Government of India Act, 1919 (Montague-Chelmsford Reforms)

• The Indian Legislative Council at the Centre was replaced by a bicameral system consisting of a Council of State (Upper House) and a Legislative Assembly (Lower House).
• Each house was to have a majority of members who were directly elected. So, the direct election was introduced, though the franchise was much restricted.
• The principle of communal representation was extended with separate electorates for Sikhs, Christians, and Anglo-Indians, besides Muslims.
• The Act introduced dyarchy in the provinces. The provincial legislature was to consist of one house only (legislative council).
• The Act separated for the first time the provincial and central budgets, with provincial legislatures being authorized to make their budgets.
• A High Commissioner for India was appointed, who was to hold his office in London for six years and whose duty was to look after Indian trade in Europe. Some of the functions hitherto performed by the Secretary of State for India were transferred to the high commissioner.
• The Secretary of State for India who used to get his pay from the Indian revenue was now to be paid by the British Exchequer.