The Indian Councils Act 1909, also known as the Morley-Minto Reforms, was a legislation passed by the British government in 1909 that made significant changes to the way in which the government of India was administered. The Act introduced several reforms, including the introduction of a system of elections for certain seats on the legislative councils in India, the introduction of separate electorates for Muslims, and the expansion of the size of the legislative councils.
Under the Act, the legislative councils in India were to be composed of both elected and nominated members. The Act introduced a system of separate electorates for Muslims, which meant that Muslims were only allowed to vote for Muslim candidates in elections. This system of separate electorates was later abolished by the Indian Independence Act 1947, which granted India independence from British rule.
The Act also expanded the size of the legislative councils, and gave the councils more power to discuss and debate government policies and budgets. However, the councils still had very limited powers, and the British government retained ultimate control over the administration of India.
Overall, the Indian Councils Act 1909 was a modest reform that introduced some limited changes to the way in which the government of India was administered. It did not, however, address the key demand of Indian nationalists for greater self-governance and increased participation in the decision-making process.
The Indian Councils Act 1909, also known as the Morley-Minto Reforms, was a legislation passed by the British government in 1909 that made significant changes to the way in which the government of India was administered. The Act was introduced in response to growing demands from Indian nationalists for greater political representation and a more democratic system of government in India.
The Act was named after Lord Morley, the Secretary of State for India, and Lord Minto, the Viceroy of India. Lord Morley had long advocated for the introduction of more democratic reforms in India, and he worked closely with Lord Minto to draft the legislation that eventually became the Indian Councils Act 1909.
The Act introduced several reforms, including the introduction of a system of elections for certain seats on the legislative councils in India, the introduction of separate electorates for Muslims, and the expansion of the size of the legislative councils. However, the Act did not grant any significant powers to the councils, and the British government retained ultimate control over the administration of India.
The Indian Councils Act 1909 was met with mixed reactions in India. Some Indian nationalists welcomed the Act as a step towards greater political representation, while others saw it as a superficial reform that did not go far enough in addressing their demands for self-governance. Despite the limited nature of the reforms, the Act was seen as an important step in the evolution of the Indian independence movement, and it laid the groundwork for further reforms that were introduced in the years leading up to India's independence in 1947.
The Indian Councils Act 1909, also known as the Morley-Minto Reforms, introduced several significant changes to the way in which the government of India was administered. Some of the key features of the Act include:
Elected members: The Act introduced a system of elections for certain seats on the legislative councils in India, allowing Indians to have a greater role in the decision-making process.
Separate electorates: The Act introduced a system of separate electorates for Muslims, which meant that Muslims were only allowed to vote for Muslim candidates in elections.
Expansion of the legislative councils: The Act expanded the size of the legislative councils, and gave the councils more power to discuss and debate government policies and budgets.
Nominated members: The Act provided for the appointment of nominated members to the legislative councils, in addition to the elected members.
Veto power: The Act granted the Viceroy of India the power to veto or postpone any legislation passed by the legislative councils.
Overall, the Indian Councils Act 1909 was a modest reform that introduced some limited changes to the way in which the government of India was administered. It did not, however, address the key demand of Indian nationalists for greater self-governance and increased participation in the decision-making process.