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Government of India Act 1935

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The Government of India Act was passed by the British Parliament in 1935 in the month of August. It was referred to as one of the longest acts which were enacted in India by the British Parliament and were divided into two separate acts, namely the Government of India Act 1935 and the Government of Burma Act 1935.

Government of India Act 1935

Government of India Act 1935

Government of India Act 1935  

A brief detail of the Act is given below in the table:

Government of India Act, 1935 

Aim  An Act to provide additional provisions for the Government of India.
Territorial Extent Territories which were under direct British control 
Enacted By  Parliament of United Kingdom
Royal Assent   24th July 1935
Commenced  1st April 1937
Status Repealed on 26th January 1950 in India

Also, read about other important Government of India Acts under British Rule:

Crown Rule
Pitts India Act of 1784

Background- Government of India Act, 1935

The events before the act of 1935 have influenced the features of this act. 

  1. The previous commissions made by the British government had no Indian representative, which led to the discussion of the new reforms between the leaders and the government. To make an act under which every section of the Indian society is involved agreed, and participated.
  2. Support from Indians in the First World War also aided the British acknowledgement of the need for the inclusion of more Indians in the administration of the country.
  3. The previous acts of Chelmsford reforms and the Simon Commission have been the biggest disagreement among the Indians. After many famous protests against Simon’s commission, the Indian leaders made their commission and take out the Nehru report.  The Simon Commission and the Nehru Report were published in the year of 1930.
  4. The Nehru report was made under the leadership of Motilal Nehru, under which the demands of the Indian population were drafted. 
  5. After the three round table conferences, a white paper was published, under which every report was discussed to make the foundation of the 1935 Act. Let us look at and understand all the 10 features that made this act a milestone for the Indian administration.

Read Also

Why Simon commission was rejected?
First Round Table Conference 
Hunter Commission

How Government of India Act 1935 divide powers?

The Government of India Act 1935, has divided powers between the centre and the provinces. There were three lists which have given the subjects under each of the governments:

  1. Federal List (Centre)
  2. Provincial List (Provinces)
  3. Concurrent List (Both)

The Viceroy of India came to be vested with many residual powers. The changes which were brought through the Government of India Act, of 1935 are below:

Government of India Act, 1935- Changes Brought by the Act
Sr. No. Features
1. Provincial autonomy
2. Diarchy at the centre
3. Bicameral Legislature
4. Federal Court
5. Indian Council
6. Franchise
7. Reorganisation

Provincial Autonomy

The Act has given more autonomy to the provinces and the system of diarchy was abolished at the provincial levels the Governor was made head of the executive and there was a Council of Ministers to advise him. The governors retained reserve powers and the British can suspend a provincial government.

Diarchy at the Centre

The subjects which are under Federal List are divided into Reserved and Transferred. The Reserved subjects were controlled by Governor- General who came to administer them with three counsellors who were appointed by him. The subjects included were defence, ecclesiastical affairs, and external affairs. The Transferred subjects came to be administered by the Governor General with his Council of Ministers and the subjects in this list included local government, forests, education etc.

Bicameral Legislature

A bicameral federal legislature came to be established and two houses of Federal Assembly and Council of States were present and the federal assembly had a term of 5 years. Bicameral legislatures were introduced in Bengal, Madras, Bombay, Bihar, Assam and the United Provinces.

Federal Court

Federal Court was established in Delhi for the resolution of disputes between provinces, as well as centres and provinces. The Federal Court had to have 1 Chief Justice and not more than 6 judges.

Indian Council

The Indian Council came to be abolished and the Secretary of State for India had a team of advisors.

Franchise

The Act came to introduce direct elections in India for the first time.

Reorganisation

Some of the important reorganisations which took place were Sindh was carved out of the Bombay Presidency; Bihar and Orissa came to be split, and Burma came to be severed off from India. Aden was made a crown colony and separated from India.

Government of India Act, 1935- Important Points

Some important points which pertain to the Government of India Act, of 1935 are as follows:

  1. British parliament came to retain its supremacy over Indian legislatures for both provincial and federal.
  2. Federal Railway Authority came be set up for controlling railways in India.
  3. The establishment of the Reserve Bank of India by the Act.
  4. The Act also provided provisions for the establishment of federal, provincial and joint Public Service Commissions.
  5. The Government of India Act, of 1935 was replaced by the Constitution of India after Independence.

Read Also

  1. Fundamental duties
  2. Constitution of India
  3. Fundamental Rights
  4. The Company Rule 
  5. Indian National Congress Sessions
  6. Rowlatt Act & Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
  7. Charter Act 1813
  8. Preamble of the Constitution
  9. Viceroys of British India

FAQs on Government of India Act 1935

Q 1. What are the main features of the Government of India Act 1935?

Answer-

The Act of 1935 was passed with the aim of further provision for the Government of India and was passed by British Parliament in August 1935.

Q 2. Under the supervision of whom was the Government of India Act 1935 passed?

Answer-

The Act came to be passed under the supervision of the British government and was one of the longest acts enacted by the Britishers as of yet.

Q 3. What are the key features of the Government of India Act 1935?

Answer-

The main features of the Government of India Act 1935 include the abolition of the Indian Council and also the introduction of an advisory body in place, for the creation of an All India Federation abolition of Diarachy.



Last Updated : 04 May, 2023
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