Government of India Act, 1935
UPSC CSE Prelims & Mains · Interactive Self-Learning Flipbook
Explore the constitutional framework, provincial autonomy, proposed federation and colonial safeguards.
Why is the Act important?
The Government of India Act, 1935 was a major constitutional statute enacted by the British Parliament. It expanded provincial self-government while retaining substantial powers for British-appointed authorities.
Proposed federation
A federation of British Indian provinces and princely states was envisaged.
Provincial autonomy
Dyarchy in the provinces was abolished and provincial ministers assumed responsibility for provincial departments.
Dyarchy at the Centre
The Act provided for central dyarchy, but the proposed federal arrangements never came into operation.
Federal Court
A Federal Court was provided for and began functioning in 1937.
Learning objectives
- Distinguish provincial autonomy from dyarchy at the Centre.
- Understand the proposed federation and the three legislative lists.
- Identify the safeguards retained by British authorities.
- Connect the Act with constitutional developments in independent India.
From constitutional reform to the 1935 Act
The Act emerged from prolonged debate over constitutional reform, Indian demands for self-government and British attempts to redesign colonial administration.
Key developments
- 1919: Government of India Act introduced dyarchy in the provinces.
- 1927: Simon Commission was appointed to review constitutional reforms.
- 1930–1932: Round Table Conferences discussed India’s constitutional future.
- 1933: British government published a White Paper on constitutional proposals.
- 1934: The Joint Select Committee’s deliberations helped shape the legislation.
- 1935: Government of India Act received royal assent on 2 August.
- 1937: Provincial autonomy provisions came into operation and elections were held.
Check your understanding
Which earlier constitutional arrangement did the 1935 Act abolish in the provinces?
The proposed federal structure
The Act envisaged an All-India Federation consisting of British Indian provinces and princely states that acceded to it.
British Indian provinces
Were intended to form part of the federation under the statutory framework.
Princely states
Participation depended on accession by their rulers under the Act’s conditions.
Why did the federation not come into being?
- The required accession of princely states was not achieved.
- Many rulers were unwilling to join on the proposed terms.
- The federal provisions consequently remained unimplemented.
Central executive and legislature
The Act envisaged a federal executive headed by the Governor-General and a bicameral federal legislature. The Governor-General retained special responsibilities and discretionary powers.
The three legislative lists
The Act divided legislative subjects between the proposed federation and provinces through three lists.
| List | Legislative authority | Illustrative subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Federal List | Federal legislature | Defence, external affairs, currency and federal matters. |
| Provincial List | Provincial legislatures | Provincial administration, public health and local government. |
| Concurrent List | Federal and provincial legislatures | Subjects on which both levels could legislate, including certain civil and criminal law matters. |
Why this matters for the Constitution
The three-list structure is an important constitutional legacy. Independent India’s Constitution also distributes legislative powers through Union, State and Concurrent Lists, though the constitutional arrangements and terminology are not identical in every respect.
What changed in the provinces?
Provincial autonomy replaced the earlier provincial dyarchy. Provincial ministers were responsible to the provincial legislatures, subject to important constitutional limitations.
Under the 1919 Act
Provincial subjects were divided into reserved and transferred categories.
Under the 1935 Act
The provincial dyarchical division was abolished and ministries administered provincial subjects.
How provincial government worked
- Ministers were drawn from the provincial legislature and were responsible to it.
- Provincial legislatures exercised expanded legislative functions.
- Six provinces had bicameral legislatures: Bengal, Bombay, Madras, Bihar, Assam and the United Provinces.
- Provincial autonomy operated alongside governors’ special responsibilities and discretionary powers.
The proposed central dyarchy
The Act envisaged a division of federal subjects between reserved and transferred categories. This arrangement depended on the establishment of the federation.
Reserved subjects
Included defence, external affairs, ecclesiastical affairs and tribal areas under the proposed scheme.
These were to be administered by the Governor-General with the assistance of councillors.
Transferred subjects
Other federal subjects were to be administered with ministers responsible to the federal legislature, under the proposed arrangements.
Why was central dyarchy not implemented?
The All-India Federation never came into existence. Therefore, the federal executive and legislative arrangements dependent on it, including central dyarchy, did not operate.
Limits on provincial autonomy
Although ministers administered provincial departments, the Act preserved significant powers for governors and the Governor-General.
Governors’ powers
- Special responsibilities in specified areas.
- Discretionary powers in matters defined by the Act.
- Authority to reserve certain bills for consideration by the Governor-General.
- Emergency-related powers under the statutory framework.
Governor-General’s position
- Retained special responsibilities and discretionary authority at the centre.
- Had important powers relating to legislation, finance and constitutional safeguards.
- Was not responsible to an elected Indian legislature in the way a parliamentary executive is responsible under modern democratic government.
Institutions and administrative changes
Federal Court
The Act provided for a Federal Court, which began functioning in 1937 and heard specified federal disputes and constitutional questions.
Public Service Commissions
It provided for federal, provincial and joint public service commissions.
Reserve Bank of India
The Act provided the statutory framework for the RBI, which began operations in 1935 under separate legislation.
Electoral arrangements
The franchise expanded, but remained limited. Separate electorates and communal representation continued in the colonial constitutional system.
Other changes to remember
- Sind was separated from the Bombay Presidency.
- Orissa became a separate province from Bihar and Orissa.
- Burma was separated from British India in 1937.
- The Act provided for bicameral legislatures in six provinces.
Why was the Act criticised?
- No complete responsible government at the Centre: British authorities retained decisive powers.
- Federation remained unrealised: the proposed union of provinces and princely states did not materialise.
- Governors’ powers: discretionary authority and special responsibilities restricted provincial autonomy.
- Limited franchise: voting rights were extended but remained unavailable to most of the population.
- Separate electorates: communal and special representation continued.
- Central safeguards: important areas remained insulated from full legislative control.
Analytical point for Mains
The Act expanded representative institutions and provincial administration without transferring full sovereignty. Its constitutional structures became important reference points for later institution-building, but its colonial safeguards and restrictions remained fundamental limitations.
One-page revision sheet
| Feature | What to remember |
|---|---|
| Royal assent | 2 August 1935 |
| Provincial autonomy | Provincial dyarchy abolished; autonomy implemented in 1937. |
| All-India Federation | Proposed; never established. |
| Dyarchy at Centre | Provided for in the proposed federation; never implemented. |
| Legislative lists | Federal, Provincial and Concurrent. |
| Residuary powers | Governor-General. |
| Federal Court | Began functioning in 1937. |
| Bicameral provinces | Bengal, Bombay, Madras, Bihar, Assam and United Provinces. |
| RBI | Began operations in 1935 under the RBI Act, 1934. |
Before the test
Pay particular attention to the difference between what the Act provided for and what actually came into operation. UPSC questions often test this distinction.
- Provincial dyarchy abolished; provincial autonomy introduced.
- Central dyarchy proposed; never implemented.
- All-India Federation proposed; never established.
UPSC Prelims practice test
Choose one answer for each question. The explanation appears immediately after you select an option.
