The document outlines the key aspects of the Government of India Act 1919, which was introduced based on recommendations from the Montague-Chelmsford reforms. The Act divided subjects between central and provincial governments, introduced dyarchy with reserved and transferred subjects, and expanded representation through an elected bicameral legislature. While it increased self-governance and political participation, the Act was also criticized for maintaining colonial control and having an imbalanced division of powers.

1. DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY,BANGLADESH

2. WELCOME
To
OUR
PRESENTATION

3. • ABSTRACT
• INTRODUCTION
• GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ACT 1919
• MONTAGUE- CHEMSFORD REFORMS
• FEATURES OF GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ACT 1919
• IMPORTANCE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ACT 1919
• ADVENTAGES OR MERITS OF THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ACT 1919
• DEMARITS OF THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ACTS 1919
• CONCLUSION

4. ABSTRACT:
THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIAN ACT OF 1919 MADE A PROVISION FOR CLASSIFICATION OF THE CENTAL
AND PROVINCIAL SUBJECT. THE ACT KEPT THE INCOME TEXT AS A SOURCE OF REVENUE TO THE CENTRAL
GOVERNMENT. HOWEVER, FOR BENGAL AND BOMBAY, TO MEET THEIR OBJECTS’ A PROVISION TO
ASSIGN THEM 25% INCOME TEXT WAS MADE. THE PROVISION OF THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ACT 1919
WERE FOR MED MAINLY BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE REPORT SUBMITTED BY EDWIN
MONKGU, SECRETARY OF THE STATE FOR INDIA AND LORD CHELMSFORD (LORD FREDERIC THESIGER),
THE VICEROY OF INDIA. THE ACT WAS INTRODUCED IN THE YEAR 1919 IT CAME INTO FORCE ONLY IN
1921.
Introduction:
The government of India Act 1919 (9&10 Geo.5c. 101) was an Act of the parliament of the
United Kingdom. It was passed to expand participation of India’s in the reforms
recommended in the report of the secretary of for India, Edwin Montagu and the viceroy,
chelmsford. The Act covered ten years from 1919 to 1929. This Act represented the end of
benevolent destism (the act of authorities of resposible government in India. It was set to
be reviewed by the simon commision in 10 years.

5. GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ACT 1919:
Long title An Act to make further provision with respect to the government of India
Citation 9 &10 Geo.5c.101
Royal Assent 23 December 1919
Repeatd by State Law (Repeals) Act by 1976.
The main purpose of the Act was to ensure Indians of their increased representation in the government.
Montague- Chelmsford Reforms:
• In line with the government contained in Montague statement ( August 1917) the government announced further
constitutional reforms in july 1918 knows as Montague Chelmsford or Montfod reforms.
• The Montegu – chelmsford reform were reforms introduced by the British government in India to
introduce self govt. Institution gradually to India. The reform take their name from Edwin Samuel
Montague. The secretarty of the state for india during the latter parts of world war 1 and lord Chemsford
viceroy of India between 1916 – 1921.
• The reform were outline in the Montague Chelmsford report prepared in 1918 and formed the basic of thr
government of India Act 1919

6. FEATURES OF GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ACT- 1919
THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ACT 1919 WAS AN ACT OF THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT THAT
SOUGHT TO INCREASE THE PARTICIPATION OF INDIANS IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF THEIR
COUNTRY. PRINCIPLE FEATURES OF GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ACT, 1919 ARE BELOW:
Division of subjects
Provincial Diarchy
Bicameral legislature
Power of the
Government
Separate election
Council of India
Provincial Governor
Parliamentary
Government
Governing Council of the governor
general
Pricipal Features of
government of India Act,
1919
Increase the size of the
provincial legislature

7. THIS FEATURE OF GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ACT 1919 ARE EXPLAIN BELOW:
• POWER AND SUBJECT DISTRIBUTION:
• ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTION ARE DIVIDED BETWEEN THE CENTRAL AND PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT.
IT INCLUDED THE MATTERS WHICH WERE RELATED TO A SPECIFIC PROVINCE SUCH AS;
Power and subject distribution
Central issues Provincial issues
Foreign affairs,
post,war, national,
defence, bank,
Business, trade etc.
Public health, education, water
suppply, law and order, Famin,
Agriculture, land revenue
Provincial Dyarchy:
Dyarchy was introduced I,e, there were two classes of administrators- Executive
councillors and ministers
The governor was the executive head of the province The subject were divided
into two lists- i) Reserved ii) Transferred

8. Provincial Subject
Reserved issues Transferred issues
Local government, health,
education, public works,
industry, religious, excise etc
Law and order, finance, Land
revenue, irrigation etc
Governed by the executive
councillors Gov erned by the provincial
governors on the advice of
the principle cabinet
Provincial Dyarchy
Bicameral Legistature
The Act introduced bicameral legislature:
i) The lower house or central legislature Assembly and ii) The upper House or
council of state The legislature had virtually no control over the governor- general and
his executive council.
Composition of lower House:-
The lower house would consist of 145 members who were either nominated or
indirectly elected from the provinces.

9. 14 members
52 general
30 Muslims ,
special
20
2 sikhs
26 official and 15 non -
offical
nominated
41 elected
104
Composition Upper house:
The upper house would have 60 members. It had a tenure of 5 years and had only male members.
Government- General:-
The governor- generals assent was required for any bill to become law even if both houses
have passed it.
He could also enact a bill without the legislature’s consent.
He could present a bill from becoming law if he deems it as detrimental to the peace of the
country.
He could disallow any question adjourment motion or debate in the house.
5. Separate election:-
The government of India Act 1919 provided for separate election for the various minorities
in India.

10. 6. INCREASE OF POWER OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA:
• THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ACT OF 1919 INCREASED POWER OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA,
WITH SO MUCH POWER IN HIS HANDS, HE WAS CALLED THE “MIGHTY MUGHAL EMPEROR OF WHITE HALL.
7. INDIAN HIGH COMMISSIONERS:
• THE ACT CREATED THE POST OF ‘INDIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER’ TO PROTECT THE INTEREST OF THE INDIAN
PEOPLE LIVING IN GREAT BRITAIN. HIS TERM WAS FIVE YEARS. HE WILL BE APPOINTED BY THE
GOVERNMENT GENERAL AND WILL ACT AS HIS AGENT.
8. POWERS OF VICEROY:
• THE LEGISLATURE WAS ADDRESSED BY THE VICEROY. HE COULD CALL OR ADJOURN THE MEETING OR EVEN
REPEAL THE LEGISLATURE.
9. POWER OF CENTRAL LEGISLATURE:
• THE CENTRAL LEGISLATURE WAS AUTHORISE TO MAKE LAWS FOR ALL OF INDIA, FOR ALL OFFICERS AND
COMMON PEOPLE, WHETHER THEY WERE IN INDIA OR NOT.
10. VOTING POWER :
• THE ACT PROVIDES LEGISLATORS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE QUESTIONS AND VOTE ON A PORTION
OF THE BUDGET. ONLY 25% OF THE BUDGET WAS UP FOR DISSCUSSION. THE REST WERE CONVATABLE.
• THE VALUE SHOULD HAVE PAID LAND REVENUE OF RUPEES, 3000 MORE HAVE A RENTAL
VALUE PROPERTY HAVE TAXABLE INCOME.
• THEY SHOULD HAVE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS.

11. IMPORTANT OF THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ACT OF 1919:
1. AWENING AMONG INDIA:-
• INDIA RECEIVED SECRED INFORMATION ABOUT ADMINISTRATION AND BECOME AWERE OF
THEIR DUTIES. THIS INSTILLED A SENSE OF NATIONALISM AND AWAKENING AMONG INDIANS
AND THEY MOVED TOWARDS ACHIEVING THE GOAL OF SWARAJ.
2. EXPANSION OF VOTING RIGHT:
• ELECTION AREAS EXPANDED IN INDIA AND PEOPLE BEGAR TO CENDERSTANDING THE
IMPORTANT OF VOTING.
3. SELF GOVERNMENT IN PROVINCES:
• BY THIS LAW SELF-GOVERNMENT IN PROVINCES IS FORMED. THE ACT GAVE THE PEOPLE THE
POWER TO ADMINISTER. IT PREPARED INDIANS TO DISCHARGE RESPONSIBILITY IN THE
PROVICIAL ADMINISTRATION..
4. INTRODUCE OF DIRECT ELECTION:
• BY THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ACT OF 1919. INDIA DIRECT ELECTIONS WERE INTRODUCED,
WHICH LED TO THE EXPANSION OF SUFFRAG
5. GAIN POLITICAL EDUCATION: BY THE PRACTICE OF DIRECT POLITIC THE INDIAN GAIN POLITICAL
KNOWLEDGE. ABOVE ALL IT CAN BE SAID THAT, THIS LAW HAS PLAYED A IMPORTANT ROLE IN INDIAN
WELFARE

12. ADVANTAGES OR MERITS OF THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ACT 1919:
• DYARCHY INTRODUCE THE CONCEPT OF RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT.
• THE PROVINCIAL SELF GOVERNMENT CAME INTO EXISTENCE.
• THE CONCEPT OF THE FEDERAL STRUCTURE WAS INTRODUCED.
• THE PEOPLE WERE INTRODUCED TO DIRECT ELECTION AND THEY BECOME AWARE OF THE
IMPORTANCE OF VOTING. SOME WOMAN GET THE RIGHT TO VOTE, FOR FIRST TIME.
• ADMINISTRATIVE PRESSURE FROM THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WAS REDUCED TO SOME EXTENT
UNDER THE PROVISION OF THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ACT OF 1919.
• INDIANS WERE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR DISCHARGING THEIR DUTIES IN THE PROVINCIAL
GOVERNMENT.

13. DEMERITS OF THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ACT-1919:
THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ACT-191 ARE CRITICISM BY MANY WAY. THOUGH IT HAD SOME
ADVANTAGE, IT CREAT SOME PROBLEM. THE MAIN DISADVANTAGE OF GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ACT
1919 ARE GIVEN BELOW:-
1. THE PLANNING OF DIARCHY SYSTEM IN PROVINCES WAS FAULTY.
2. LACK OF POWER LEGISLATURE AT THE CENTER.
3. FRANCHIS WAS VERY LIMITED.
4. DIVISION OF SUBJECT WAS NOT SATISFACTORY AT THE CENTER.
5. ALLOCATION OF SEATS FOR CENTRAL LEGISLATURE TO PROVINCES WAS BASED OR`IMPORTANCE OF PROVICES
FOR INSTANCE, PUNJAB’S MILLITARY IMPORTANCE AND BOMBAY’S COMMERCIAL IMPORATANCE.
6. AT THE LEVEL OF PROVINCES, DIVISION OF SUBJECTS AND PARALLED ADMINISTRATION OF TWO PARTS I,C,
DYARCHY WAS IRRATIONAL AND HENCE CENWORKABLE
7. THIS ACT EXTENDED CONSOLIDATE AND COMMUNAL REPRESSENTATION.
8. THE GOVERNOR- GENERAL AND THE GOVERNORS HAD A LOT OF POWER TO UNDERMINE THE LEGISLATURE AT
THE CENTRE AND THE PROVINCES RESPECTIVELY.
9. THE ROWLOTT ACTS WERE PASSED IN 1919 WHICH SEVERELY RESTRICTED PRESS AND MOVEMENT. DESPITE THE
UNANIMOUS OPPOSITION OF INDIAN MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THESE BILLS WERE PASSED
SEVERAL INDIAN MEMBERS RESIGNED IN PROTEST

14. OUTCOME OF THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ACT 1912:
★DYARCHY:
THE OUTCOME OF THE INDIAN ACT 1912 WAS DYARCHY.DYARCHY MEANS DUAL SET UP
GOVERNMENT, ONE IS ACCOUNTABLE & ANOTHER ONE IS NOT ACCOUNTABLE. DYARCHY WAS
INTRODUCED BY THIS ACT.SUBJECT OF THE PROVIENCE GOVERNMENT WERE DIVIDED INTO
TWO PART.ONE WAS "RESERVED" & ANOTHER ONE WAS "TRANSFERRED ". RESERVED MATTER
INCLUDE MANY SUBJECT SUCH AS ' PRISONS,POLICE, JUSTICE, FAMINE, MONEY, LAND,
IRRIGATION, & THESE MATTER WERE HANDLED BY GOVERNOR DIRECTLY WITH THE HELP OF
THE GOVERNOR COUNCIL.ONE THE OTHER HAND TRANSFERRED INCLUDE OTHERS TOPIC
SUCH AS AGRICULTURE, EDUCATION, PUBLIC INTEREST, AND THESE WERE HANDLED BY
PROVINCIAL GOVERNOR ON THE ADVICE OF THE PRINCIPAL CABINET.
IMPORTANCE OF DYARCHY :
• ALTHOUGH DYARCHY SYSTEM WAS FAILED, IT HAS SOME IMPORTANCE. MANY BELIEVED
THAT THIS ACT WAS THE RESPONSIBLE GOVERNANCE & DECENTRALIZATION OF POWER IN
INDIA.

15. Conclusion:
The MCR would go on to become the basis for the government of India
Act, 1935 and ultimately the constitution
The key principles of responsible government, Self-goverance and federal
structure grew out of the reform. Montagu- Chelmsford Report on Indian
constitutional reforms is a watershed in India’s constitutional histroy.
The MCR on Indian constitutional reforms along with the Montagu
Declaration are, thus, worthy claimants of the title of the Magna carta of
modern India.
Reference: Mantague-
Chelmsford Reforms of India Act 1919 from Goggle in a dictionary of
world History, wikipedia.