Guru Granth Sahib — Key Changes

Entry	Year	Description	Impact
N/A (Legislative Act)	1925	The Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925, is a significant legislative act, not a constitutional amendment, that profoundly impacted the administration of Sikh religious institutions and, by extension, the reverence for the Guru Granth Sahib. Enacted by the British Indian government, it provided for the democratic control and management of historical Gurdwaras in Punjab by an elected body, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). This Act was a culmination of the Akali Movement, which sought to liberate Gurdwaras from the control of hereditary Mahants.	The Act legally recognized the distinct identity of Sikhism and ensured that the management of Gurdwaras, where the Guru Granth Sahib is housed and revered, would be in the hands of the Sikh community. This had a direct impact on upholding the sanctity and prescribed protocols for the Guru Granth Sahib, preventing its misuse or neglect. It established a legal framework for the proper administration of Sikh religious affairs, safeguarding the spiritual and temporal aspects of the faith, including the supreme authority and reverence accorded to the Guru Granth Sahib within Gurdwaras.