The Indian Councils Act of 1909, also known as the Morley-Minto Reforms, aimed to increase Indian representation in governance and broaden the powers of legislative councils.
Key Features:
- Expanded Councils: The Act increased the size of legislative councils, both Central and Provincial. The number of members in the Central Legislative Council was raised from 16 to 60. The number of members in the provincial councils varied.
- Mixed Majorities: The Act retained official majority in the Central Legislative Council but allowed non-official majorities in provincial councils.
- Enhanced Deliberative Functions: The Act expanded the deliberative functions of legislative councils at both levels, allowing members to ask supplementary questions and move resolutions on the budget.
- Indian Involvement in Executive Councils: For the first time, the Act associated Indians with the executive councils of the Viceroy and Governors. Satyendra Prasad Sinha became the first Indian appointed to the Viceroy's Executive Council as the Law Member.
- Separate Electorates for Muslims: The Act introduced a system of communal representation for Muslims, allowing them to elect their own members. This legal recognition of communal representation led to Lord Minto being known as the Father of Communal Electorate.
- Other Separate Representations: The Act also provided for the separate representation of presidency corporations, chambers of commerce, universities, and zamindars.
