The Bill was introduced in India in 1919 and became the Government of India Act of 1919. Additionally, it is also called The Montague-Chelmsford Reforms of 1919. It was introduced because Indians were not satisfied with the Minto-Morley Reforms of 1909. In the Minto-Morley Reforms Indians were not given enough representation and self-rule. Moreover, in the Lucknow Pact of 1916, the Indian National Congress and the All-India Muslim League jointly demanded more representation and self-rule for India. Consequently, the British Government introduced the Montague-Chelmsford Reforms in 1919, to satisfy the Indian leaders.

Salient Features of the Montague-Chelmsford Reforms

1. The Council of the Secretary of State was to comprise eight to twelve people. Three of them ought to be Indians, and half of the members ought to have spent not less than a decade in India.
2. The Secretary of State for Indian Affairs should listen to the suggestions and follow the advice given by his council.
3. The British Government would only take the responsibility of a part of the expenses of the Secretary of State’s office.
4. The Viceroy of India had the power to increase and decrease the number of the members of his Executive Council. Moreover, the member should have served in India for at least 10 years.
5. The Central Legislature consisted of two houses i.e. the Council of the State and the Legislative Assembly.
6. Members of the Council of the State (Upper House) were to be 60. 33 of them were to be elected and 27 were to be nominated by the Viceroy himself. The tenure for it was five years.
7. Members of the Legislative Assembly (Lower House) were to be 144. 103 of them were to be elected. Moreover, the Viceroy would nominate 41 of the members. Its tenure was three years.
8. Both houses had equal legislative powers. In case of a tie, the Viceroy’s vote would decide the majority.
9. The Provincial Legislatures of India should be unicameral.
10. Seventy percent of members of the Provincial Legislative Councils were to be elected and thirty percent were to be nominated.
11. The Governors of the provinces were given ‘an Instrument of Instructions’. Which were to be used in doing their administrative jobs.
12. For the first time, The System of Diarchy was introduced in India. It was to be applied in the provinces.
13. Besides Muslims and all the other minorities in India were given the right of a separate electorate. These minorities included Sikhs, Anglo-Indians, Christians, and Europeans.