---
title: The Development of Self-Government in British India
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/uk-development-of-self-government-british-india-1939/
description: A pictorial chart tracks British and Indian seats in the Viceroy's council, legislatures and provincial governments across 1861, 1909, 1919, 1935 and 1942.
section: Collection
---

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3. The Development of Self-Government in British India

[![The Development of Self-Government in British India, 1939 UK poster: A pictorial chart tracks British and Indian seats](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/uk-development-of-self-government-british-india-1939.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/uk-development-of-self-government-british-india-1939.jpg)

# The Development of Self-Government in British India

A pictorial chart tracks British and Indian seats in the Viceroy's council, legislatures and provincial governments across 1861, 1909, 1919, 1935 and 1942. The tell is selection: it counts seats by nationality but shows no electorate size, no franchise limits and no reserved powers, so the trend can be read only as steady progress.

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

[Card stacking](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/card-stacking/)

## Text on the object

Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

```
The Development of Self-government in British India

VICEROY & EXECUTIVE COUNCIL | LEGISLATURE | PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT

1861 Indian Councils Act: 5 MEMBERS - ALL BRITISH; Indian Civil Service 12 BRITISH; Non-Officials (appointed) SOME INDIANS; In the majority of the provinces, there was one-man rule by the Governor.

1909 Morley-Minto Reforms: 6 BRITISH 1 INDIAN; LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL: Indian Civil Service 36 BRITISH; Elected 27 INDIANS; Non-Officials (appointed) 5 INDIANS; COUNCIL, including one Indian, appointed by the Governor.

1919 Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms: 4 BRITISH 3 INDIANS; COUNCIL OF STATE: Indian Civil Service 17 BRITISH 3 INDIANS; Elected 2 BRITISH 32 INDIANS; Non-Officials (appointed) 1 BRITISH 5 INDIANS; LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY: Indian Civil Service 21 BRITISH 5 INDIANS; Elected 8 BRITISH 97 INDIANS; Non-Officials (appointed) 14 INDIANS; DYARCHY Some portfolios transferred to Indians

1935 Government of India Act: NO CHANGE FROM 1919; COUNCIL OF STATE: Indian Civil Service 17 BRITISH 3 INDIANS; Elected 32 INDIANS 2 BRITISH; Non-Officials (appointed) ALL INDIANS; LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY: Indian Civil Service 16 BRITISH 10 INDIANS; Elected 8 BRITISH 97 INDIANS; Non-Officials (appointed) 14 INDIANS; PROVINCIAL SELF-GOVERNMENT All portfolios transferred to Indians
The provisions of the 1935 Constitution, which would have federated British India with the Indian States ruled by the Princes, never came into force.

1942 Enlargement of Viceroy's Council: 4 BRITISH - 11 INDIANS; COUNCIL OF STATE: NO CHANGE FROM 1935; Indian Civil Service 17 BRITISH 3 INDIANS; Elected 32 INDIANS 2 BRITISH; Non-Officials (appointed) ALL INDIANS; LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY: Indian Civil Service 13 BRITISH 13 INDIANS; Elected 8 BRITISH 97 INDIANS; Non-Officials (appointed) 14 INDIANS; NO CHANGE FROM 1935

[imprint:] Published by BRITISH INFORMATION SERVICES - An Agency of the British Government. PICTOGRAPH CORPORATION. Lithographed in U.S.A.
```

[← This Destroyer in Miniature Is Britain's Answer to the German E-Boat](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/uk-destroyer-in-miniature-answer-to-e-boat-1939/) [Dig for Victory: All My Own Work →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/uk-dig-for-victory-all-my-own-work-1939/)

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