Government of India Act 1935

Historical Events/ Background

Under the Act of 1919, new reforms were to be introduced in India by the British Government
after every 10 years. For this purpose, Simon Commission was sent to India in 1927. Most of the
Indian political parties decided to boycott the Commission on the plea that it lacked Indian
representation. Lord Birkenhead, Secretary of State for Indian Affairs, challenged the Indians:
If they have any political capability and competence, then they should form a unanimous
constitution and present it to us and we will implement it.
In response, Nehru report and Quaid-i-Azam’s 14 points were given but Muslim league rejected
Nehru report and Congress rejected Jinnah’s 14 points. Resultantly, local political parties failed
to provide unanimous constitutional reforms. Then Simon Commission report was published in
March 1930.
In reaction, Congress started civil disobedience movement, which was declared as illegal and
Gandhi and Nehru were arrested.
First round table conference

Began on November 1930

 All parties were there except congress because they were not ready to compromise less
than complete implementation of Nehru report
 Muslim league participated in conference
 The most important decision taken at the Conference was the approval of the federal
system for India.
 The first round table conference ended on 19th January, 1931. The British Prime Minister
issued a statement that the Government had accepted the proposals for full responsible
government in the provinces and a federal system in the Centre.

Gandhi Irwin Pact

British government had realized the importance of Congress and had understood that
without Congress, any step for constitutional reforms, would be difficult to implement.
Lord Irwin extended invitation to Gandhi for talks. Gandhi agreed and following were the
salient proposals of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact.
1. The congress will call off its civil disobedience movement
2. The congress will attend the second round table conference
 3. The government would withdraw all ordinances which were meant to curb the
congress
4. The government would withdraw all notifications relating to offences not
involving violence
5. The government would release all persons detained during civil disobedience
movement

Second Round Table Conference

Started on Sep 1931

 Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar had died

 Gandhi was only representative from congress
 Gandhi adopted stubborn attitude
 Gandhi refused to accept any rights of minorities
 Gandhi insisted that there was only one nation in India which were Hindus
 But the Quaid I Azam replied that Indian Muslims were also a separate nation of India
which had its own interests.
 Sir Shafi from Muslim league also demanded that the 14 points of Quaid I Azam should
be included with respect to future constitution.
 No settlement of minorities issue could be reached because of Gandhi’s rigid behavior
and conference ended without reaching at any conclusion.

Third Round Table Conference

Started on Nov 1932
 The congress once again abstained from the conference because Gandhi had started his
civil disobedience movement
 Congress leadership went to jail
 Conference was nothing more than mere formality
 Third round table conference also ended without any achievement

Communal Award

The British government gave enough time and chance to the Indian leaders to come with
a workable constitution but local leadership failed.
Then British published their own scheme known as communal Award in August 1932
It retained separate electorate for the Muslims and for all other minorities.
Muslim majorities in Punjab and Bengal were reduced to minorities
The Indian political parties rejected the award

Government of India Act 1935

The Round Table Conferences could not achieve anything. However, there was one
important factor in the holding of these conferences that they amply manifested the
public opinion to enable the government to fully understand the problems and to take
some concrete steps to solve them.
Recommendations of conferences in a white paper:
The recommendations of the round table conference were contained in a white paper
which was published in 1933 and discussed in the parliament. A committee was set up to
consider the recommendations of the white paper.
The report of the committee was published in 1934 which was contained in a Bill of Law.
The British Parliament passed the Bill which after the Royal assent was enforced in the
country as Government of India Act, 1935.
Salient Recommendations of the Act of 1935
The Act contained 14 parts and 10 schedules and consisted of two parts. Part 1 pertained
to provincial subjects while Part 2 contained federal list of subjects. The Act came into
operation on 1st April, 1937 except Part 2 which could not be enforced until a specific
number of Princely States acceded to the Indian Federation. The Act Introduced federal
system in the Centre. The provincial reforms were as follows
1. The provinces were given more authority and powers and for the first time the
provinces were made the separate entities
2. The system of Dyarchy was scrapped in the provinces and introduced in the
Centre.
3. Three lists of subjects were drawn up which were the federal list, the provincial
list and the concurrent list
4. The provincial legislatures were given powers of legislation on provincial and
concurrent subjects
5. The provincial executive was handed over to the representatives of the people
who were accountable before the provincial legislatures.
 6. The country was divided into 11 provinces
7. Responsible parliamentary system was introduced in the provinces. The provinces
were given complete autonomy. The Ministers were to be chosen from the
representatives of the people.
8. Every province was given a council of ministers whose advice was binding on the
Governor. However, in the discharge of his responsibilities the Governor was to
act under the general control of the Governor General.
9. Special powers were given to the governors for the protection of the rights of the
minorities.

An Appraisal of the Act of 1935

The Act of 1935 failed to satisfy various political sections of the country. Jinnah rejected it and
declared it as a defective document.

The Federal system introduced by the Act was defective in many ways. There was no guarantee
of individual liberties neiher it could give a workable dominion status. The people were not
given their rights. All Authority was vested in the Parliament which was under British influence.

The system of Dyarchy which had failed in the provinces was introduced in the Centre. Vast
authority was given to the Governors in the provinces and to the Viceroy in the Centre.

The provincial part of the Act was enforced on 1st April 1937, under which the elections were to
be held in the country.