Discuss the main features of the Government of India Act of 1935.

The Government of India Act of 1935:

After the 3rd Rotund Table conference a white paper containing the new Constitution of India was prepared by the British government. This contained three basic features Federation, Provincial Autonomy and safeguards which gave special power of the central and provincial executives.This white paper was rejected since it did not give complete independence. Subsequently the Social Parliamentary Committee submitted a report and this report after receiving the Royal assent came to be known as the Government of India Act of 1935. Its main features were:

The Introduction of Provincial Autonomy by recognizing the province could exercise matters like Law and order.

The Act prescribed federal structure for the government of India, it comprised of provinces and states with federal, central and provincial, legislature.

It abolished Dyarchy of the province. The franchise was based on property qualification. However, governor in province had special executive power, Dyarchy was introduced at the center. Federation and Parliamentary system were the two basic principles of the Act of 1935. This Act too criticized and rejected by the Congress on the ground that the people of India were not consulted with making of the Act and neither did it represented their will.