1909 ACT 0F GOVERNMENT OF INDIA OR MINTO-

MORLEY REFORMS:
Morley-Minto Reform also known as Indian Council Act of 1909. According to this act,
the membership of the central and provincial legislative councils was enlarged.
However, the number of elected members in these councils was less than half of their
total membership.The British also introduced communal electorates as a part of these
reforms. This was meant to create disunity between Hindus and Muslims.

Objective:
To apply the electoral principle to membership in India's imperial and local legislative
councils, as well as to increase Indian participation in the governance of British India.

Key Points:
Some key points of Minto Marley are mentioned below

1.Size of legislative members:

At both the federal and provincial levels, the size of legislative councils has increased.

(i) The Central Legislative Council is made up of individuals ranging in age from 16 to
60.

(ii) There are 50 members in each of the Legislative Councils of Bengal, Madras,
Bombay, and the United Provinces.

(iii) Each Legislative Council of Punjab, Burma, and Assam has 30 members .

2.Acceptance of separate electorate:

The members who were elected did so in a roundabout way. Members of the provincial
legislative councils were chosen by local governments via an electoral college. These
individuals would elect members of the Central Legislative Council.

3.Muslims Electorate:
Muslims had their own electorates. In some seats, only Muslims were allowed to vote,
and only Muslims could vote for their representatives.

4.System of communal representation:

It introduced a system of communal representation for Muslims by accepting the
concept of ‘separate electorate’.

5.Foreign Policy:
Foreign policy or relations with princely states could not be discussed.

6.Authority of elected members:

Those who were elected included local governments, chambers of commerce,
landlords, colleges, trade organizations, and Muslims.

7.Legalized communalism:
Under this, the Muslim members were to be elected only by Muslim voters. Thus, the
Act ‘legalized communalism’ and Lord Minto came to be known as the Father of
Communal Electorate.”

8.Imperial legislative council:

The Imperial Legislative Council welcomed Indians for the first time.

Significance:
i. It was a forward step towards the responsible association of elected Indians
with the administration.
ii. The members for the first time got an opportunity to criticize the executives
and make suggestions for the better administration of the country.