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Government of India Act of 1935

Government of India Act of 1935

Context:

  • Longest British law for India (321 sections, 10 schedules).
  • Meant to give more self-rule but kept British control.
  • Later became the base for India’s 1950 Constitution.

Key Features:

  1. All-India Federation (Never Happened):
    • Proposed a united India with provinces + princely states.
    • Divided power into 3 lists:
      • Federal List (Central Govt): 59 subjects (e.g., defense).
      • Provincial List (Provinces): 54 subjects (e.g., health).
      • Concurrent List (Both): 36 subjects (e.g., education).
    • Failed because princely states refused to join.
  2. Provincial Autonomy (1937–1939):
    • Ended dyarchy (split rule) in provinces.
    • Provinces could govern themselves (autonomy) with ministers accountable to legislatures.
    • Governors still had veto power; British kept control over key areas.
  3. Dyarchy at the Centre (Never Implemented):
    • Plan to split Central Govt into reserved (British control) and transferred (Indian ministers) subjects.
    • Never started due to political disagreements.
  4. Two Houses in 6 Provinces:
    • Bengal, Bombay, Madras, Bihar, Assam, and UP got bicameral legislatures (two chambers: upper & lower house).
    • Limited power—British could override laws.
  5. More Separate Electorates:
    • Extended to Depressed Classes (Scheduled Castes), women, and workers.
    • Communities voted only for their own candidates (British tactic to divide Indians).
  6. Voting Rights Expanded (But Still Limited):
    • 10% of Indians could vote (based on property, taxes, or education).
  7. New Institutions:
    • Reserve Bank of India (RBI): Created to manage money and loans (1935).
    • Federal Court (1937): Precursor to the Supreme Court.
    • Public Service Commissions: For hiring officials (Central + Provincial levels).
  8. Abolished Council of India:
    • Removed the old advisory body (from 1858 Act).
    • Secretary of State for India now had a team of advisors.

Why Important?

  • Blueprint for Future: Many features (like federal structure, RBI) were used in independent India’s Constitution.
  • Provincial Autonomy: Showed Indians could self-govern, boosting confidence for full independence.
  • Flaws: Kept British control, expanded communal divides, and ignored mass representation.

Simplified Summary:

  • Tried to unite India (failed).
  • Gave provinces self-rule (1937–1939).
  • Created RBI, Federal Court, and more voting rights (but limited).
  • Divided Indians with separate electorates.
  • Basis for India’s future Constitution.

 

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