The Indian Councils Act 1892 and The Indian National Congress (INC)

The Indian Councils Act 1892
The Indian National Congress (INC) was formed in the year 1885.
In its first session the INC passed a resolution expressing grave dissatisfaction towards the existing system of Government.
What were the demands of INC?
a. It demanded reform and expansion of the Legislative Councils by admitting a considerable proportion of elected members as well as an increase in their power.
b. They also wanted the principle of election instead of nomination.
c. They also wanted that the right to hold the discussion on financial matters should be given to such elected members in the legislative council but which demand of INC was not allowed.
The then Viceroy Lord Dufferin felt that the time had come to accept the demands of the congress for reform seriously.
So he appointed a Committee and drew up plans for the enlargement of the Council and association of Indians with the work of the Government.
But the Secretary of State did not agree to the plan of direct elections. He, however, agreed to the representation by way of indirect election.
Important Provisions of the Indian Councils Acts 1892
This Act increased the number of additional or non- official members in the legislative councils as follows:
- Central Legislative Council: 10-16 Members.
- Bengal: 20 Members
- Madras: 20 Members
- Bombay: 08 Members
- Oudh: 15 Members { Lucknow}
- North Western Province: 15 Members.
The non-officials members were also given the right to ask questions on the Budget (earlier which was barred in the Indian Council Act 1861) or on matters of public interest but they had to give notice of 6 days for it,
But in this Act also the non-official members cannot ask the supplementary questions.
The President of the Council had the power to disallow any question without giving any reason.
The principle of representation was initiated through this Act. The District Boards, Universities, municipalities, Chamber of Commerce and Zamindars were authorised to recommend members to the provincial councils.
The Legislative Councils were empowered to make new laws and repeal old laws with the permission of the Viceroy.
What were the main results of this Act?
It was the first step towards a representative form of Government.
The number of Indians was increased in the legislature.
Limitations of the Act
The system of election introduced by this Act was defective.
It did not give the representation to the people in the real sense.
Certain classes of people were over-represented while other had no representation at all.
For Example: In Bombay Council 6 seats were allotted to the European Merchants but the Indian Merchants were given none.
The powers of Legislative Councils were very limited.
The number of non-official members was very small.
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