Explain the main provisions of the Government of India Act, 1935.
Explain the main provisions of the Government of India Act, 1935.
The Government of India Act, 1935 was the last major constitutional framework enacted by the British before independence, and much of it was later carried into the Constitution of India.
Main provisions
- All-India Federation: it proposed a federation of British Indian provinces and the princely states, though the federation never actually came into being.
- Provincial autonomy: it abolished dyarchy in the provinces and granted them autonomy, with responsible ministries answerable to elected legislatures.
- Dyarchy at the Centre: it introduced dyarchy in the central government, dividing subjects into reserved and transferred categories.
- Division of powers: powers were distributed between the Centre and the provinces through three lists — Federal, Provincial and Concurrent.
- Extension of franchise: the right to vote was widened, giving roughly one-tenth of the population the vote.
- New institutions: it provided for a Federal Court (established 1937) and continued separate electorates.
Marking Scheme
- 11 mark: All-India Federation of provinces and princely states, and provincial autonomy with abolition of dyarchy in provinces.
- 21 mark: dyarchy at the Centre and the division of powers into Federal, Provincial and Concurrent lists.
- 31 mark: extension of the franchise and creation of new institutions such as the Federal Court, with separate electorates continued.
Hint
Structure the answer around federation, provincial autonomy, dyarchy at the Centre, the three-list division of powers and an extended franchise.
Quick Oral Answer
The 1935 Act proposed an all-India federation, granted provincial autonomy by ending dyarchy in the provinces, introduced dyarchy at the Centre, divided powers into Federal, Provincial and Concurrent lists, widened the franchise and created a Federal Court.
Analysis & Explanation
This question checks whether students can list and explain the structural features of the 1935 Act, an important bridge between colonial rule and the Republic.
Concept
- The Act was a response to the demand for greater self-government and to the recommendations of the Simon Commission and Round Table Conferences.
- Its enduring importance is that the framers of the Indian Constitution borrowed heavily from it — the federal scheme, the division into three lists, and the office of Governor all echo the 1935 Act.
Exam trap
- Do not confuse provincial autonomy (which was actually implemented after the 1937 elections) with the All-India Federation (which never came into force because the princely states did not join).
Real-world link
- The three-list scheme of Union, State and Concurrent subjects in the Seventh Schedule of our Constitution descends directly from the Federal, Provincial and Concurrent lists of the 1935 Act, showing how colonial legislation shaped independent India's federalism.
Common Mistakes
- 1Confusing the 1935 Act with the Government of India Act 1919 (which introduced dyarchy in the provinces, later abolished by the 1935 Act).
- 2Claiming the All-India Federation actually functioned — it was proposed but never came into being because the princely states did not accede.
- 3Listing provisions without explanation, which does not earn full marks on a 3-mark 'explain' question.
Interesting Facts
The 1935 Act was, at the time, the longest Act ever passed by the British Parliament, running to hundreds of clauses and schedules.
Provincial autonomy under the Act came into effect after the 1937 elections, in which the Congress won majorities in most provinces and formed ministries.
The Federal Court set up under the Act in 1937 was the direct forerunner of the Supreme Court of India.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Government of India Act 1935 important for the Indian Constitution?
Many features of our Constitution were borrowed from it — the federal structure, the division of subjects into Union, State and Concurrent lists, the office of Governor and elements of the emergency provisions. It thus served as a blueprint that the Constituent Assembly adapted.
Did the All-India Federation proposed by the Act ever come into being?
No. Although the Act provided for a federation of British provinces and princely states, it never came into force because the required number of princely states refused to join. Only the provincial autonomy part of the Act was actually implemented, after the 1937 elections.