During the World War Britain and her allies had said that

they were fighting the war for the freedom of nations.

Many Indian leaders believed that after the war was over,
India would be given Swaraj. The British government
however had no intention of conceding the demands of
the Indian people. Changes were introduced in the
administrative system as a result of theMontagu-
Chelmsford Reforms, called the Government of India Act,
1919.

According to these reforms, the central legislative council

was replaced by two houses-the imperial legislative
assembly and the council of state. The majority in both the
houses consisted of elected members. There was no
significant change in the powers of the central legislature,
that is, the two houses at the centres. The members of the
Executive council, who were like ministers, were not
responsible to the legislature, that is, they remained in
power whether the majority of the members of the
legislature supported them or not. The provincial
legislatures also were enlarged and now had a majority of
elected members. They were given wider powers under
the system of diarchy or dual government, which was
introduced in the provinces.
Under this system, some departments such as education
and public health were placed in charge of ministers
responsible to the legislature. The most important
departments such asfinance and police remained directly
under the control of the Governor. The governor could also
reject any decision of the minister. Thus, the powers of the
ministers and of the legislatures in the provinces, to whom
the ministers were responsible, were limited. For example,
if the minister in charge of education wanted to implement
a scheme for expansion of education, the money required
for this had to be sanctioned by the governor. The
governor could also reject the scheme.
Besides, the Governor-General could reject any decision
of the province. The number of voters who elected
members of the two houses of the central legislature and
the provincial assemblies was extremely limited. For the
central legislative assembly, for example, the total number
of people who were given the right to vote was about 1%
of the adult population of the country under direct British
rule. All the important powers remained with the Governor-
General and his Executive Council, who continued to be
responsible to the British government and not to the Indian
people. In the provinces, the governors continued to enjoy
wide powers.
The changes were nowhere near the Swaraj that the
people had hoped to achieve at the end of the war. There
was widespread discontent throughout the country. In the
midst of this discontent, the government resorted to new
measures of repression. In March 1919, the Rowlatt
Act was passed which was based on the report of
the Rowlatt commission. The assembly had opposed it.
Many leaders who were members of the assembly,
resigned in protest. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, in his letter of
resignation, said that a government that passes or
sanctions such a law in times of peace forfeits its claims to
be called a civilized government. The passing of this act
aroused the indignation of the people. The new measures
of repression were condemned as Black acts.
Gandhi, who had formed a Satyagraha sabha earlier,
called for a country-wide protest. Throughout the country,
6 April 1919 was observed as a national humiliation day.
There were demonstrators and Hartals all over the
country. All business throughout the country came to a
standstill. Such protests of a united people had never
been witnessed at any time in India before. The
 government resorted to Brutal measures to put down the
agitation and there were lathi-charges and firings at a
number of places.
Provision of Act
This act introduced the Diarchy, i.e., rule of two which
means executive councilors and popular ministers.
Governor was to be the head of provincial administration.
Subject was segregated into two parts- reserve list
and transfer list.
Legislature: It was expanded- 70% of the members
were to be elected. The system of class electorates as
well as communal class was consolidated.
Women were given voting rights.
Central Government still dont had responsibility
Conclusion
The Act failed to fulfill the aspirations of Indian and act
was in real term was the method of further draining India
of her wealth and of prolong servititude.