■ INDIAN COUNCIL ACT OF 1861. ◇ It made a beginning of Representative institutions by assosiating Indian with law - making Process. ◇ Viceroy Canning nominated three Indians to the legislative council - The Raja of Benaras, Maharaja of Patiala and Sir Dinkar rao. ◇ It initiated the process of Decentralisation by restoring the legislative Powers to the Bombay and Madras presidency. ◇ It also provided for the establishment of new legislative councils for Bengal, NWFP and Punjab. ◇ It also gave a recognition to the Portfolio system, introduced by Canning. 2.4K views02:02