Also: Indian Councils Act 1861, Indian Councils Act 1892, Indian Councils Act 1909, Morley–Minto Reforms
Definition
Three British laws (1861, 1892 and 1909) that gradually brought Indians into the legislative councils of British India, ending with the Morley–Minto Reforms, which introduced elections and separate electorates for Muslims.
After the revolt of 1857, the British Crown took over the government of India from the East India Company. British officials concluded that one cause of the revolt was the lack of contact between rulers and ruled. The Indian Councils Act 1861 therefore added non-official members, including some Indians, to the Viceroy's legislative council. The first Indians nominated included the Raja of Benares, the Maharaja of Patiala and Sir Dinkar Rao.
The founding of the Indian National Congress in 1885 brought new demands for representation. The Indian Councils Act 1892 enlarged the councils and allowed some members to be recommended by bodies such as municipalities, universities and chambers of commerce, an indirect form of election without using the word. The Act of 1909, known as the Morley–Minto Reforms after the Secretary of State John Morley and the Viceroy Lord Minto, introduced direct elections for some seats and separate electorates for Muslims.
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