By which of the following acts was a bicameral legislature introduced in India at the centre level?

The correct answer is Government of India Act of 1919.

Key Points

• Government of India Act, 1919
  • The matters, which were of National importance or related to more than one province were governed at the central level, such as Foreign Affairs, Defence, Political Relations, Communication, Public Debt, Civil and Criminal Laws, Wire services, etc.
  • The Central Legislature was made more powerful and more representative by this Act.
  • The Act introduced a bicameral legislature; the Lower House or Central Legislative Assembly and the Upper House or Council of State.
  • The legislators, under the new reforms, could now ask questions and supplementary, pass adjournment motions, and vote a part of the budget, but 75% of the budget was still not votable.
  • The legislature had virtually no control over the Governor-General and his Executive Council.

Additional Information

• Government of India Act 1935
  • There was a growing demand for constitutional reforms in India by Indian leaders.
  • India’s support to Britain in the First World War also aided in British acknowledgment of the need for the inclusion of more Indians in the administration of their own country.
  • The Act was based on
    • Simon Commission Report
    • The recommendations of the Round Table Conferences
    • The White Paper published by the British government in 1933 (based on the Third Round Table Conference)
    • Report of the Joint Select Committees.
• Morley-Minto Reforms 1909
  • The legislative councils at the Centre and the provinces increased in size.
  • Central Legislative Council – from 16 to 60 members.
  • Legislative Councils of Bengal, Madras, Bombay, and United Provinces – 50 members each.
  • Legislative Councils of Punjab, Burma, and Assam – 30 members each.
  • The legislative councils at the Centre and the provinces were to have four categories of members as follows:
    • Ex officio members: Governor-General and members of the executive council.
    • Nominated official members: Government officials who were nominated by the Governor-General.
    • Nominated non-official members: nominated by the Governor-General but were not government officials.
    • Elected members: elected by different categories of Indians.