Government of India act 1935

 Government of India act 1935

 The Government of India Act 1935 was a significant constitutional reform enacted by the British Parliament, which sought to decentralize power in India and grant greater autonomy to its provinces. Here are some of the key features of the Act:

Government of India act 1935

 1. Federal Structure: The Act proposed a federal structure for India, consisting of provinces and princely states, with the central government in Delhi having limited powers over defence, foreign affairs, and communications.

 2. Provincial Autonomy: The Act granted greater autonomy to the provinces, with each province having its own governor, legislative assembly, and cabinet responsible to the governor. The legislative assembly was to be elected on the basis of adult suffrage, subject to certain restrictions.

 3. Diarchy: The Act introduced a system of 'diarchy' in the provinces, with certain departments such as education, health, and public works being transferred to elected ministers, while others such as police, finance, and revenue remained under the control of appointed officials.

 4. Separate Electorates: The Act continued the system of separate electorates for Muslims, Sikhs, and other minority communities, which had been introduced by earlier constitutional reforms.

 5. Federal Court: The Act established a Federal Court in Delhi, which had jurisdiction over disputes between the central government and the provinces, as well as disputes between different provinces.

 6. Princely States: The Act provided for the establishment of a Chamber of Princes, consisting of the rulers of the princely states, which would advise the central government on matters affecting their interests.

 7. Reserved Seats: The Act provided for reserved seats for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the provincial legislatures and central assembly.

 However, the Act was opposed by many Indian political parties, who felt that it did not go far enough in granting self-rule to India. The Act was suspended during World War II and ultimately replaced by the Indian Independence Act 1947, which granted independence to India and Pakistan.