Post-independence / Indian States / Policy of Equal Federation (1935-1947)
Policy of Equal Federation (1935-1947)
The Policy of Equal Federation, as outlined in the Government of India Act of 1935, was an attempt to incorporate the princely states into the broader political framework. Here are the key points about this policy:
- Federal Assembly Composition:
- The Act proposed a Federal Assembly with a total of 375 seats. Out of these, 125 seats were allocated for princes.
- Council of States Representation:
- Similarly, the Council of States was proposed to have 160 seats, out of which 104 were reserved for princes.
- Ratification Requirement:
- For this scheme to be implemented, it required ratification by states representing more than half of the population and entitled to more than half of the seats in the Council of States.
- Nomination vs. Democratic Representation:
- The representatives sent by the states to the Federal Legislative Assembly were intended to be nominees of the rulers rather than being democratically elected by the people.
- Objective of the Policy:
- The primary objective of this policy was to secure the support and cooperation of the Princely States in order to mitigate the influence and power of the National Movement.
- British Loyalty:
- The Native States' rulers were expected to maintain their allegiance to the British Crown. This requirement was reflected in their role in selecting representatives for the federation arrangement.
- Abandonment after World War II:
- The outbreak of World War II in September 1939 led to the abandonment of this scheme. The geopolitical and strategic considerations of the war overshadowed the implementation of this policy.
In essence, the Policy of Equal Federation aimed to integrate the princely states into the proposed federal structure, with an emphasis on maintaining their loyalty to the British Crown. However, this policy never came to fruition, as it was set aside in the wake of the global conflict.
