Act for the Good Government of India (1858):
1. Enacted after the Revolt of 1857 (First War of Independence).
2. Abolished the East India Company, transferring powers to the British Crown.
3. Act of good governance
6 Features
1. India governed in the name of Her Majesty, the Queen.
2. Governor-General became Viceroy, direct representative of the British Crown.
(Lord Canning - 1st viceroy of India)
3. Ended double government by abolishing the Board of Control and Court of
Directors.
4. Established Secretary of State for India,
1. Power: complete authority and control over Indian administration.
2. Member of the British Cabinet.
3. responsible to British Parliament.
5. Created a 15 Members Council of India to advise the Secretary of State.
Advisory body , chairman -Secretary of State
6. Created Secretary of State-in-Council
1. body corporate
2. Power: Capable of suing and being sued in both India and England.
Impact:
Improved administrative machinery.
Did not significantly change India's government system
Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms 1919
On August 20, 1917, the British Government declared , for the first time, that its
objective was the gradual introduction of responsible Government in India
The Government of India Act of 1919 was
thus enacted, which came into force in 1921. This Act is also known as Montagu-
Chelmsford Reforms (Montagu was the Secretary of State fo r India and Lord
Chelmsford was the Viceroy of India).
1. classified administration subjects into central and provincial categories
allowed both levels of government to make laws on their respective
subjects
Allowed provinces more authority with Devolution Rules.
However, the government's structure stayed centralized and unitary.
2. Creation of the office of the High Commissioner for India in London.
Function : functions which were previously performed by the Secretary of State
for India.
Establishment of a consultative Chamber of Princes
also known as Narendra MandaI.
inaugurated in 1921.
consisted of 120 members i.e., Princes of 108 states and 12
representatives of other states.
headed by the Viceroy (Governor General).
It facilitated the consultation and discussion on the matters of common
interest
3. Statutory Commission Inquiry: Suggested a review and report on the act's working
after ten years.
4. Separate Provincial Budgets from central:(1st time)
Provincial legislatures authorized to enact separate budgets.
Public Service Commission:
Establishment of Central Public Service Commission in 1926 for civil
servant recruitment.
Granted Limited franchise to few people based on property ,tax and others.
Extended Communal Representation for Sikhs, Indian Christians, Anglo-Indians,
and Europeans introduced.
3/6 Indian Representation in Viceroy's Executive Council excluding commander
in chief
introduced, for the first time, bicameralism and direct elections in the country.
Indian Legislative Council Replaced as Council of State (Upper House)
Legislative Assembly (Lower House)
Majority members are directly elected
Introduction of Dyarchy:
Greek word di-arche which means double rule
It is division of the provincial subjects into two parts-transferred a nd
reserved
The transferred subjects were to be administered by the Governor + LC
ministers
The reserved subjects, on the other hand, were to be administered by the
Governor and his executive council.
Experiment was unsuccessful.
Government of India Act of 1935
The Act marked a second milestone towards a completely responsible government
in India. It was a lengthy and detailed document having 321 Sections and 10
Schedules.
15. Features
1. Established All-India Federation
Consists of centre , provinces & princely states as unit
Division the powers between the Centre and units
Federal List (for Centre, with 59 items),
Provincial List (for provinces, with 54 items)
the Concurrent List (for both, with 36 items).
Residuary powers were given to the Viceroy (Governor-General)
federation never came into existence
2. Abolished dyarchy in provinces, introduced provincial autonomy, and responsible
Governments at provinces
This came into effect in 1937 and was discontinued in 1939.
3. Planned dyarchy at Centre but never implemented
4. Introduced bicameralism in six/11 provinces with legislative councils and
assemblies
Bengal, Bombay, Madras, Bihar, Assam and the United Provinces
5. Abolished Council of India, provided Secretary of State with team of advisors.
6. Extended franchise to 14% of the population.
7. Established Reserve Bank of India for currency and credit control.
8. Reserved seats for depressed classes, extended representation to women and
labor
9. Established Federal, Provincial, and Joint Public Service Commissions.
10. Created Federal Court in 1937.
11. Separated Burma from India.
12. Created Orissa and Sind provinces.
13. Safeguards for minority interests.
14.Established Federal Railway Authority to look after the railway administration
15. Appointed Auditor-General of India for auditing federation and province accounts.
