Government of India Act 1935

Government of India Act 1935

1. Overview

   • 3 main principles
     • Provincial autonomy
     • Eventual Federation at national level
     • Safeguards given to British govt
   • Most complicated legislation ever passed
     • 450 clauses
       • 4000 pages of discussion

2. Provisions

   • Expand electorate to 35 million
     • Still only 10% of population
   • Abolish dyarchy
     • 'reserved' powers given to provincial govts
   • Create full provincial govts
     • Consisting of legislative + executive councils
   • Viceroy keeps power of defence and foreign affairs
   • Section 93
     • British take back full control of India in states of emergency

3. Reaction

   • Congress - split reaction
     • Some rejected the reforms on principle
       • wanted purna swaraj
     • Some wanted to grasp short term political gains
   • Indians in general
     • Saw it as too little too late
       • Because it took so long to pass, it suited the old Indian demands
   • British
     • Right wing
       • Saw it as too much, Indian people should not be given this much power
         • Noone happy
     • Left Wing
       • Saw it as too little - should give more

4. Federation and the Princes

   • Act designed to make India federal (like USA)
     • This plan included the princely states
       • Brits believed they could water down Congress ideas by including princes in federation plan - princes traditionally loyal to Brits
         • The plan was to give special concessions to princes - could choose own council reps
           • Princes refused to sign - worried about losing personal wealth and armies
             • Federation abandoned in 1939 - outbreak of WWII, Brits have more important things to concentrate on