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GoI Act 1935 and 1937 Elections | ISC Class 11 History

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HistoryISC Class 11 · Gandhian Nationalism 1927-1937

The Government of India Act, 1935 and the 1937 Elections (ISC Class 11 History)

Updated 17 October 2026 · Fact-checked

The Government of India Act, 1935 gave provincial autonomy, a Federal Court and three legislative lists, but its federation never began and governors kept special powers. In the 1937 elections Congress won majorities in five provinces and ruled in eight of eleven; the League won few Muslim seats and tension with the Congress grew.

Notice that the Act's federation never began, yet its provincial part worked: after 1937 Congress ruled eight of the eleven provinces.

Illustration drawn for QuestionBuddy.

Understand The Government of India Act, 1935 and the 1937 Elections

Main features. (1) All-India Federation of provinces and willing princely states, which never came into being. (2) Provincial autonomy: dyarchy in provinces ended and ministers were responsible to elected legislatures, though governors kept special powers. (3) Dyarchy at the centre with reserved and transferred subjects, never implemented. (4) Three lists: Federal, Provincial and Concurrent. (5) A Federal Court (1937). (6) Separate electorates continued and extended. (7) Wider but still property- and education-limited franchise. (8) Bicameral legislatures in some provinces; Burma separated; Sind and Orissa created. (9) British Parliament supreme and the Governor-General with wide powers. The Congress rejected it as offering no real power at the centre (Nehru: "a machine with strong brakes but no engine") but decided to contest elections; much of its structure passed into the Constitution of India.

1937 elections. Congress won a clear majority in Madras, the United Provinces, the Central Provinces, Bihar and Orissa and was the largest party in Bombay. After the Viceroy assured that governors would not interfere in ordinary ministerial work, ministries were formed in July 1937; with the North-West Frontier Province and later Assam, Congress ruled eight of eleven provinces. The Muslim League won few Muslim seats and led no provincial government; in Punjab the Unionist Party and in Bengal Fazlul Huq's Krishak Praja Party in coalition with the League governed.

Critical points. The results showed Congress mass support but weakness among Muslim voters. In the United Provinces the Congress refused to share power with the League except on terms the League would not accept; the League read this as Hindu rule. These are interpretations contested by historians.

Congress ministries 1937-39. Released political prisoners; lifted bans on organisations and newspapers; tenancy and debt relief laws; labour welfare measures; Wardha basic education scheme, prohibition in some areas, temple entry and anti-untouchability measures; ministers took modest salaries (Rs 500 a month). Limits: governors' powers, limited funds and firm handling of some strikes and peasant agitation.

Non-Congress ministries. Unionists in Punjab protected peasants from moneylenders; Fazlul Huq tried debt relief. The League accused Congress ministries of injustice to Muslims; after Congress ministries resigned in October-November 1939, the League observed a Day of Deliverance on 22 December 1939.

The Government of India Act, 1935 and the 1937 Elections: key facts

Act features
  • Federation (never begun)
  • Provincial autonomy
  • Three lists
  • Federal Court 1937
  • Separate electorates
1937 results
  • Majority: Madras, UP, CP, Bihar, Orissa
  • Largest party: Bombay
  • Ruled eight of eleven provinces
Ministries
  • Prisoners released
  • Tenancy and debt laws
  • Wardha education
  • Salary Rs 500
Aftermath
Resigned October-November 1939 | Day of Deliverance 22 December 1939

How to answer The Government of India Act, 1935 and the 1937 Elections questions

Expect 4-mark features of the Act and an 8-mark critical account of the 1937 elections and ministries.

  1. 1List features in numbered points and mark those never implemented.
  2. 2Give the Indian reaction with the Nehru quotation.
  3. 3State election results with provinces.
  4. 4Evaluate ministries with achievements and limits, attributing views.

The Government of India Act, 1935 and the 1937 Elections in real life

The idea, met in an everyday situation. Answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

Share of provinces

Suppose a party rules eight provinces out of eleven.

Find the share as a percentage (to one decimal).

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Share = 8/11 x 100.
  2. = 72.7 per cent.

Answer: About 72.7 per cent.

Memory hook: Part over whole.

A governor's veto

Suppose a minister proposes a law but the governor holds special powers to block it for protecting minorities.

Which feature of the 1935 Act does this show?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Provincial autonomy was limited by governors' special powers.
  2. Ministers were responsible to legislatures but not fully independent.

Answer: Governors' special powers limiting autonomy.

Memory hook: Autonomy with brakes.

Tricks to remember The Government of India Act, 1935 and the 1937 Elections

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

  • FPF

    Federation (not started), Provincial autonomy, Federal Court.

    Use it when: Features.

  • 5 + 1 + 2

    Five majorities, Bombay largest, two more provinces to make eight.

    Use it when: Elections.

The Government of India Act, 1935 and the 1937 Elections: solved examples

Ordered from board level to HOTS. Try each one before you open the solution.

Example 1: Federal Court · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

The Federal Court under the 1935 Act was set up in:
(a) 1935
(b) 1937
(c) 1939
(d) 1942

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. After the Act.

Answer: (b) 1937.

Example 2: Three lists · 3 marks · Short answerBoard level

Name the three legislative lists and say which feature of the Act never came into being.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Federal, Provincial and Concurrent lists.
  2. The federation never came into being.
  3. Too few princes acceded.

Answer: Federal, Provincial, Concurrent; the federation never started.

Example 3: Features of the Act · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

Explain four features of the Government of India Act, 1935.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Provincial autonomy with ministers responsible to legislatures but governors with special powers.
  2. Three lists of subjects.
  3. A Federal Court to settle centre-province disputes.
  4. Separate electorates and a wider but limited franchise.

Answer: Provincial autonomy, three lists, Federal Court and separate electorates.

Example 4: Result of 1937 · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

Explain the Congress performance in the 1937 elections and its limits.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Clear majority in five provinces and the largest party in Bombay.
  2. Ministries in eight of eleven provinces after assurances on governors.
  3. The League won few Muslim seats; Congress won fewer Muslim seats than it contested.
  4. Refusal to share power in the UP led to the League claim of Hindu rule.

Answer: Clear majorities in five provinces (Madras, UP, CP, Bihar, Orissa) and largest party in Bombay; ministries in eight of eleven provinces; weak among Muslim voters, with rising League distrust.

Example 5: Source work · 5 marks · Source-basedHOTS / competency

Read the extract and answer.
Nehru called the Act "a machine with strong brakes but no engine". Yet the Congress decided to contest the provincial elections.
(i) Who made the remark? [1]
(ii) What did the remark mean? [2]
(iii) Why did the Congress still contest? [2]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. (i) Jawaharlal Nehru.
  2. (ii) That the Act gave powers of control to the British but no real power to Indians at the centre.
  3. (iii) Provincial autonomy offered a chance to show mass support and work for peasants and prisoners.

Answer: (i) Nehru (ii) controls without real power (iii) to gain provincial power and show support.

Where students lose marks in The Government of India Act, 1935 and the 1937 Elections

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

  • Mistake: Saying federation was implemented

    Features mixed with outcomes.

    Do this: Federation never began; provincial autonomy did.

    Usually costs: 2 marks.

  • Mistake: Calling the League the winner

    1937 results misread.

    Do this: The League won few Muslim seats and led no government.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

  • Mistake: One-sided ministries

    Only praise or only blame.

    Do this: Give achievements and limits, attributing views.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

Exam tips

  • Mark what was implemented and what was not.
  • Use eight of eleven provinces.
  • Attribute readings of the UP episode.
  • Mention the Wardha scheme.

Practice questions on The Government of India Act, 1935 and the 1937 Elections

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

  1. Q1 · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

    Provincial dyarchy was:
    (a) extended under the 1935 Act
    (b) abolished under the 1935 Act
    (c) introduced for the first time
    (d) unchanged

    Hint

    Autonomy replaced it.

    Answer

    (b) Abolished under the 1935 Act.

  2. Q2 · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

    Describe the work of the Congress ministries on civil liberties and welfare.

    Hint

    Prisoners, bans, debt, education.

    Answer

    They released political prisoners, lifted bans on organisations and newspapers, passed tenancy and debt-relief laws, introduced some labour welfare, the Wardha education scheme, prohibition and temple entry.

  3. Q3 · 2 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    The Congress ruled in 8 of 11 provinces. Find the number it did not rule and the percentage.

    Hint

    11 minus 8.

    Answer

    11 - 8 = 3 provinces; 3/11 x 100 = 27.3 per cent.

  4. Q4 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    Compare the Congress and non-Congress ministries on debt relief.

    Hint

    Unionists and Fazlul Huq.

    Answer

    Congress ministries passed tenancy and debt-relief laws; the Unionists in Punjab protected peasants from moneylenders and Fazlul Huq's government in Bengal also tried debt relief.

  5. Q5 · 3 marks · Assertion-reasonHOTS / competency

    Assertion (A): The 1935 federation never came into being.
    Reason (R): Too few princes acceded.
    (a) Both true and R explains A
    (b) Both true but R does not explain A
    (c) A true, R false
    (d) A false, R true

    Hint

    Princes' consent.

    Answer

    (a) Both A and R are true and R explains A.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

  1. 1.Federal Court set up?Show answer

    1937.

  2. 2.Salary of ministers?Show answer

    Rs 500 a month.

  3. 3.Provinces with Congress majority?Show answer

    Five.

  4. 4.Day of Deliverance date?Show answer

    22 December 1939.

  5. 5.Nehru's phrase?Show answer

    Machine with strong brakes but no engine.

The Government of India Act, 1935 and the 1937 Elections: frequently asked questions

Was the franchise universal?

No, it was limited by property and education.

Why did ministries resign?

Over India's entry into World War II without consultation (October-November 1939).

Where did the Unionists rule?

Punjab.