Government of India Act, 1919

The Government of India Act, 1919 was passed to expand participation of Indians in the government of India. The Act embodied the reforms recommended by Edwin Montagu, and the Viceroy, Lord Chelmsford (Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms). The Act covered ten years from 1919 to 1929.

Dyarchy

The Act provided a dual form of government (dyarchy) for the major provinces. In each such province, control of some areas of government (transferred list), were given to a Government of ministers answerable to the Provincial Council. The transferred list included Agriculture, supervision of local government, Health and Education. All other areas of government (reserved list) remained under the control of the Viceroy. The reserved list included Defence (military), Foreign Affairs, and Communications.

Imperial Legislative Council

The Imperial Legislative Council was enlarged and reformed. It became a bicameral legislature for all India. The lower house was the Legislative Assembly of 144 members, of which 104 were elected and 40 were nominated and tenure of three years. The upper house was the Council of States consisting of 34 elected and 26 nominated members and tenure of five years.

Other Features

• The 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.
• A High Commissioner for India at London was appointed.
• The most important defect in this Act was the division of powers under the system of Dyarchy in the provinces.