The features of government of India Act 1935 was a significant piece of legislation that laid the foundation for the constitutional framework of British India. It was a major step towards granting self-government to British India and represented an attempt to address the demands for constitutional reforms.
Here are some key features and details of the Government of India Act 1935
Bifurcation of British India
- The Act proposed the division of British India into two separate entities – the Dominion of India and the Dominion of Pakistan. However, the actual partition took place in 1947, leading to the creation of India and Pakistan.
Provincial Autonomy
- The Act introduced the concept of provincial autonomy, granting increased powers to the provinces. Each province was given its own legislative assembly and executive council with the authority to make laws on certain subjects.
Federal Structure
- The Act established a federal structure for British India, comprising the Dominion of India and the Dominion of Pakistan. Each dominion had its own federal government, and certain powers were divided between the central and provincial governments.
Federal Legislature
- The federal legislature was bicameral, consisting of two houses – the Council of States (an upper house) and the Federal Assembly (a lower house). Members of the Council of States were not directly elected but were nominated.
Governor-General and Viceroy
- The Act retained the position of the Governor-General, who also held the title of Viceroy. The Viceroy was appointed by the British monarch and was responsible for overseeing the administration of British India.
Emergency Provisions
- The Act provided for emergency provisions, allowing the Viceroy to assume extraordinary powers during times of emergency. The central government could also assume control over the provinces in certain circumstances.
Separate Electorates
- The Act continued the system of separate electorates for Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, and other minority communities. This provision was intended to protect the political interests of various religious groups.
Abolition of Diarchy
- The Act abolished the diarchy introduced by the Government of India Act, 1919, which had divided the powers of the government into transferred and reserved subjects. The provinces now had more autonomy in legislative and executive matters.
Franchise and Representation
- The Act expanded the franchise, increasing the number of eligible voters. However, it also introduced communal representation based on religion, which further entrenched communalism in Indian politics.
Postponement of Full Dominion Status
The Act did not grant full dominion status to India, and certain provisions were scheduled to come into effect only when the future Constituent Assembly of India would decide.
It's important to note that the Government of India Act, 1935, never came into full operation in its intended form because of the outbreak of World War II. Instead, the British government implemented certain provisions of the Act through ordinances. After the war, the political landscape had changed, and India eventually gained independence in 1947. The Indian Independence Act, 1947, replaced the Government of India Act, 1935, and led to the creation of the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. You may also like environmental act 1986
