Government of India Act 1935 – About

The Government of India 1935 Act was passed by the British Parliament in August 1935. It was the longest act enacted by the British Parliament at that time. It was divided into two separate acts namely, the Government of India Act 1935 and the Government of Burma Act 1935. 

Government of India Act, 1935 – Overview

Aim: An Act to make further provisions for the Government of India.

Territorial Extent: Territories 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Status Repealed on: 26th January 1950 in India 

Government of India Act, 1935 – Background

1. There was a growing demand for constitutional reforms in India by Indian leaders.
2. India’s support to Britain in the 1st World War also aided in British acknowledgment of the need for the inclusion of more Indians in the administration of their own country.
3. The Act was based on:
   • Simon Commission Report
   • The recommendations of the Round Table Conferences
   • The White Paper was published by the British government in 1933 (On the basis of the 3rd Round Table Conference)
   • Report of the Joint Select Committees.

Creation of an All India Federation

1. This federation was to consist of British India and the princely states.
2. The provinces in British India would have to join the federation but this was not compulsory for the princely states.
3. This federation never materialised because of the lack of support from the required number of princely states.

How GoI Act 1935 divided powers?

1. This Act divided powers between the centre and the provinces.
2. There were three lists that gave the subjects under each government.
   • Federal List (Centre)
   • Provincial List (Provinces)
   • Concurrent List (Both)
3. The Viceroy was vested with residual powers.

Government of India Act, 1935 – Changes Brought by the Act.

1. Provincial autonomy

2. Diarchy at the center

3. Bicameral legislature

4. Federal court

5. Indian Council

6. Franchise

7. Reorganisation

Provisions for Provincial autonomy

1. The Act gave more autonomy to the provinces.
2. Diarchy was abolished at the provincial levels.
3. The Governor was the head of the executive.
4. There was a Council of Ministers to advise him. The ministers were responsible to the provincial legislatures who controlled them. The legislature could also remove the ministers.
5. However, the governors still retained special reserve powers.
6. The British authorities could still suspend a provincial government.

Diarchy at the centre

1. The subjects under the Federal List were divided into two: Reserved and Transferred.
2. The reserved subjects were controlled by the Governor-General who administered them with the help of three counselors appointed by him. They were not responsible to the legislature. These subjects included defence, ecclesiastical affairs (church-related), external affairs, press, police, taxation, justice, power resources, and tribal affairs.
3. The Governor-General administered the transferred subjects with his Council of Ministers (not more than 10). The Council had to act in confidence with the legislature. The subjects in this list included local government, forests, education, health, etc.
4. However, the Governor-General had ‘special powers’ to interfere in the transferred subjects also.

Bicameral Legislature

1. A bicameral federal legislature would be established.
2. The two houses were the Federal Assembly (lower house) and the Council of States (upper house).
3. The federal assembly had a term of five years.
4. Both houses had representatives from the princely states also. The representatives of the princely states were to be nominated by the rulers and not elected. The representatives of British India were to be elected. Some were to be nominated by the Governor-General.
5. Bicameral legislatures were introduced in 6 out of 11 provinces (Bengal, Madras, Bombay, Bihar, Assam and the United Provinces).

Establishment of Federal Court

1. A federal court was established at Delhi for the resolution of disputes between provinces and also between the centre and the provinces.
2. It was to have 1 Chief Justice and not more than 6 judges.
3. Sir Maurice Gwyer became the first Chief Justice of the Federal Court of India (Established in 1937).

Abolition of Indian Council

1. The Indian Council was abolished.
2. The Secretary of State for India would instead have a team of advisors.

Franchise for Elections

1. This Act introduced direct elections in India for the first time.

Reorganization of Provincial Boundaries

1. Sindh was carved out of the Bombay Presidency.
2. Bihar and Orissa were split.
3. Burma was severed off from India.
4. Aden was also separated from India and made into a Crown colony.

Other points

1. The British Parliament retained its supremacy over the Indian legislatures both provincial and federal.
2. A Federal Railway Authority was set up to control Indian railways.
3. The act provided for the establishment of the Reserve Bank of India.
4. The Act also established the Federal Public Service Commission, Provincial Public Service Commission, and Joint Public Service Commission.
5. The Act was a milestone in the development of a responsible constitutional government in India.
6. The Government of India Act 1935 was replaced by the Constitution of India after independence.
7. The Indian leaders were not enthusiastic about the Act since despite granting provincial autonomy the governors and the viceroy had considerable ‘special powers’.
8. Separate communal electorates were a measure through which the British wanted to ensure the Congress Party could never rule on its own. It was also a way to keep the people divided. 

Elections After the Passage of the Government of India Act- 1935

1. Indian National Congress Contested 716 of a total of 1161 seats.
2. Indian National Congress formed a majority government in 8 out of 11 provinces.
3. Indian National Congress gained a majority in each province except Bengal, Assam, Punjab, Sindh, and North-West Frontier Province (NWFP).
4. Indian National Congress emerged large party in Bengal, Assam, and NWFP.
5. The last Congress ministry resigned in October 1939 after 28 months of government formation.
6. Muslim league celebrated the Day of Deliverance on 22 December 1939.
7. NOTE– 1937 INC (Indian National Congress) Annual Session was held at Faizpur under the Presidentship of Jawahar Lal Nehru.

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