MORLEY-MINTO

REFORMS
1909
 BACKGROUND

The Indian Councils Act 1909 was an act of the British Parliament that introduced a few reforms in
the legislative councils and increased the involvement of Indians limitedly in the governance of British
India. It was more commonly called the Morley-Minto Reforms after the Secretary of State for India John
Morley and the Viceroy of India, the 4th Earl of Minto.

Despite Queen Victoria’s proclamation that Indian’s would be treated equally, very few Indians got
such an opportunity as the British authorities were hesitant to accept them as equal partners. Lord Curzon
had carried out the partition of Bengal in 1905. This lead to a massive uprising in Bengal as a result.
Following this, the British authorities understood the need for some reforms in the governance of Indians.
INDIAN COUNCILS ACT 1909
JOHN MORLEY, LORD MINTO,
SECRETORY OF STATE VICEROY OF INDIA
 THE MAIN FEATURES OF THE ACT

• The legislative councils at the Centre and the provinces increased in size.
• The elected members were elected indirectly. The local bodies elected an electoral college
who would elect members of the provincial legislative councils. These members would,
in turn, elect the members of the Central legislative council.
• In the provincial councils, non-official members were in a majority. However, since some
of the non-official members were nominated, in total, a non-elected majority was there.
• Indians were given membership to the Imperial Legislative Council for the first time.
 THE MAIN FEATURES OF THE ACT

• It introduced separate electorates for the Muslims. Some constituencies were earmarked
for Muslims and only Muslims could vote their representatives.
• The members could discuss the budget and move resolutions. They could also discuss
matters of public interest.
• They could also ask supplementary questions.
• No discussions on foreign policy or on relations with the princely states were permitted.
• Lord Minto appointed (on much persuasion by Morley) Satyendra P Sinha as the first
Indian member of the Viceroy’s Executive Council.
ASSESSMENT OF THE MORLEY-MINTO REFORMS

• The Act introduced communal representation in Indian politics. This was intended to stem
the growing tide of nationalism in the country by dividing the people into communal lines.
The culmination of this step was seen in the partition of the country along religious lines.
The effects of differential treatment of different religious groups can be seen to this day.
• The act did nothing to grant colonial self-government which was the Congress’s demand.
• The Act did increase Indian participation in the legislative councils, especially at the
provincial levels.
MONTAGU- CHELMSFORD
REFORMS
1919
 BACKGROUND

Government of India Act, 1919 also known as Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms which

came into force in 1921. The Secretary of States for India Lord Montagu visited India in
November 1917 and discussed his scheme of reforms, with the Viceroy Lord Minto and
Indian leaders. The chief purpose of the act was to allow the people of India greater
participation in their own government.
During the World War Britain and her allies had said that they were fighting the war for
the freedom of nations. Many Indian leaders believed that after the war was over, India
would be given Swaraj. The British government however had no intention of conceding the
demands of the Indian people. Changes were introduced in the administrative system as a
result of the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms, called the Government of India Act, 1919.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ACT,1919-MONTAGU-
CHELMSFORD REFORMS
LORD MONTAGU, SECRETARY OF STATE FOR
INDIA
 THE MAIN FEATURES OF THE ACT

• The Council of the Secretary of State was to comprise of eight to twelve people. Three of
them should be Indian, and at least half of them should have spent at least ten years in
India.
• The Secretary of State was supposed to follow the advice of his council.
• Part of the expenses of the office of the Secretary of State was to be met by the British
government. The Secretary of State was not allowed to interfere in administrative matters
of the provinces concerning the ‘Transferred Subjects’ and also in the matters on which
Governor General and his Legislative were in agreement.
 THE MAIN FEATURES OF THE ACT

• The Governor General had the power to nominate as many members to his Executive
Council as he wanted.
• Members appointed to the Executive Council were to have served in India for at least 10
years.
• The Central Legislature was to consist of two houses i.e. the Council of the State (Upper
House) and the Legislative Assembly (Lower House).
• Council of the State was to consist of 60 members out of which 33 were to be elected and
27 nominated by the Governor General.
 THE MAIN FEATURES OF THE ACT

• The Legislative Assembly was to consist of 144 members out of which 103 were to be elected and 41 to
be nominated by the Governor General.
• The franchise was limited.
• The system of Diarchy was introduced in the provinces.
• The tenure of the Upper House was five and of the Lower House was three years.
• Both the houses had equal legislative powers. In case of a tie, the Governor General was to call a joint
meeting where the matter was to be decided by majority vote.
• The Executive Council was not responsible to the Legislature and the Governor General had the right to
refuse its advise. Provincial Legislatures were supposed to be unicameral.
 THE MAIN FEATURES OF THE ACT

• Seventy percent members of the Provincial Legislative Councils were to be elected and
thirty percent were to be nominated.
• The Governors were given ‘Instrument of Instructions’ which guided them in carrying out
their administrative affairs.
• Besides Muslims, other minorities including Sikhs, Anglo-Indians, Christians and
Europeans were also given the right of separate electorate.
• New reforms were to be introduced after ten years by a committee by Simon named
“Simon committee”.
 REVIEW

The Montagu-Chelmsford report stated that there should be a review after 10 years. Sir John Simon
headed the committee (Simon Commission) responsible for the review, which recommended further
constitutional change. Three round table conferences were held in London in 1930, 1931 and 1932
with representation of the major interests. Mahatma Gandhi attended the 1931 round table after
negotiations with the British Government. But Jinnah's communal attitude was a hindrance to any
decision being taken. The major disagreement between the Indian National Congress and the British
was separate electorates for each community which Congress opposed but which were retained in
Ramsay MacDonald's Communal Award. A new Government of India Act 1935 was passed
continuing the move towards self-government first made in the Montagu-Chelmsford Report.