Government of India Act 1919

E2332

Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom constitutional reform

The Government of India Act 1919 was a key constitutional reform by the British that introduced limited self-governance in India through dyarchy in the provinces and expanded Indian participation in legislative councils.

Aliases (5)

Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms ×10
Act of the Central Legislative Assembly ×1
Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms transition ×1
Montagu–Chelmsford Report of 1918 ×1
Morley–Minto Reforms ×1

Statements (49)

Predicate	Object
instanceOf	Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom → constitutional reform →
alsoKnownAs	Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms → Montford Reforms →
appliesToJurisdiction	British India →
basedOnReportBy	Edwin Samuel Montagu → Lord Chelmsford →
cameIntoForceInYear	1921 →
country	United Kingdom →
createdBody	bicameral Indian legislature at the centre →
createdChamber	Council of State → Legislative Assembly →
criticizedFor	limited scope of Indian self-government → retaining extensive powers for the governor and Viceroy →
definedReservedSubjectsAs	subjects administered by the governor and his executive council →
definedTransferredSubjectsAs	subjects administered by ministers responsible to the legislative council →
enactedBy	Parliament of the United Kingdom →
expanded	Indian representation in legislative councils → provincial legislative councils →
followedAnnouncement	August 1917 Montagu Declaration →
historicalPeriod	late British Raj →
influencedBy	Indian nationalist demands for self-government → World War I political context →
introduced	direct elections to legislative councils on a limited franchise →
introducedBy	Edwin Samuel Montagu →
introducedConcept	division of provincial subjects into reserved and transferred →
introducedOffice	High Commissioner for India in London →
introducedSystem	dyarchy in the provinces →
legalStatus	repealed →
limitedFranchiseTo	property, tax, and education-based voters →
limitedPowersOf	central legislature →
providedFor	appointment of Indian ministers in provinces → separate provincial budgets →
purpose	to increase Indian participation in government → to introduce limited self-governance in British India →
receivedRoyalAssentOn	23 December 1919 →
region	Indian subcontinent →
requiredReviewBy	a statutory commission after 10 years →
retained	communal electorates →
retainedControlOver	defence → ecclesiastical affairs → foreign affairs → political relations with Indian states →
retainedSupremacyOf	British Parliament →
reviewedBy	Simon Commission →
significance	first systematic introduction of dyarchy in any part of the British Empire → marked a shift from autocratic to partially responsible government in provinces →
statedGoal	progressive realization of responsible government in India →
supersededBy	Government of India Act 1935 →

Referenced by (33)

Subject (surface form when different)	Predicate
August 1917 Montagu Declaration ("Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms") → August 1917 Montagu Declaration → Morley–Minto Reforms ("Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms") → Morley–Minto Reforms →	followedBy
Chamber of Princes → Council of State (British India) → Imperial Legislative Council of India → Simon Commission →	legalBasis
Government of India Act 1919 ("Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms") → Montford Reforms ("Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms") →	alsoKnownAs
Lord Chelmsford ("Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms") → Lord Chelmsford →	coAuthorOf
Chamber of Princes ("Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms") → Council of State (British India) ("Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms") →	createdUnder
Chamber of Princes → Legislative Assembly (British India) →	establishedBy
Legislative Council of the United Provinces → Montford Reforms ("Morley–Minto Reforms") →	follows
Edwin Samuel Montagu ("Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms") → Edwin Samuel Montagu →	notableWork
Montford Reforms ("Montagu–Chelmsford Report of 1918") →	basedOn
Legislative Assembly (British India) ("Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms") →	constitutionalBasis
Legislative Assembly of the United Provinces →	establishedUnder
Indian Administrative Service →	formedBy
University of Delhi ("Act of the Central Legislative Assembly") →	foundedBy
Montford Reforms →	hasPart
August 1917 Montagu Declaration →	influenced
Lord Chelmsford ("Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms") →	knownFor
British India →	notableEvent
Government of India Act 1935 →	predecessor
Indian Councils Act 1861 →	relatedTo
Indian Councils Act 1861 →	replacedBy
Imperial Legislative Council of India ("Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms transition") →	significantEvent