3. The Government of India Act, 1919 (Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms)

In 1917, the British Government declared, for the first time, that its objective was the gradual introduction of responsible government in India (Secretary of state Montagu’s declaration). The Government of India Act, of 1919 was thus enacted, though not completely in line with the above stand.

Following are its important features:

♤ Relaxation of central control over the provinces by demarcating the central and provincial subjects. Respective legislatures at centre and provinces were authorized to make laws on their respective subjects.*

o However, the basic government structure was largely centralized and unitary.*

♤ Dyarchy was introduced at the level of provinces.

o Dyarchy implies division of governance subjects into two parts.

o These two parts were namely: transferred subjects(to be administered by the Governor with the aid of ministers) and reserved subjects (to be administered by the Governor and his Executive Council without being responsible to the legislature)

♤ Bicameralism was introduced for the first time. It was introduced at the Centre.

♤ Direct elections were introduced for the first time.*

o Franchise was granted to some limited people on foundation of property, tax and education.

♤ Separation of central budget from provincial budget.*

♤ It provided for the establishment of a Public Service Commission. Hence, a Central Public Service Commission was set up in 1926 (on recommendation of Lee Commission, 1923-24).*

♤ It extended the principle of communal representation by providing separate electorates for Sikhs, Indian Christians, Anglo-Indians and Europeans.

♤ It provided for the appointment of a statutory commission to inquire into and report on its working after ten years of its coming into force.