Great Britain was diminished by the terrible losses it suffered during World War I (1914–1918). Its grasp on its vast colonial empire—including India—was weakened.

India became a major problem for London. India was subjected to strict governance during the war, and Indians expected London to relax its grip after the war. Indians protested, and Britain responded with deadly force. In 1919, hundreds of Indians were massacred at Amritsar by British soldiers. Indians were enraged.

Mahatma Gandhi responded with the noncooperation movement (1920–1922). His policy of non-violent resistance posed a major challenge to British rule. But Gandhi could not unite all Indians behind him. Indian Muslims, for example, had their own goals, and they were often at odds with those of Gandhi.

London's belated response to the growing question of India's status was the Government of India Act of 1935. This act did not please anyone. The Act gave Indians a much more important role in Indian governance, but London retained its veto powers. It was a compromise that lasted for about a decade. After Japan was defeated in 1945, India—along with many other colonies—clamored for full independence. London wisely consented and did not use force against the Indians.

The 1935 Government of India Act was the longest act of British Parliament that had ever been enacted at that time. The purpose of the act was to give Indians greater representation within the Indian government. Due to a lack of Indian involvement in the act and a lack of specificity, those within India were mostly less than thrilled with the initial result. Conversely, the act was viewed as being too radical by many in Britain.

Despite the rough start, the current constitution pulls many of the principles and administrative services from the 1935 Government Act of India. Perhaps the most significant aspect of the act was that it granted much more autonomy to the British Indian provinces—ending the dyarchy system that was established in 1919.