Citation 55 & 56 Vict. c. 14 Commencement 3 February 1893 | Royal assent 20 June 1892 | |
Introduced by R. A. Cross, 1st Viscount Cross on 9 February 1892 Repealed by Government of India Act 1915 | ||
The Indian Councils Act 1892 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that authorized an increase in the size of the various legislative councils in British India. Enacted due to the demand of the Indian National Congress to expand legislative council, the number of non-official members was increased both in central and provincial legislative councils.The non official members of Indian legislative councils were henceforth to be nominated by Bengal chamber of commerce and provincial legislative council.
The universities, district board, municipalities, zamindars and chambers of commerce were empowered to recommend members to provincial councils. Thus was introduced the principle of representation. It also relaxed restrictions imposed by the Indian Councils Act 1861, thus allowing the councils to discuss each year's annual financial statement. They could also put questions within certain limits to the government on the matter of public interest after giving six days' notice, but none of them was given right to ask supplementary questions. Thus it prepared the base of Indian democracy.
The act also increased the number of non officials in councils to between 10 and 16, but provincial representation was abolished. The law member was made a permanent member.
In 1892, the council consisted of 24 members, only five members were Indians.