The Government of India Act, 1919

This Act marked the end of the benevolent dictatorship (authorities enriching themselves) and the beginning of India’s accountable administration. The Simon Commission was supposed to evaluate it after ten years.

Background

• The act was based on a report by Edwin Montagu, the Secretary of State for India at the time, and Lord Chelmsford, India’s Viceroy between 1916 and 1921
• Montagu-Chelmsford reforms, or Montford reforms, are the constitutional reforms enacted by this act in 1921
• Representation act of India was said to have a primary purpose or focus to guarantee that People of India can be able to engage and involve in the governance of India
• Both at the provincial (state-by-state) and federal stages or levels of administration, the Act brought in some changes of administration

What was the Government of India (GOI) Act, 1919?

The primary goal of the Government of India Act 1919, also known as the Councils Act 1919, was to increase Indian people’s participation in government. The Act also established a Dual System of Government, which split all government-controlled activity into two categories. 

The government of India act (1919) was made to end dictatorship and start Indian administration

Key Features

Diarchy

Diarchy was applied on a state-by-state basis. Diarchy refers to the presence of two governments in which one is responsible and the other is not.

The division of subjects into ‘central subjects’ and ‘provincial or state-by-state subjects’ eased control over provinces.

Legislative subjects were divided into two categories: “reserved,” which included subjects like law and order, finance, land revenue, irrigation, and so on, and “transferred,” which included subjects like education, health, local government, industry, agriculture, excise, and so on.

Legislative Shifts

The Viceroy has the power to bring in power any bill but the legislature needs permission from the viceroy to pass any bill.

This act established bicameralism in the Central Legilative assembly. The Legislative Assembly was the lower house, 145 individuals completing three-year terms on the board, whereas the state council was the upper body, with 60 individuals completing their five-year durations.

The new rules allowed Members to raise questions, approve actions for adjournment as well as vote on a part of the budget plan, however, 75 per cent of the budget was not voted on.

Interference Limitations

The Secretary of State for India and the Governor-General were allowed to intervene in reserved topics, but their ability to intervene in transferred subjects was limited.

Governor’s Powers

 The Governor has complete access to the funds and can overrule the decisions or laws of ministers for any deemed condition.

Legislation could be proposed by legislative councils, but the governor’s approval was required.

Bills and ordinances could be vetoed by the governor.

Significance of GOI act 1919

• People come to know about the importance of votings and elections, women voted to be their first time voting 
•  The Government of India (GOI) Act of 1919 signalled the administration’s desire to gradually introduce responsible government in India for the first time
• The concept of provincial self-government was introduced
• The people were granted more administrative power, and the government’s administrative pressure was considerably lessened
• Because self-government has now been the policy of a government, the Home rule and the nationalist’s  League’s demands may no longer be considered seditious
• Indians are becoming more aware of the administrative process, which allows them to be more and highly motivated to achieve the aim of Swaraj

The Government of India Act of 1919: Merits

• The concept of responsible government was proposed by the dyarchy
• It was the first to establish the concept of a federal government with a unitary bias
• Elections were made known to the public for the first time, and it sparked political awareness
• There was a rise in the number of Indians working in the administration
• They were in charge of several portfolios, such as labour, health, and so on
• For the first time, certain Indian women were granted the power to vote

The Government of India Act of 1919: Limitations

• This statute widened the scope of centralised and communal representation
• The franchise had a relatively restricted number of locations. It did not apply to the average person
• The governor-general and governors had a lot of power to weaken the central and provincial or state-by-state legislatures, respectively
• The central legislature seats were distributed based on the province’s ‘importance’ in the eyes of the British, not on population
• In 1919, the Rowlatt Acts were passed, severely restricting the press and freedom of movement
• Those legislations were passed against the unanimous opposition of Indian members of the legislative council
• In protest, several Indian members quit

Conclusion

At the national, provincial, and local branches of administration, the Act ushered in reforms. It formed a two-tiered government and contains two listings for all actions regulated by the government. The Government of India (GOI) act, 1919, signalled the administration’s desire to gradually introduce responsible government in India being the first time for them. The people were granted more administrative power, and the government’s administrative pressure was considerably lessened.