Indian Councils Act, 1861

• The principle of representatives of non-officials in legislative bodies became accepted; laws were to be made after due deliberation, and they could be changed only by the same deliberative process.
• The portfolio system introduced by Lord Canning laid the foundations of cabinet Government in India.
• The Act by vesting legislative powers in the Governments of Bombay and Madras and by making provision for the institution of similar legislative councils in other provinces laid the foundations of legislative devolution.