The Government of India Act 1919 was based on the recommendations of a report by Edwin Montagu, the then Secretary of State for India, and Lord Chelmsford, India’s Viceroy between 1916 and 1921. This Act also known as Montagu-Chelmsford reforms or Montford reforms sought to increase the participation of Indians in the administration of their country.
It was the GOI Act 1919, whereby, the Indians came in direct contact with the administration for the first time.
It was also for the first time that a number of Indian women got the right to franchise for the first time.
The act provided for the first time, the establishment of a public service commission in India. Hence, a Central Public Service Commission was set up in 1926 for recruiting civil servants.
The act also provided that after 10 years, a statutory commission would be set up to study the working of the government. This resulted in the Simon Commission of 1927.
It also created an office of the High Commissioner for India in London.
The Indian Council was to be made of not less than 8 and not more than 12 members. Also the number of Indians on the council was increased from two to three.
A provision was made for inclusion of three Indians in the six member Council of the Governor General.
It provided for a separate electorates for Sikhs, Indian Christians, Anglo-Indians and Europeans.
The chief executive authority was the Governor-General. The governor’s assent was required to pass any bill. He also had veto power and could issue ordinances also.
It separated, for the first time, provincial budgets from the Central budget.
Diarchy was introduced in the provinces. Provincial subjects were divided into “Reserved Subjects” such as police, jails, land revenue, irrigation and forests and “Transferred Subjects” such as education, local self-government, public health, sanitation, agriculture and industries.
The Reserved subjects were to be administered by the Governor and his Executive Council.
The Transferred subjects were to be administered by the Governor and his ministers.
A bicameral legislature was set up with two houses: 145 members Legislative Assembly (Lok Sabha) and 60 members Council of State (Rajya Sabha).
There were three measures to resolve any deadlock between both the houses: joint committees, joint conferences and join sittings.
The members of the Legislative Assembly had a tenure of 3 years. While, members of the Council of State has a tenure of 5 years.
The advocates of Indian high Courts of less than 10 years standing were eligible to be appointed as Law Minister in the Council.
Salaries of the Secretary of State for India and his assistants were to be paid out of the British revenues. So far, they were paid out of the Indian revenues.
It was also for the first time that a number of Indian women got the right to franchise for the first time.
The act provided for the first time, the establishment of a public service commission in India. Hence, a Central Public Service Commission was set up in 1926 for recruiting civil servants.
The act also provided that after 10 years, a statutory commission would be set up to study the working of the government. This resulted in the Simon Commission of 1927.
It also created an office of the High Commissioner for India in London.
The Indian Council was to be made of not less than 8 and not more than 12 members. Also the number of Indians on the council was increased from two to three.
A provision was made for inclusion of three Indians in the six member Council of the Governor General.
It provided for a separate electorates for Sikhs, Indian Christians, Anglo-Indians and Europeans.
The chief executive authority was the Governor-General. The governor’s assent was required to pass any bill. He also had veto power and could issue ordinances also.
It separated, for the first time, provincial budgets from the Central budget.
Diarchy was introduced in the provinces. Provincial subjects were divided into “Reserved Subjects” such as police, jails, land revenue, irrigation and forests and “Transferred Subjects” such as education, local self-government, public health, sanitation, agriculture and industries.
The Reserved subjects were to be administered by the Governor and his Executive Council.
The Transferred subjects were to be administered by the Governor and his ministers.
A bicameral legislature was set up with two houses: 145 members Legislative Assembly (Lok Sabha) and 60 members Council of State (Rajya Sabha).
There were three measures to resolve any deadlock between both the houses: joint committees, joint conferences and join sittings.
The members of the Legislative Assembly had a tenure of 3 years. While, members of the Council of State has a tenure of 5 years.
The advocates of Indian high Courts of less than 10 years standing were eligible to be appointed as Law Minister in the Council.
Salaries of the Secretary of State for India and his assistants were to be paid out of the British revenues. So far, they were paid out of the Indian revenues.
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