List of Various Reforms and Acts during British India
After establishing the complete control over Indian territories, British taking firm steps to encourage trade, they found that the country is best suited not only for rule but also to intervene in its social system. In this regards, they took plethora of steps to ameliorate the social life of the people. Here, we are giving list of various reforms acts during British India.
List of Various Reforms and Acts during British India
| Name of the Reforms/ Acts |
Year |
During the term of |
Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prohibition of Sati & Female infanticide |
1829 |
Lord William Bentick |
Supported by Raja Rammohan Roy. |
| Doctrine of Lapse |
1848 |
Lord Dalhousie |
Adoption of sons by rulers in the absence of their natural heirs was banned. |
| Indian Council Act |
1861 |
Lord Canning |
Envisaged association of Indians with the administration at higher level. |
| llbert Bill |
1883 |
Lord Ripon |
To bring Indian and European magistracy on equal footing. |
| Indian Council Act |
1892 |
Lord Lansdown |
Membership of central legislative council was enlarged. |
| Morely-Minto Reforms |
1909 |
Lord Minto II |
Separate electorates to widen the gulf between Hindus & Muslims. |
| Diarchy |
1919 |
L. Chelmsford |
Meaning dual system of Govt. |
| Jallianwala Bagh Massacre |
1919 |
L. Chelmsford |
Massacre at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar by General Dyer |
| Rowlatt Act |
1919 |
L. Chelmsford |
Extraordinary powers were given to suppress the freedom struggle with General Dyer as the Commandant. |
| Simon commission |
1928 |
Lord Irwin |
To report working of the reforms; recommended diarchy in provinces; India to be constituted as a federation and Indianization of armed forces. |
| Gandhi-Irwin Pact |
1931 |
Lord Irwin |
Congress called off the agitation and agreed to participate in the Second Round Table Conference. |
| Communal Award |
1932 |
Lord Willingdon |
Envisaged communal representation for depressed classes besides Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs. |
| Separate electorates |
1932 |
Lord Willingdon |
(See Communal Award) |
| Government of India Act |
1935 |
Lord Willingdon |
Provided for a federal type of constitution. |
| Cripps Mission |
1942 |
Lord Linlithgow |
Proposed Dominion status for India after the Second World War. |
| INA Trial |
1945 |
Lord Wavell |
INA prisoners of war were trialed at Red Fort, Delhi and Bhulabhai Desai defended them. |
| Wavell Plan |
1945 |
Lord Wavell |
Envisaged constitution of executive council in such a way as to give representation to all major communities in India. |
| Cabinet Mission Plan |
1946 |
Lord Wavell |
Envisaged establishment of Constituent Assembly to frame the Constitution. |
| Mountbatten Plan |
1947 |
L. Mountbatten |
Partition Plan |
| Indian lndependence Act |
1947 |
L. Mountbatten |
India partitioned and attained independence. |
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