Government of India Act of 1919-Montagu Chelmsford Reforms-Audio Lecture

Government of India Act of 1919 was also famously known as Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms because at that time the Viceroy was Lord Chelmsford and the Secretary of State was Lord Montagu. This Audio Tutorial is of a slightly higher duration that is 22 minutes as in this Audio Tutorial I have told in detail about various provisions of this Government of India Act 1919 in detail.

Some Important provisions of this Montagu Chelmsford Reforms were -

1. The list of subjects on which the Central Legislative Councils and the Provincial Legislative Councils could legislate were separated. Further the subjects that were kept under the jurisdiction of Provincial Councils were kept under two heads - Transferred and Reserved. Through this the dual scheme of Governance famously known as Dyarchy was introduced.

2. Direct Elections were for the first time introduced in India.

3. Bicameralism was introduced in India thereby replacing Indian Legislative Council by a bicameral legislature comprised of LOWER HOUSE and UPPER HOUSE. The LOWER HOUSE was the Legislative Assembly and the UPPER HOUSE was known as Council of State.

4. Provincial Budget was separated from the Central Budget and full autonomy was provided to the Provincial Legislative Councils in order to enact their own budgets.

5. Separate Electorate was provided to the Anglo Indians, Indian Christians, Sikhs etc.

6. Provision for the establishment of a Public Service Commission was introduced through this Act.

7. Indian High Commissioner's office was opened in London, United Kingdom.