Good Government of India, 1858

•  Abolished EIC and transferred power to Government, Territories, revenues to British Council.
• Designation of Governor -General of India changed to Viceroy of India.
• Act created a new office in Britain i.e. Secretary of State for India ( Complete Authority over India Administration).
• Secretary of State is member of British Cabinet and was responsible to British parliament.
• 15 member council to assist the Secretary of State. Council was advisory nature. Secretary of State was chairman of Council of India.
• It ended the system of Dual Government. Eliminated the Court of Directors and Board of Control.
• This act focused on administration reform just to control the Indian Territories.

Indian Council Acts of 1861

• Beginning of representational institution via nominations by viceroy as non-official members.
• Lord Canning appointed the Raja of Banaras, Maharaja of Patiala and Sir Dinkar Rao.
• Restored legislative powers of Bombay and Madras Presidencies ( Reversal of central tendencies).
• New Legislative Councils were made –  Punjab, North Western Frontier Province, Bengal.
• Viceroy  made rules for convenient transaction of business of house.
• Portfolio System  – Viceroy was in-charge of same. He can issue final order on behalf of a department.
• Ordinance making power to Viceroy and it’s validity for 6 months.

Indian Council Act of 1892

•  Increased Non-official members of Indian Legislative council and provincial legislative councils. However, official majority remains.
• Increased functions of legislative councillors  like Discussing budget provisions.
• Nominations of some non-official members :
• Central Legislative council – Recommendation of Provincial legislative councils and Bengal chamber of                                  commerce
•    Provincial legislative council – Recommendation of district boards, municipalities, universities, trade associations, zamindars and chambers.
•  Act made limited and indirect provision for use of election in filling non-official seats.

Indian Council Act of 1909

•  Also called Morley-Minto Reforms.
• Morley – Secretary of State of India.
• Minto – Viceroy of India.
• Increased Number of Non-Official members in Provincial Legislative council, not in Indian Legislative council.
• Power of Indian Legislative councillors were increased – Budget and supplementary questions.
• Association of Indian in viceroy’s Executive council – Satyendra Prasad Sinha.
• Introduced System of Communal Representation for Muslim  (Start of communalism).
• Lord Minto – Father of Communal Electprate. 
• Separate Representation for presidency corporation, Bengal Chamber of Commerce, universities and Zamindars.

Government of India Act, 1919

•  20 August, 1917  : British Government declared that gradual introduction of responsible Government in India
• Also called Chelmsford-Montagu reform act, 1919.
• Relaxed control over provinces -> Two Subject List  -> Central and Provincial list.
• Again in Provinces –  two subjects -> Transferred (Governor with help of council of minister) and Reserved (Governor and his executive council).
• Above System is called Dyarchy (Two Subject list) 
• Bi-cameralism and direct election in country
• Indian Legislative council replaced by Upper house and Lower House.
• 3 out of 6 members of Executive Council of Viceroys.
• Extension of Communal representation -> Sikhs, Anglo-Indians and Europeans.
• Granted Limited Franchise to vote based on Property, Education and tax.
• Created new office of  Commissioner to support secretary of State of India.
• Separated Provincial and Central Budget.
• Provinces can make budgetary provision independently.
• Appointment of statutory commission for reviewing and reporting on working of 1919 Act after 10 years.

Simon Commission

•  November,  1927 (2 years before schedule) – Britain Government made 7 British member commission under Sir John Simon to report on Condition of India under new Constitution.
• Submitted its report in 1930.
• Recommended  – Abolition of Dyarchy, Extension of Responsible Government, Establishment of Federation of British India and Princely states, Continuity of communal electorates.
• To consider Simon Commission, British Government conveyed 3 round table conferences to discuss “White paper on Constitutional Reforms”  and Submitted to joint Select Committee of British Parliament. 
• Recommendation were incorporated in 1935 Act.

Communal Award

• August 1932 – Ramsay MacDonald announced the scheme of representation for minorities called Communal Award.
• Separate Electorates for Depressed class.
• Gandhi opposed idea, took fast unto to death in Yerawada Jail.
• Agreement – Congress and B.R. Ambedkar signed POONA PACT.
• POONA PACT – Reserved Seats for Depressed Class.

Government Act of Indian Act, 1935

• Federation of Princely states, British Territories in India. Federation never came to existence as princely state oppossed it.
• Two Subject list  – Provincial and Federal List
• Residuary power to viceroy.
• Abolition of Dyarchy in Provinces. Provinces allowed to act as autonomous units of their administration in their defined spheres.
• Act introduced responsible Government in provinces.
• Governor to act on advice of Council of Ministers responsible to Legislature.
• Came to Effect – 1937, discontinued in 1939.
• Provided adoption of diarchy a Centre. This Feature did not came into effect.
• Introduced Bi-cameralism in 6 out of 11 provinces.
• Extended Principal of Communal Electorates for depressed Class, Women and Labours.
• Extended Franchise – About 10% of total population get voting rights.
• Establishment of Reserve bank of India – Control and Credit of Currency.
• Establishment of Federal Public Services, Provincial Public Services and Joint Public Services.
• Establishment of Federal Court which was set up in 1937.

Indian Independence Act, 1947