The Government of India Act of 1919 introduced a system of dyarchy in the provinces. Dyarchy was a system of government in which certain powers were shared between the British and Indian governments. The British retained control over the “reserved” subjects, such as defense, foreign affairs, and finance. The Indian governments were given control over the “transferred” subjects, such as education, health, and local government.
- The working of dyarchy in the provinces was mixed. On the one hand, it did lead to some increased Indian participation in government. On the other hand, the system was often seen as being too restrictive, and it did not satisfy the demands of the Indian nationalists.
- One of the main problems with dyarchy was that the reserved subjects were the most important ones. The Indian governments had little control over the areas that affected the lives of the people the most. This led to a great deal of frustration among the Indian people.
- Another problem with dyarchy was that the Indian ministers were not given enough power. They were often overruled by the British officials, and they had little control over the bureaucracy. This made it difficult for them to implement their policies.
- Despite these problems, dyarchy did have some positive effects. It did lead to some increased Indian participation in government, and it helped to prepare the way for further reforms. However, it was not a perfect system, and it did not satisfy the demands of the Indian nationalists.
- In 1935, the Government of India Act was passed. This act abolished dyarchy and replaced it with a system of provincial autonomy. Under this system, the Indian governments were given much more power than they had under dyarchy. This led to a significant increase in Indian participation in government, and it helped to pave the way for Indian independence in 1947.
Here are some of the pros and cons of dyarchy:
Pros:
- Increased Indian participation in government
- Preparation for further reforms
- Less direct British control
Cons:
- Reserved subjects were the most important ones
- Indian ministers had little power
- System was often seen as being too restrictive
Overall, dyarchy was a mixed bag. It did have some positive effects, but it also had some significant drawbacks. It was not a perfect system, but it was a step in the right direction.