How did the Government of India Act, 1935 mark a point of no return in the history of constitutional development in India?
The Government of India Act 1935 established a foothold toward the modern India. The Government of India Act 1935 is important because it is one of the foundation stones of the current Republic of India. The significant aspects of the act were:
- It granted Indian provinces autonomy and ended the dyarchy introduced by the Government of India Act 1919.
- It provided for establishment of an All India Federation.
- Direct elections are introduced for the first time. The right to vote was increased from seven million to thirty-five million.
- Direct elections were introduced and the right to vote was increased.
- The Government of India Act 1935 expanded the powers of the elected provincial and national legislatures and helped lay the groundwork for full independence.
- The introduction of federal principle was the most important and influential feature of the Act. Provincial autonomy was the corollary of Indian Federation. Afterwards, the federal structure was completed by creating a federal court and a federal reserve bank.
- The next innovative feature was the introduction of responsible governments in provinces. A system of popular government replaced the previous diarchy.
All these provisions were so important that there was no return from them but the constitution adopted them, though not in toto. Thus it can be said that the act marked a point of no return in the history of constitutional development of India.
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