Creation of a Legislative Council

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 22 views

The Government of India Act of 1909 and 1919: A Critical Analysis

Introduction

The Government of India Act of 1909 and 1919 were two significant pieces of legislation that shaped the governance of India during the British colonial era. These acts were introduced by the British government to reform the existing system of governance and to address the growing demands for self-rule and constitutional reforms in India. However, despite their intentions, these acts had several major flaws that ultimately led to widespread discontent and opposition from the Indian people. In this article, we will analyze the background of the Government of India Act of 1909 and 1919, and examine the major flaws of the latter.

Background of the Government of India Act of 1909

The Government of India Act of 1909, also known as the Morley-Minto Reforms, was introduced by Lord Minto, the Viceroy of India, and John Morley, the Secretary of State for India. The act was a response to the growing demands for constitutional reforms in India, which had been sparked by the Indian National Congress's demand for self-rule. The act introduced several key reforms, including the creation of a legislative council with elected members, the expansion of the franchise to include more Indians, and the introduction of a system of separate electorates for Muslims.

Key Provisions of the Government of India Act of 1909

Creation of a Legislative Council: The act created a legislative council with 60 members, of which 26 were to be elected by the provincial councils, 11 by the universities, and 23 by the British government.
Expansion of the Franchise: The act expanded the franchise to include more Indians, with the right to vote granted to those who paid a certain amount of taxes.
Separate Electorates: The act introduced a system of separate electorates for Muslims, which allowed them to elect their own representatives to the legislative council.

Background of the Government of India Act of 1919

The Government of India Act of 1919, also known as the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms, was introduced by Edwin Montagu, the Secretary of State for India, and Lord Chelmsford, the Viceroy of India. The act was a response to the growing demands for self-rule and constitutional reforms in India, which had been sparked by the Indian National Congress's demand for a more representative government.

Key Provisions of the Government of India Act of 1919

Creation of a Central Legislative Assembly: The act created a central legislative assembly with 145 members, of which 104 were to be elected by the provincial councils, 36 by the universities, and 5 by the British government.
Expansion of the Franchise: The act expanded the franchise to include more Indians, with the right to vote granted to those who paid a certain amount of taxes.
Provincial Autonomy: The act introduced a system of provincial autonomy, which gave more powers to the provincial governments.

Major Flaws of the Government of India Act of 1919

Despite its intentions, the Government of India Act of 1919 had several major flaws that ultimately led to widespread discontent and opposition from the Indian people. Some of the key flaws of the act include:

Limited Representation: The act did not provide for adequate representation of the Indian people in the legislative assembly, with only a small percentage of the population having the right to vote.
Separate Electorates: The act's provision for separate electorates for Muslims was seen as a way to divide the Indian people and to undermine the unity of the country.
Provincial Autonomy: The act's provision for provincial autonomy was seen as a way to weaken the central government and to create a system of dual power.
Lack of Accountability: The act did not provide for adequate accountability of the government to the people, with the executive being responsible only to the British government.

Conclusion

The Government of India Act of 1909 and 1919 were two significant pieces of legislation that shaped the governance of India during the British colonial era. However, despite their intentions, these acts had several major flaws that ultimately led to widespread discontent and opposition from the Indian people. The act's limited representation, separate electorates, provincial autonomy, and lack of accountability were some of the key flaws that contributed to its failure. The Indian National Congress and other nationalist organizations opposed the act and demanded more radical reforms. The act's flaws ultimately led to the eventual independence of India in 1947.

References

The Government of India Act of 1909: A collection of documents related to the Government of India Act of 1909, including the act itself and various reports and memoranda.
The Government of India Act of 1919: A collection of documents related to the Government of India Act of 1919, including the act itself and various reports and memoranda.
The Indian National Congress: A collection of documents related to the Indian National Congress, including its constitution, resolutions, and other materials.
The British Government's Policy in India: A collection of documents related to the British government's policy in India, including various reports and memoranda.
Q&A: The Government of India Act of 1909 and 1919

Introduction

The Government of India Act of 1909 and 1919 were two significant pieces of legislation that shaped the governance of India during the British colonial era. These acts were introduced by the British government to reform the existing system of governance and to address the growing demands for self-rule and constitutional reforms in India. However, despite their intentions, these acts had several major flaws that ultimately led to widespread discontent and opposition from the Indian people. In this article, we will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about the Government of India Act of 1909 and 1919.

Q: What was the main purpose of the Government of India Act of 1909?

A: The main purpose of the Government of India Act of 1909 was to reform the existing system of governance in India and to address the growing demands for self-rule and constitutional reforms.

Q: What were the key provisions of the Government of India Act of 1909?

A: The key provisions of the Government of India Act of 1909 included the creation of a legislative council with elected members, the expansion of the franchise to include more Indians, and the introduction of a system of separate electorates for Muslims.

Q: What was the main purpose of the Government of India Act of 1919?

A: The main purpose of the Government of India Act of 1919 was to introduce a system of provincial autonomy and to expand the franchise to include more Indians.

Q: What were the key provisions of the Government of India Act of 1919?

A: The key provisions of the Government of India Act of 1919 included the creation of a central legislative assembly with elected members, the expansion of the franchise to include more Indians, and the introduction of a system of provincial autonomy.

Q: What were the major flaws of the Government of India Act of 1919?

A: The major flaws of the Government of India Act of 1919 included limited representation, separate electorates, provincial autonomy, and lack of accountability.

Q: How did the Indian National Congress respond to the Government of India Act of 1919?

A: The Indian National Congress responded to the Government of India Act of 1919 by opposing the act and demanding more radical reforms. The Congress also launched a non-cooperation movement against the British government.

Q: What was the outcome of the Government of India Act of 1919?

A: The outcome of the Government of India Act of 1919 was widespread discontent and opposition from the Indian people. The act's flaws ultimately led to the eventual independence of India in 1947.

Q: What can be learned from the Government of India Act of 1909 and 1919?

A: The Government of India Act of 1909 and 1919 can be seen as a failure of the British government's attempts to reform the existing system of governance in India. The acts' flaws highlight the need for more radical reforms and the importance of representation, accountability, and unity in governance.