Question

Write tow merits and demerits of indian council act

Answer 1

The Indian Councils Act 1861 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that transformed the Viceroy of India's executive council into a cabinet run on the portfolio system. ... The Secretary of State for India, Sir Charles Wood, believed that the Act was of immense importance: "the act is a great experiment....
Merits
It provided for expansion of Executive Council and the number of its members was raised from 4 to 5 and its nomenclature was changed to Imperial Legislative Council.

Answer 2

The Viceroy was allowed, under the provisions of the Act, to overrule the council on affairs if he deemed it necessary, as was the case in 1879, during the tenure of Lord Lytton. ... The 1861 Act restored the legislative powers of Bombay and Madras Presidencies taken away by the Charter Act of 1833.