Montagu Chelmsford Reforms 1919 in Hindi | GOI Act 1919 UPSC

Summary

In this video, the speaker delves into the Government of India Act 1919, also known as the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms. They explore its historical background, particularly the impact of World War I, the Lucknow Pact, and the August Declaration of 1917. The Act aimed to gradually establish a responsible government in India, though India would still remain part of the British Empire. Major reforms included the restructuring of the central legislature into a bicameral system and the introduction of separate electorates for Muslims, Sikhs, and Europeans. The video also discusses the separation of the roles of the Secretary of State and the High Commission of India, along with other legislative changes.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Government of India Act 1919 (Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms) was a significant milestone in India's political history, aiming to gradually establish responsible governance in India.
• 😀 The background to the Act involved India's support for Britain during World War I, with the expectation that Britain would fulfill Indian demands for greater self-governance post-war.
• 😀 The Lucknow Pact of 1916, signed by the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League, played a crucial role in shaping India's demands for greater political participation and representation.
• 😀 The August Declaration of 1917, by Secretary of State Montagu, signaled Britain’s intention to move toward a more responsible government in India, aligning with the demands of the Lucknow Pact.
• 😀 The Government of India Act 1919 aimed to introduce a system of responsible government in India, though India would remain under British control and its policies would still be influenced by the British Empire.
• 😀 The control of the Indian government remained in the hands of the Secretary of State, but changes were made to reduce the burden of the Secretary of State's duties in India by creating a new office called the High Commission of India.
• 😀 The Act made significant changes to the administration, increasing the number of Indian members in the Executive Council of the Viceroy’s government.
• 😀 The central legislature was restructured to be bicameral (two houses), consisting of the Legislative Assembly (Lower House) and the Council of State (Upper House), based on the British Parliament model.
• 😀 The membership of both houses consisted of elected and nominated members, with separate electorates for Muslims, Sikhs, and Europeans, fulfilling demands from the Lucknow Pact.
• 😀 The tenure of members in the Council of State was set at five years, while the Legislative Assembly's tenure remained unchanged, with the power of 'vote supply' granted to the Legislative Assembly alone.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the Government of India Act 1919 (Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms)?

The main focus of the Government of India Act 1919, also known as the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms, is to introduce a system of responsible government in India with a dual system of governance, which includes both British control and Indian participation in governance.

How did the First World War influence the Government of India Act 1919?

During World War I, Indians supported Britain with the expectation that in return, Britain would fulfill Indian demands for political reforms. These expectations were reflected in the Montagu Declaration of 1917 and the subsequent Government of India Act 1919.

What is the significance of the Lucknow Pact in relation to the Government of India Act 1919?

The Lucknow Pact, signed in 1916 between the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League, emphasized demands such as separate electorates for Muslims, which were later incorporated into the Government of India Act 1919.

What role did Montagu play in the reforms leading to the Government of India Act 1919?

Montagu, as the Secretary of State for India, played a key role in the formulation of the Government of India Act 1919. His August Declaration in 1917 laid the groundwork for future reforms aimed at increasing Indian participation in governance.

What was the impact of the Government of India Act 1919 on the control of Indian administration?

The control of the Indian administration remained largely with the British, with the Secretary of State managing Indian affairs from Britain, while the Indian Executive Council was restructured to include more Indian members.

What changes did the Government of India Act 1919 introduce in the structure of the Indian Legislature?

The Government of India Act 1919 introduced a bicameral legislature, with two houses: the Legislative Assembly (lower house) and the Council of State (upper house), reflecting a model similar to the British Parliament.

How did the Government of India Act 1919 address the demands for separate electorates?

The Act granted separate electorates for Muslims, Sikhs, and Europeans, allowing them to elect their own representatives to the Legislative Assembly and Council of State.

What were the specific provisions for the Muslim community in the Government of India Act 1919?

The Government of India Act 1919 reserved a total of 130 seats for Muslims, fulfilling the demand of the Lucknow Pact for separate representation in the central legislature.

What was the significance of the tenure of members in the Legislative Assembly and Council of State under the Government of India Act 1919?

The tenure for members of the Council of State was set at five years, as per the demand of the Lucknow Pact, while the tenure of members in the Legislative Assembly was not fixed.

What was the main difference in the powers of the Legislative Assembly and the Council of State under the Government of India Act 1919?

The main difference was that the Legislative Assembly had the power to vote on the supply of funds (vote supply), while the Council of State did not have this power. Both houses, however, needed to agree on bills for them to be passed.