Morley- Minto Reforms 1909

 Morley- Minto Reforms
or
Indian Council Act 1909

A few reforms in the legislative councils & increased the involvement of Indians in the governance of British India.

The Morley- Minto reforms, so named after Morley, the secretary of state,  and the Minto, the viceroy at that time.  

 Background

• INC demanded home rule for the first time in 1906.
• Gopal Krishna Gokhale met Morley in England to emphasise the need for reforms.
• In October 1906, Shimla Deputation, a group of elits Muslims led by Agha Khan met Lord Minto & demanded for the separate electorate for the Muslims.
• John Morley was a member of the liberal government & he wanted to make possitive changes in India's governance. 

Major Provinces of the Reforms 

The legislative councils at the Centre & the Provinces increased in size:

1. Central Legislative Council - from 16 to 60 members.
2. Legislative council of Bengal, Madras, Bombay & United Provinces - 50 members each.
3. Legislative council of Punjab, Burma & Assam - 30 member each. 

The legislative council at the Centre & the provinces were to have four categories of member as follows:

1. Ex officio members: - Governor- General & members of the executive council.
2. Nominated official members: - Government officials who were nominated by the Governor- General.
3. Nominated non-officio members: - Nominated by the Governor-General but were not government officials.
4. Elected Members: - elected by different categories of Indians. 

Powers of legislature- both at the Centre & in the provinces - were enlarged & the legislature could now passed resolutions; ask question & supplementaries; vote separate items in the budget but the budget as a whole could not be voted upon.

One Indian was to be appointed to the viceroy's executive council. (Satyendra Singh was first to be appointed in the 1909.) 

No discussion on foreign policy or on relations with the princely states were permitted.

Two Indians were nominated to the Council of the Secretary of States for Indian affairs.

The elected members were to be indireclty elected. 

The local bodies were to elect an electoral college, which it turn would elect members of the Central legislature.

The elected member were from the local bodies , the chambers of commerce, landlords, universities, trader's communities & muslim.

Indians were given membership to the Imperial Council for the first time.

It introduced separate electoratesfor the Muslims. Some constituencies were earn marked for Muslim & only Muslim could vote their represenatives.

They could also ask supplementary questions. 

Views 

"Reforms may not save the Raj, but if they don't nothing else will."

- Lord Morley