The Government of India Act, 1935 was different from earlier Acts. The Act played a key role in the drafting of the Constitution of India, 1950. Key features of the Act were: It provided for provincial government autonomy. Separate electorates were provided for Muslims, Sikhs and others, but not to Depressed Classes. Three lists of divisions of power were made between the federation (central government) and provinces: federal (central), concurrent and provincial.
A federal court was also established to adjudicate disputes between federation and provinces. Governor was the executive head of the provincial government and he could veto the decisions of the provincial legislature. He acted on behalf of the Crown, and enjoyed discretionary powers to exercise his “individual judgements” in certain matters. He acted under the control of the Governor-General, and indeed the Secretary of the State. He was also not accountable to the legislature but he was needed to act on the advice of ministers, who were accountable to the legislature. The Act provided for setting up of a central government consisting of representatives from the provinces (areas ruled by the British India government) and the states (the areas covered under princely states). However, the federal government could not be formed because there was no unanimity among the princes to join the federation. Thus, the provincial governments could be formed as per this Act. The election to the provincial legislature as per the Government of India Act, 1935 was held in 1937.
The Government of India Act, 1935 was different from earlier Acts. The Act played a key role in the drafting of the Constitution of India, 1950. Key features of the Act were: It provided for provincial government autonomy. Separate electorates were provided for Muslims, Sikhs and others, but not to Depressed Classes. Three lists of divisions of power were made between the federation (central government) and provinces: federal (central), concurrent and provincial.
A federal court was also established to adjudicate disputes between federation and provinces. Governor was the executive head of the provincial government and he could veto the decisions of the provincial legislature. He acted on behalf of the Crown, and enjoyed discretionary powers to exercise his “individual judgements” in certain matters. He acted under the control of the Governor-General, and indeed the Secretary of the State. He was also not accountable to the legislature but he was needed to act on the advice of ministers, who were accountable to the legislature. The Act provided for setting up of a central government consisting of representatives from the provinces (areas ruled by the British India government) and the states (the areas covered under princely states). However, the federal government could not be formed because there was no unanimity among the princes to join the federation. Thus, the provincial governments could be formed as per this Act. The election to the provincial legislature as per the Government of India Act, 1935 was held in 1937.