The correct answer is option 2, the Act of 1909. This act is also known as the Morley-Minto Reforms or the Indian Councils Act of 1909. It was introduced by the British government to appease the demands of the Muslim community in India. The Act introduced separate electorates for Muslims, allowing them to vote for candidates of their own religious community. This was done in response to the demands of the All India Muslim League, which argued for the protection of Muslim political rights. The act was a significant step in the direction of communal representation, as it recognized religious communities as distinct political entities. It ultimately laid the foundation for the later demand for separate Muslim-majority countries, leading to the eventual partition of India in 1947.