The Government of India act of 1919 was passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom in order to ensure the participation of natives in the Government of India. The Secretary of State for India, Sir Edwin Montagu and the Viceroy, Lord Chelmsford, jointly prepared a report, which served as the basis for creation of the legislation, Government of India Act of 1919.

The Government of India Act of 1919 incorporated the idea of a dual form of government referred as diarchy, for the major provinces. The Act involved a complex set of instructions. An example can be set as the provincial legislative council of each major province was instructed to monitor the activities of provincial ministers. The Government of India Act of 1919 also stated that a High Commissioner who resided in London and would represent India there in Great Britain. The act was enacted for ten years from 1919 to 1929.

This reform was an idea of Sir Edwin Montagu and Lord Chelmsford. As a part of reformation the imperial and provincial council was enlarged and a new system of diarchy Government was introduced. As per the Act, the Viceroy controlled the areas such as defense; communications and foreign affairs and the Government responsible for the provincial Council would control Health and Education. Also there was a bicameral legislature situated at the center, which consisted of legislative assembly that had hundred and forty-four members out of which forty-one were nominated. There was also Council of States that consisted of thirty-four elected and twenty-six nominated members. The Princely States used to check political parties. The Indian National Congress was not satisfied with this law and termed this as `disappointing`. A special session was held in Bombay under Hasan Imama and the reforms were reprobated. However, some other leaders like Surendranath Banerjee welcomed the reforms and left Congress to form Indian Liberal Federation that played a minor role in subsequent Indian political affairs.