Lord Ripon

Lord Ripon's government passed the first Factory Act in India, which regulated child labor by prohibiting employment of children under age seven and limiting working hours for those under twelve. It also required basic safety measures in factories. The act was a pioneering labor reform in colonial India.

Lord Ripon issued a resolution that laid the foundation for local self-government in India. It established municipal and local boards with elected Indian members, aiming to increase Indian participation in administration. This is often called the 'Magna Carta of local self-government' in India.

Lord Ripon repealed the Vernacular Press Act of 1878, which had restricted the freedom of Indian-language newspapers. This action restored press freedom and was welcomed by Indian nationalists, though it was criticized by some British officials as weakening control.

Lord Ripon introduced the Ilbert Bill, which sought to allow Indian judges to try European British subjects in criminal cases. The bill faced intense opposition from the European community in India and was ultimately passed in a diluted form, but it marked a significant step toward judicial equality.