Morley-Minto Reforms Notes with PDF

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The Morley-Minto Reforms (Indian Councils Act of 1909)

1. Basic Information

  • Official Name: Indian Councils Act of 1909
  • Common Name: Morley-Minto Reforms
  • Year Enacted: 1909
  • Named After:
    • Lord Morley: The Secretary of State for India
    • Lord Minto: The Viceroy of India

2. Key Provision: Separate Electorate

  • The most significant provision was the introduction of communal representation.
  • This created a separate electorate for Muslims.
  • Under this system, only Muslim voters could elect Muslim representatives to the various legislative councils.

3. Impact and Criticism

  • The separate electorate is widely considered the major flaw of the Act.
  • It institutionalized a political divide between the Muslim community and other communities in India.
  • It is identified as the event that sowed the seeds of discord, promoting the idea of the nation being divided along religious lines.
  • The communal representation system established by this act was a direct precursor to the eventual partition of India.
  • Due to his central role in introducing this policy, Lord Minto is considered by some historians and leaders (such as Dr. Rajendra Prasad, India’s first President) to be the “father of Pakistan”.

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