism and judicial review.

Trap: Aspirants often pick 1919 because it is the best-known reform Act of the period. Remember that the 1935 Act created the federal structure and the Federal Court, while the 1919 Act did not.