Government of India Act 1935 facts for kids

The Government of India Act of 1935 was a very important law passed by the British government. It was like the final rulebook, or constitution, for British India before India became independent. This law was in place until 1947, when British India was divided into two new countries: India and Pakistan.

This Act brought several big changes:

• It gave Indian provinces more freedom to govern themselves.
• It suggested creating an All India Federation, which was like a big union of all Indian regions. Even the princely states (areas ruled by Indian princes) were asked to join.
• For the first time, people could vote directly for their leaders. Women were also allowed to vote, which was a major step.
• Some areas were reorganized: Sindh was separated from Bombay, Orissa was separated from Bihar, and Burma became a separate country from India.
• The number of provinces grew to eleven. The North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) became a full province, and two new ones, Orissa and Sindh, were created.
• The system of Diarchy (where power was shared) was removed at the provincial level. However, it was introduced for the central government.
• Two houses of parliament were created for the central government. The Council of State was the upper house, and the Assembly was the lower house.
• The British government in London kept special powers and responsibilities to protect British interests.

Why This Law Was Made

Even though earlier talks, called "round table conferences," didn't fully succeed, the British government still wanted to make changes to how India was governed. In March 1933, they shared their ideas in a special document called a 'white paper'. This paper was like a draft plan before a new law is officially presented.

After many discussions with British politicians and Indian representatives, a new law was finally introduced to the British parliament in December 1934. In August 1935, this became the Government of India Act of 1935.

This Act was the last big law the British government passed about India before India gained its independence. It was a very important step on India's path to becoming a free nation. The Act set the stage for future talks that eventually led to the British leaving India.