The Government of India Act, 1935

The Government of India Act, 1935 was the last and most comprehensive constitutional reform act passed by the British Parliament for India before independence. It laid the foundation for many administrative and federal structures later adopted in independent India.

Here are the key details:

---

🔑 Key Features of the Government of India Act, 1935

1. Federal Structure (Not Implemented Fully)

   • Proposed an All-India Federation consisting of provinces and princely states.
   • Provinces were to join compulsorily, but princely states were voluntary, so the federation never actually came into effect.

2. Division of Powers

   • Subjects divided into three lists:
     • Federal List (59 subjects like defence, foreign affairs)
     • Provincial List (54 subjects like police, health)
     • Concurrent List (36 subjects like criminal law, marriage)

3. Provincial Autonomy

   • Provinces got more autonomy.
   • Governor to act on the advice of ministers responsible to the provincial legislature (end of Dyarchy at provincial level).
   • However, Governors had special powers of intervention.

4. Dyarchy at the Centre

   • Introduced dyarchy at the central level (unlike provincial level where it ended).
   • Subjects like defence and foreign affairs reserved for the Governor-General.

5. Bicameral Federal Legislature

   • Proposed a two-house legislature at the Centre:
     • Council of States (upper house)
     • Federal Assembly (lower house)

6. Extended Franchise

   • About 10% of Indians got voting rights (from property, tax, or education qualifications).

7. All-India Federation’s Executive

   • Governor-General remained the head of the central administration.
   • He had special responsibilities and reserve powers.

8. Federal Court

   • Established a Federal Court (1937) for settling disputes between provinces and Centre.

9. Reorganization of Provinces

   • Burma and Aden separated from India.
   • Bihar and Orissa split into Bihar and Orissa as separate provinces.
   • Sindh separated from Bombay.
   • North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) made a separate province.

10. Indian Council Abolished

    • The Council of India in London was abolished.

---

📌 Importance

• Though the federal scheme never worked (princely states did not join), the provincial autonomy was implemented in 1937, and elections were held.
• This act became the basis of governance in India till 1947.
• Many provisions later influenced the Indian Constitution of 1950 (like federal lists, governor’s powers, federal court).