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Indian Councils Act, 1909

The Indian Councils Act of 1909, also known as the Morley-Minto Reforms, aimed to increase Indian participation in legislative processes and introduce electoral representation while safeguarding British interests. It marked the first formal introduction of electoral politics in India, allowing limited Indian legislative roles and establishing separate electorates for Muslims, which contributed to communal divisions. However, real power remained with the British, and the reforms were rejected by nationalists as inadequate and divisive.

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36 views1 page

Indian Councils Act, 1909

The Indian Councils Act of 1909, also known as the Morley-Minto Reforms, aimed to increase Indian participation in legislative processes and introduce electoral representation while safeguarding British interests. It marked the first formal introduction of electoral politics in India, allowing limited Indian legislative roles and establishing separate electorates for Muslims, which contributed to communal divisions. However, real power remained with the British, and the reforms were rejected by nationalists as inadequate and divisive.

Uploaded by

invisible1367
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Indian Councils Act, 1909 (Morley-Minto Reforms)

Background Purpose Significance Limitations


Rising nationalist pressure after the To increase Indian participation in First formal introduction of electoral Real power remained with the British
Partition of Bengal (1905) legislative processes politics in India
Separate electorates led to communal
Surge in political agitation and To introduce electoral representation Provided Indians limited legislative role politics
demands for self-governance for Indians
Aimed to satisfy moderate nationalists Councils were still advisory and lacked
Need to appease moderates within To safeguard British interests by and contain extremism authority over the executive
the Indian National Congress dividing nationalist forces
Sowed the seeds of communal division Rejected by nationalists as inadequate
Named after John Morley (Secretary through separate electorates and divisive
of State for India) and Lord Minto
(Viceroy)

Key Provisions

Expansion of Legislative Introduction of Separate Electorates Indians in Executive Right to Discuss Budgets
Councils Elections for Muslims Councils and Ask Supplementary
Central Legislative Council: For the first time, Indians were Muslims granted separate Indians appointed to Executive
Questions
Increased to 60 members allowed to elect members to electorates Councils of Viceroy and Non-official members could
legislative councils Governors now:
Provincial Councils: Also
·
Muslim voters could
elect Muslim candidates · Discuss budget
expanded in size Elections were indirect (based Satyendra Prasad Sinha became
only
on electoral colleges) the first Indian appointed to ·Ask supplementary
Both councils had official Viceroy’s Executive Council (Law questions
Introduced the principle of
(British) majority at the center; Marked the beginning of Member)
not always in provinces representative governance in
communal representation ·
Move resolutions on public
British India matters (limited scope)

www.manoramayearbook.in

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