Acts before separation
of
Sub-continent
Act of 1861
Back Ground
Complete control of British on political
system.
 East India company over powered the
political system.
 Muslims were facing disrespect.
 Indians had no political representation.
 Sir. Syed Ahmed Khan suggested to
include Indian people in political system.

Act of 1861
1.
First ever constitutional structure.
2.
Indian people were included in governor
general's council.
3.
The number of the members of the
legislative councils was increased.
Act of 1861
4.
5.
6.
The governor was given authority to
nominate at least six persons to his
Council
The nominated members could not
criticize the actions of Council
The governor-general could issue
ordinance and was authorized to veto
provincial legislation
Act of 1861 (Results)

The enforcement of Legislative Council Act of
1861 was the first step taken for the
constitutional reforms in India.

It provided in spite of its limited scope, an
opportunity to the Indian people to safeguard
their political interests.

Sir Syed Ahmed Khan was nominated as the
member of the legislative council
Act of 1892
Back Ground
All Indian National Congress was founded
in 1885
 Iord Ripon (1880-1884)
 Liberal Government in England
 Lord Dufferin appointed a committee to
examine the issues and make a report.
 The Indian Councils Act of 1892 was the
result of the recommendations.

Act of 1892
1.
Expansion in the size of the Governor
General's legislative council.
2.
The members were to be nominated, subject to
the approval of the Secretary of State
3.
16 additional members in the legislative
council, 6 were official members, 5 were
nominated non-official members and 5 were
elected, one by the Calcutta Chamber of
Commerce, and four from the four provincial
councils.
Act of 1892
4.
5.
6.
The maximum number of additional
members of the Bengal Presidency was
fixed at 20
and those of the North-Western
Province
and Oudh at 15.
Results

The Indian Councils Act of 1892 was
significant in a sense that it not only
increased the number of non-official
members of the legislative bodies both at
the provincial and national levels

Introduced the principle of election in a
limited way through such constituencies as
municipal bodies
Act of 1909

Back Ground

Defects

Overall Look
Back Ground

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
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
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

demands for the separate electorate was conceded
the preparation of separate electoral rolls was ordered
the legislative councils were expanded
the authority of the council was increased
the viceroy council’s membership at sixty members
the membership of the provinces of Bengal ,Bihar ,
Bombay and orissa was fixed at fifty members were
as the membership of the provinces of Punjab, &
Assam was fixed at 30 members
the Indians were included in the executive council of
the viceroy and in the provincial executive councils
the local bodies , trade unions and universities were
allowed to elect their member
lt. governors were appointed in Bengal , Bombay and
madras.
Defects





Did not provide for mode of electing the
representatives
The voting rights were squeezed
The authority of elected were negligible
The nominated members were in
majority
Provincial expenditure were controlled by
the central government
Overall Look
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Any how no one can deny the importance and
utility of reforms. As it acceded the Muslims,
their much cherished demand &
Separate electorate in the provinces
Conferred on the Muslims the double vote
Gave imputes to the constitution in the India
Amazing political triumph
Muslim league performed in the commendable
manner
Act of 1919
Back Ground

S.A.ROWalt

STOP POLITICAL ACTIVITIES

QUAID AZAM RESIGNED

INCIDENT OF JALLIANWALA BAGH
Response

EDWIN MONTAGUE

MONTAGUE –CHELMSFORD REFORMS
Act of 1919
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Bicameral legislature was established in the center .
The upper house was know as council of state and
lower house was knows as central legislative
assembly.
The membership of upper house was fixed at 60
member while the lower house consisted of 146
members.
The upper house was elected for 5 years and he
lower house for 3 years.
Separate electorate was retained for the Muslims.
In government, bicameralism is the practice of having
two legislative or parliamentary chambers.
Thus, a bicameral parliament or bicameral legislature is
a parliament or legislature which consists of two
chambers or Houses.
The relationship between the two chambers varies; in
some cases, they have equal power,
while in others, one chamber is clearly superior to
the other.
Some political scientists believe that
bicameralism makes meaningful political reforms
more difficult to achieve and increases the risk of
deadlock.
This risk of deadlock is greater in cases where
both chambers have equal powers.
Others argue strongly for the merits of the
'checks and balances' provided by the bicameral
model, which they believe helps prevent illconsidered legislation from being passed into
law.
Act of 1919
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Self-government would be established gradually in
India.
The system of ‘dyarchy’ was introduced at the
provincial level.
By this system the provincial subjects were divide d
into two categories as the ‘transferred’ and
‘reserved subjects’
The subjects were divided between the center and
provinces. The central subjects were defenses,
foreign affairs, currency ,railways and
telecommunication.
The provincial subject included Education , Health
,Irrigation and local government.

Act of 1935
Back Ground

After the failure of the Third Round Table Conference,
the British government gave the Joint Select Committee
the task of formulating the new Act for India.

The Committee comprised of 16 members each from the
House of Commons and House of Lords, 20
representatives from British India and seven from the
princely states.

Lord Linlithgow was appointed as the president of
the Committee
Act of 1935
1.
2.
3.
A Federation of India was promised for, comprising both
provinces and states.
The provisions of the Act establishing the federal central
government were not to go into operation until a specified
number of rulers of states had signed Instruments of
Accession.
Since, this did not happen, the central government continued
to function in accordance with the 1919 Act and only the part of
the 1935 Act dealing with the provincial governments went into
operation.
4.
The Governor General remained the head of the central
administration and enjoyed wide powers concerning
administration, legislation and finance.
5.
No finance bill could be placed in the Central Legislature
without the consent of the Governor General.
Act of 1935
4
The Federal Legislature was to consist of two houses, the
Council of
State (Upper House) and the Federal Assembly (Lower House).
5
The Council of State was to consist of 260 members, out of
whom 156 were to be elected from the British India and 104 to
be nominated by the rulers of princely states.
6
The Federal Assembly was to consist of 375 members; out of
which 250 were to be elected by the Legislative Assemblies of
the British Indian provinces while 125 were to be nominated by
the rulers of princely states.
7
The Central Legislature had the right to pass any bill, but the bill
required the approval of the Governor General before it
became Law. On the other hand Governor General had the
power to frame ordinances.
Act of 1935
8
The Secretary of State was not expected to interfere
in matters that the Governor dealt with, with the help of
Indian Ministers.
9
The provinces were given autonomy with respect to
subjects delegated to them.
10
Diarchy, which had been established in the provinces
by the Act of 1919, was to be established at the Center.
However it came to an end in the provinces.
11
Two new provinces Sindh and Orissa were created.
Act of 1935
12
Reforms were introduced in N. W. F. P. as were in the
other provinces.
Separate electorates were continued as before.
13
14
One-third Muslim representation in the Central
Legislature was guaranteed.
Autonomous provincial governments in 11 provinces,
under ministries responsible to legislatures, would be
setup.
15
Burma and Aden were separated from India.
Act of 1935
15.
16.
The Federal Court was established in the
Center.
The Reserve Bank of India was
established.
Results

Both the Indian National Congress and the
Muslim League opposed the Act, but
participated in the provincial elections of
winter 1936-37.

At the time of independence, the two
dominions of India and Pakistan accepted
the Act of 1935.