Government of India Act, 1935

• Dyarchy, rejected by the Simon Commission, was provided for in the Federal Executive.
• The Federal Legislature was to have two chambers (bicameral)—the Council of States and the Federal Legislative Assembly. The Council of States (the Upper House) was to be a permanent body.
• There were to be three subject lists—the Federal Legislative List, the Provincial Legislative List, and the Concurrent Legislative List. Residuary legislative powers were subject to the discretion of the governor-general
• There was a provision for joint sitting in cases of deadlock between the houses. Residuary legislative powers were subject to the discretion of the governor-general.
• Even if a bill was passed by the federal legislature, the governor-general could veto it, while even Acts assented to by the governor-general could be disallowed by the King-in-Council.
• Dyarchy in the provinces was abolished and provinces were given autonomy, i.e., the distinction between Reserved and Transferred Subjects was abolished and full responsible government was established.
• Provinces derived their power and authority directly from the British Crown. They were given independent financial powers and resources.
• Provincial legislatures were further expanded. Bicameral legislatures were provided in the six provinces of Madras, Bombay, Bengal, United Provinces, Bihar, and Assam, with the other five provinces retaining unicameral legislatures.
• The principles of ‘communal electorates’ and ‘weightage’ were further extended to depressed classes, women, and labor.
• The franchise was extended, with about 10 percent of the total population getting the right to vote.
• The Act also provided for a Federal Court with original and appellate powers, but the Privy Council in London was to dominate this court.
• The India Council of the Secretary of State was abolished.
• The British government decided to introduce provincial autonomy on April 1, 1937, but the Central government continued to be governed in accordance with the 1919 Act.