CROWN RULE
| Act | Year | All Key Provisions | Significance |
| Government of India Act | 1858 | – Ended East India Company rule. – Transferred powers to the British Crown. – Created the Secretary of State for India, a member of British Cabinet. – Established a 15- member Council of India to advise the Secretary of State. – Abolished Board of Control and Court of Directors (double government). – Governor-General of India became Viceroy. – Viceroy became Crown’s direct representative. – Secretary of State-
in-Council became a corporate body that could sue/be sued. |
Beginning of direct British rule. Centralized administration under Crown. |
| Indian Councils Act | 1861 | – Allowed Indians to be nominated as non-official members in legislative councils. – In 1862, three Indians were nominated (Raja of Benaras, Maharaja of Patiala, Sir Dinkar Rao). – Restored legislative powers to Bombay and Madras Presidencies. – Allowed creation of legislative councils in Bengal, NW Provinces, and Punjab. – Gave legal recognition to portfolio system introduced by Lord Canning. – Empowered Viceroy to issue ordinances during emergency (6-
month validity). |
Initiated representative institutions and decentralisation. First inclusion of Indians. |
| Indian Councils Act | 1892 | – Increased number of non-official members in Central and provincial councils. – Maintained official majority in all councils. – Councils allowed to discuss budget and ask questions. – Allowed indirect election (without using the term “election”): members nominated by Viceroy/Governors on
recommendation of bodies like |
First move toward representative government via indirect election. |
| municipalities, chambers of
commerce, universities. |
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| Indian Councils Act (Morley- Minto Reforms) | 1909 | – Enlarged Central Legislative Council (from 16 to 60 members). – Increased provincial council size (non-uniform). – Retained official majority at Centre; allowed non- official majority in provinces. – Gave legislative councils power to ask supplementary questions, move resolutions on budget. – Introduced separate electorates for Muslims (first legal communal division). – Allowed representation for chambers of commerce, universities, zamindars. – For the first time, Indians were appointed to executive councils (e.g., Satyendra Prasad Sinha as Law
Member). |
Expanded legislative participation. Introduced communalism in electoral politics. |
| Government of India Act (Montagu- Chelmsford Reforms) | 1919 | – Divided subjects into Central and Provincial. – Introduced dyarchy in provinces: → Transferred subjects (education, health, agriculture) handled by Indian ministers. → Reserved subjects (police, finance) retained by Governor and Executive Council. – Introduced bicameral legislature at Centre: → Council of State (Upper House), Legislative Assembly (Lower House). – Introduced direct elections. – Extended communal electorates to Sikhs, Christians, Anglo-Indians, Europeans. – 3 of 6 Executive Council members (excluding C-in- C) to be Indians. – Created office of High Commissioner for India in London. – Established Central Public Service Commission (1926). – Separated provincial and central budgets. – Provided for
Statutory Commission after 10 years (led to Simon Commission). |
Brought dyarchy, bicameralism, direct elections, but failed to satisfy nationalist aspirations. |
| Government of India Act | 1935 | – Proposed All-India Federation of British Indian provinces + princely states. – Divided powers into Federal (59), Provincial (54),
Concurrent (36) lists. – Residuary |
Most detailed and far- reaching act. Laid the framework of the Constitution, despite not
creating federation. |
| powers with Viceroy. – Abolished dyarchy in provinces and introduced provincial autonomy. – Introduced dyarchy at the Centre (never implemented). – Introduced bicameralism in 6 provinces (Bengal, Bombay, Madras, Bihar, Assam, UP). – Extended separate electorates to SCs, women, labour.
– Abolished Council of India (1858). – Secretary of State advised by advisors. – Expanded franchise to ~10% of population. – Provided for establishment of: → Reserve Bank of India (1935) → Federal Public Service Commission (UPSC) → Provincial and Joint PSCs → Federal Court (1937). |
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| Indian Independence Act | 1947 | – Ended British rule; declared India and Pakistan independent and sovereign from August 15, 1947. – Provided for partition into two dominions: India and Pakistan. – Abolished Viceroy; created office of Governor-General (appointed by King on dominion cabinet’s advice). – Constituent Assemblies of India & Pakistan empowered to:
→ Frame constitutions. → Repeal any British law. – Dominions could legislate for themselves; British Parliament laws not applicable after 15 August 1947. – Secretary of State for India abolished; duties given to Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs. – British paramountcy lapsed; princely states could join India, Pakistan, or remain independent. – Provided for temporary governance under GOI Act 1935 (with modifications). – British King’s right to veto bills/reserve bills abolished. – Governor-General retained this right temporarily. – Governors and Governor-General made constitutional heads, bound by advice. – Dropped title “Emperor of India” from King’s titles. – Stopped British |
Marked India’s and Pakistan’s independence. Gave full sovereign power to Indians. Transitioned to Republic of India (1950) and Islamic Republic of Pakistan (1956). |
| appointments to civil services;
existing officers retained protections. |
