History 1935.

• The Government of India Act of 1935 had two parts: Federal provisions and Provincial provisions
• Federal provisions:

  • India was to be a federation with a parliamentary form of government
  • The parliament was to be a two-tier structure with the Council of State as the upper house and the Assembly as the lower house
  • Diarchy was introduced at the Federal level
  • The number of provinces was increased to eleven, including N.W.F.P, Sindh, and Orissa
  • Property qualifications for voting were reduced, allowing 35 million Indians to vote
• Provincial provisions:

  • Some provincial autonomy was granted for the first time
  • Ministers in the provinces could control all departments except in cases of public order or vetoing a bill by the governors
  • Provisions for a federal government were established at the center for the first time, allowing princely states to participate politically
  • The act disappointed the Muslim League as they expected more concessions from the British
• Opposition to the Government of India Act of 1935:

  • Real power still remained in the hands of the British
  • Viceroy and Governor-General retained key decisions in external relations and defense
  • Most of the adult population could not vote due to property qualifications
• Importance of the Government of India Act of 1935:

  • Provinces were given a large amount of autonomy
  • Number of provinces increased to eleven, including N.W.F.P, Sindh, and Orissa
  • Property qualifications for voting were lowered, allowing 35 million Indians to vote
  • Princely states could participate in politics for the first time
  • Act provided the basis for negotiations leading to British leaving India and moving towards independence
• Provinces were given a large amount of autonomy under the Government of India Act of 1935
• Provincial governments were allowed to devise and carry out their own programmes and be responsible to their own legislature
• Ministers in the provinces were heads of provincial administration
• Provincial governors were instructed to act on the advice of ministers, except in cases of public order or to veto a bill
• Provincial governors had the power to dismiss ministers and even the whole administration and rule by proclamation during a period of emergency
• The Number of provinces was increased to eleven, including N.W.F.P, Sindh, and Orissa as new provinces
• The Government of India Act of 1935 provided additional rights for the local population to vote
• Property qualifications were lowered, giving 35 million Indians the right to vote (1/4 of India's adult population)
• Indians were given more say in the political process of the subcontinent
• Provisions for a federal government were established at the centre for the first time under the Government of India Act of 1935
• Princely states could participate politically in affairs concerning the sub-continent
• British retained key decisions relating to external relations and defence, which was a drawback
• The Government of India Act of 1935 was an important step towards independence
• It provided the basis for negotiations that led to the British leaving India
• Indian people gained increased representation through parliamentary systems set up under the act
• Both Congress and Muslim League saw the advantage of contesting the elections in 1937
• Outcomes of Elections 1937:
• Congress won absolute majorities in 5 provinces and was the largest single party in 4 others
• Muslim League won only 109 seats reserved for Muslims
• It was the first major election that Muslim League fought and learned lessons to improve organization and planning
• Muslim League realized its support lay more in areas where Muslims were a minority and not threatened by Hindus
• Muslim League had an 'image problem' of being wealthy aristocrats relating to poor and illiterate Muslims
• Successes and Failures of Election 1937:
• Congress formed ministries in 8 provinces and saw itself as the sole party representing India
• Muslim League benefited from the election by unifying the party and learning how to contest elections
• Muslim League realized it needed to improve organization and planning and that its support lay in areas where Muslims were a minority
• Muslim League leaders were seen as aristocrats and princes, not in touch with ordinary Muslims
• Congress alienated the Muslim League after the elections, leading to difficulties in future negotiations
• Congress' attitude and actions after the election hardened Muslim views towards a partition of India, leading to the 1940 Pakistan resolution
• Muslim League had a relatively poor performance in the elections, winning only 109 out of 489 Muslim seats
• In Punjab, out of 86 Muslim seats, Muslim League won only 1, with the rest taken by the Punjab Unionist Party
• Muslims felt betrayed by the British for not prioritizing Muslim rights and Congress further upset Muslims during their rule