1892 Indian Councils Act

Governor General from 1862-1893

• Lord Elgin 1862-63• Lord Lawrence 1864-69• Lord Mayo 1869-72• Lord Northbrook 1872-76• Lord Lytton 1876-80• Lord Rippon 1880-84• Lord Dufferin 1884-88• Lord Lansdowne 1888-1893

The Act was passed in light of the following conditions

• Between 1861-1892 the economic conditions of the Indians deteriorated.

• The foundation of the Indian National Congress in 1885.

• Acute famine of 1877 when hundreds of people died of starvation.

• The establishment of Universities in Calcutta, Madras

and Bombay.

• The role of Indian Press in voicing the grievances of the Indian people against the British Policies.

Indian Press between 1861-1892

• The Hindu and Sadeshimitran : G. Subramaniya Iyer• Kesari and Mharatta : Tilak• Bengalee : Surendranath Banerjea• Amrita Bazar Patrika: Sisir Kumar Ghosh and Motilal

Ghosh• Sudharak: G.K. Gokhle• Indian Mirror: M.N. Sen

• The Indian Council Act of 1892 was an Amending Act to the Indian Council Act of 1861.

• The number of additional members of the Central Legislative Council was increased to minimum 1O and maximum 16. Half of these members were supposed to be non-official.

• In the case of Bombay and Madras it was increased to not less than 8 and not more than 20. Two fifth of the additional members were to be non-officials.

• The Governor-General was empowered to invite different bodies in India to elect, select or delegate their representatives as non-official members in the Central Legislative Council.

• The members occupied seats on the Legislative Council not as representatives of specific bodies but as nominees of the Governor-General.

• The Act provided for discussion of legislative proposals including Budget and also provided for discussion by the members on Annual Financial Statement.

• A previous notice of 6 days was to be given to the Government for asking a question.

• The Act also allowed the Members to present their observations on the Budget.

• In the case of Provinces the discussion was limited to those branches of revenue and expenditure which were under the control of Provincial Governments.

• The Indian Council Act of 1892 gave the Indians an opportunity to participate in the legislative process and understand the rules and procedures associated with the same.

1909 Indian Councils Act