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
- Date
- 1939
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- British Information Services, an agency of the British Government (lithographed in the U.S.A. by Pictograph Corporation)
- Region
- Western and Central Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- State
- Regime
- Churchill Government
- Leader
- Winston Churchill
- Audience
- Foreign public
- Purpose
- Persuade or win support
- Theme
- Empire and colonialism
- Event
- World War II
- Leader
- Winston Churchill
- Source
- Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- Source
- U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 44, World War II Foreign Posters, retrieved October 3, 2026
- Rights
- Held by NARA, Unrestricted; hosted by owner decision (publication 1939-1945, UK origin)
British Information Services (agency of the British Government); Pictograph Corporation. National Archives and Records Administration, 44-PF-439.
Text on the object
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.
