Provincial Autonomy — Key Changes

Entry	Year	Description	Impact
N/A	1939-1945	The Government of India Act, 1935, was not formally 'amended' in the conventional sense concerning Provincial Autonomy during its operational period. However, a significant practical alteration occurred with the outbreak of World War II. In 1939, the Viceroy declared India a belligerent without consulting the provincial ministries. This led to the resignation of Congress ministries in protest. Subsequently, Section 93 of the Act was invoked in several provinces, allowing Governors to assume direct administration, effectively suspending Provincial Autonomy and responsible government for the duration of the war in those provinces.	This suspension demonstrated the inherent limitations of Provincial Autonomy and the ultimate control retained by the British Raj. It highlighted that the 'autonomy' was conditional and could be overridden by imperial imperatives. For the Indian National Movement, it reinforced the belief that genuine self-rule was impossible under the 1935 Act and strengthened the demand for complete independence, directly influencing subsequent movements like the Quit India Movement.