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How did the Legislative Council change in 1861 after the rebellion?
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Indian Rebellion of 1857
Indian sepoys (soldiers) corner a British officer amid their attack on a treasury in Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh.
Following the Indian Rebellion of 1857, the British government recognized that a lack of communication with Indian opinion had contributed to the crisis. To address this, the Indian Councils Act of 1861 introduced significant changes to the Legislative Council:12
- Inclusion of Indians: The council was given an Indian-nominated element, moving away from the previous structure that had consisted only of Europeans.1
- Membership Expansion: The number of additional members for legislative purposes was increased to between 6 and 12, with at least half required to be nonofficial members.23
- Nonofficial Participation: Several of these nonofficial positions were filled by Indian nobility and loyal landowners.23
- Public Transparency: Legislative council debates were opened to a limited public audience.23
While these changes served as an advisory "safety valve" to gauge public opinion, the viceroy retained the power to veto any bill, and the council remained far from a true parliamentary body.23