π Topic 05 of 6 Β· Chapter 15 Β· Gandhian Era & Independence
Constitutional Developments (1919β1947)
Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms, Simon Commission, Government of India Act 1935, Cabinet Mission, Mountbatten Plan.
ποΈ Key Constitutional Developments
| Act/Event | Year | Key Features | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms (GoI Act 1919) | 1919 | Dyarchy in provinces; bicameral legislature at centre; separate electorates | Limited self-government; first step towards responsible government |
| Simon Commission | 1927β28 | All-British commission to review GoI Act 1919 | Boycotted by Indians β “Simon Go Back”; Lala Lajpat Rai died after lathi charge |
| Nehru Report (1928) | 1928 | Indian response to Simon Commission; demanded Dominion Status; no separate electorates | First Indian constitutional proposal; rejected by Muslim League |
| Government of India Act 1935 | 1935 | Provincial autonomy; federal structure; separate electorates; RBI established; Burma separated | Most important pre-independence act; Indian Constitution borrowed many features |
| Cripps Mission | 1942 | Offered Dominion Status after WWII | Rejected by Congress (“post-dated cheque”); led to Quit India Movement |
| Cabinet Mission | 1946 | Proposed united India with three-tier federal structure | Congress accepted; League rejected; led to Mountbatten Plan |
| Mountbatten Plan | June 3, 1947 | Partition of India into two dominions β India and Pakistan | Accepted by Congress and League; led to Independence |
ποΈ Government of India Act 1935 β Key Features
- Provincial autonomy: Provinces got elected governments; responsible to provincial legislatures
- Federal structure: Centre + provinces + princely states (federal part never implemented)
- Dyarchy at centre: Some subjects under Indian ministers; others under British control
- Separate electorates: Continued for Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, etc.
- RBI established under this act
- Burma separated from India
- Indian Constitution (1950) borrowed many features from this act
ποΈ Cabinet Mission (1946)
- Three British ministers sent to India: Pethick-Lawrence, Stafford Cripps, A.V. Alexander
- Proposed a united India with three-tier federal structure:
- Union of India (defence, foreign affairs, communications)
- Groups of provinces (A, B, C)
- Individual provinces
- Congress accepted the plan but rejected the grouping scheme
- Muslim League initially accepted but later rejected
- Failure of Cabinet Mission led to the Mountbatten Plan and Partition
β Dyarchy (Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms, 1919): Dyarchy divided provincial subjects into “transferred” (education, health, agriculture β under Indian ministers responsible to legislature) and “reserved” (finance, law, police β under British control). This was a limited step towards self-government. It was criticised as inadequate by nationalists.
π Exam Tip:
β’ Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms = 1919 = Dyarchy in provinces
β’ Simon Commission = 1927 = all-British = “Simon Go Back” = Lajpat Rai died
β’ GoI Act 1935 = provincial autonomy = RBI established = Burma separated
β’ Cabinet Mission = 1946 = united India = Congress accepted; League rejected
β’ Mountbatten Plan = June 3, 1947 = partition announced
β’ Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms = 1919 = Dyarchy in provinces
β’ Simon Commission = 1927 = all-British = “Simon Go Back” = Lajpat Rai died
β’ GoI Act 1935 = provincial autonomy = RBI established = Burma separated
β’ Cabinet Mission = 1946 = united India = Congress accepted; League rejected
β’ Mountbatten Plan = June 3, 1947 = partition announced