Before Independence, only a small minority was allowed to vote in India. This restriction on voting rights was primarily due to the British colonial rule that governed the country. Let's delve into the details of this answer:

Reasons for Restricted Voting Rights:
Under British colonial rule, India was considered a British colony, and the British government implemented various laws and regulations to maintain control over the Indian population. One of these measures was limiting the voting rights to a small minority.

Historical Background:
During the colonial period, the British introduced several legislative acts that shaped the political landscape of India. The Government of India Act, 1858, marked the beginning of direct British rule in India. Subsequently, the Indian Councils Act, 1861, introduced limited representation of Indians in legislative councils, but it still did not grant universal suffrage.

Indian Councils Act, 1909:
The Indian Councils Act, 1909, commonly known as the Morley-Minto Reforms, expanded the legislative councils by allowing some Indians to be elected. However, the right to vote was restricted to a very small number of people. This act introduced a limited form of representative government in India, but it did not grant voting rights to the general population.

Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms:
The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms of 1919 aimed to increase Indian participation in the governance of the country. It introduced the concept of dyarchy, which divided the subjects of governance into 'reserved' and 'transferred' categories. However, even with these reforms, the voting rights were still limited to a small minority.

Government of India Act, 1935:
The Government of India Act, 1935, granted further reforms and introduced provincial autonomy. However, the voting rights were still restricted to a select few. The act created separate electorates for different religious communities, further segregating the electorate.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, before Independence, voting rights in India were limited to a small minority due to the policies and legislation imposed by the British colonial government. The Indian population, as a whole, did not have the opportunity to participate in the electoral process and exercise their democratic rights. It was only after India gained independence in 1947 that universal suffrage was introduced, allowing all citizens to vote, regardless of their social or economic background.