Historical Background: Crown Rule (1858–1947)

Acts	Features
Government of India Act of 1858	The act is known as the Act for the Good Government of India. Abolished the East India Company. Transferred the powers of Government, territories, and revenues to the British Crown. It changed the designation of the Governor-General of India to that of Viceroy of India and the first viceroy was Lord Canning. It ended the system of double Government by abolishing the Board of Control and Court of Directors. It created a new office, the Secretary of State for India, vested with complete authority and control over Indian administration and created a 15-member council of India to assist.
Indian Councils Act of 1861	The viceroy nominated Indians as non-official members of the council. Lord Canning nominated three Indians to his legislative council–the Raja of Benaras, the Maharaja of Patiala, and Sir Dinkar Rao. It initiated the process of decentralisation by restoring the legislative powers to the Bombay and Madras Presidencies. It established new legislative councils for Bengal, North-Western Provinces and Punjab. It also gave recognition to the ‘portfolio’ system. It empowered the Viceroy to issue ordinances, without the concurrence of the legislative council, during an emergency
Indian Councils Act of 1892	It increased the number of non-official members in the Central and provincial legislative councils. It increased the functions of legislative councils and gave them the power to discuss the budget and address questions to the executive. It provided for the nomination of non-official members of the Central Legislative Council by the viceroy on the recommendation of the provincial legislative councils and the Bengal Chamber of Commerce. Provincial legislative councils by the Governors on the recommendation of the district boards, municipalities, universities, trade associations, zamindars, and chambers
Indian Councils Act of 1909	This Act is also known as Morley-Minto Reforms. It considerably increased the size of the legislative councils, both Central and provincial. It enlarged the deliberative functions of the legislative councils at both levels where members were allowed to ask supplementary questions, and move resolutions on the budget. It provided for the association of Indians with the executive councils of the Viceroy and Governors and Satyendra Prasad Sinha became the first Indian to join the Viceroy’s executive council. It introduced a system of communal representation for Muslims by accepting the concept of ‘separate electorate’.
Government of India Act of 1919	This Act is also known as Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms. It relaxed the central control over the provinces by demarcating and separating the central and provincial subjects. It divided the provincial subjects into two parts– transferred and reserved that introduced dyarchy in provinces. It introduced bicameralism at centre and direct elections in the country. Separate electorates extended for Sikhs, Indian Christians, Anglo-Indians and Europeans. It granted franchise to a limited number of people on the basis of property, tax or education. It created a new office of the High Commissioner for India in London. It provided for the establishment of a public service commission. It separated provincial budgets from the Central budget.
Government of India Act of 1935	It provided for the establishment of an All-India Federation consisting of provinces and princely states as units. The Act divided the powers between the Centre and units in terms of three lists–the Federal List, Provincial List, and the Concurrent List. Residuary powers were given to the Viceroy. It abolished dyarchy in the provinces and introduced ‘provincial autonomy’ in its place. It provided for the adoption of dyarchy at the Centre. It introduced bicameralism in six out of eleven provinces. Provided separate electorates for depressed classes, women and labour. It abolished the Council of India, established by the Government of India Act of 1858. It provided for the establishment of the Reserve Bank of India and the Federal Court. Established Federal Public Service Commission, Provincial Public Service Commission and Joint Public Service Commission.
Indian Independence Act of 1947	It ended British rule in India and declared India as an independent and sovereign state on August 15, 1947. It provided for the partition of India and the creation of two independent dominions of India and Pakistan with the right to secede from the British Commonwealth. It abolished the office of Viceroy and provided, for each dominion, a governor general, who was to be appointed by the British King on the advice of the dominion cabinet. It empowered the Constituent Assemblies of the two dominions to frame and adopt any constitution for their respective nations. It abolished the office of the Secretary of State for India and transferred his functions to the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs. It proclaimed the lapse of British paramountcy over the Indian princely states and treaty relations with tribal areas from August 15, 1947. It granted freedom to the Indian princely states either to join the Dominion of India or the Dominion of Pakistan or to remain independent. It dropped the title of Emperor of India from the royal titles of the King of England. It discontinued the appointment to civil services and reservation of posts by the secretary of state for India.