The Indian Council Act of 1909

The act led to further expansion of the legislative council,, both at Central and provincial level and functions were also increased. For the first time an Indian became part of the viceroy executive council. It introduced the concept of a separate electorate for Muslims. The Act ‘legalised communalism’ and Lord Minto came to be known as the Father of Communal Electorate

• The act provided for considerable increase in the size of the legislative council, both Central and provincial level.The number of members in the Central Legislative Council was raised from 16 to 60. The number of members in the provincial legislative councils was not uniform
• It enhanced the functions of the  legislative councils at both the levels, permitting the   members to ask supplementary questions, move resolutions on the budget, and so on.
• For the first time Indians were made associated with the executive Councils of the Viceroy and Governors. Satyendra Prasad Sinha became the first Indian to join the Viceroy’s Executive Council. He was appointed as the law member
• The act introduced the concept of  ‘separate electorate’. Under this, the Muslim members were to be elected only by Muslim voters.
• . It also provided for the separate representation of presidency corporations, chambers of commerce, universities and zamindars.