Pitt’s India Act, 1784 ● Mandated an annual investment of Rs.

1 Lakh in Indian
education.
Governor-General: Warren Hastings
● Regulated the Company’s territorial revenues and
● Function Distinction: Separated commercial and commercial profits, requiring separate accounts.
political functions of the Company.
● Dual Government: The Act established: Charter Act of 1833
 Board of Control: Managed political affairs and Governor-General of India: William Bentinck
supervised civil and military operations or revenues. ● Marked the final step towards centralization in British
 Court of Directors: Oversaw commercial affairs. India, giving it an All-India character.
● British Possessions: First referred to Company territories ● Legalised British colonisation; the East India Company
as ‘British possessions in India’, granting the British became an administrative body, holding territories “in
Government supreme control. trust for His Majesty , His heirs and successors’.
● Ended the Company’s monopoly on trade with China
Act of 1786 and in tea.
Governor-General: Lord Cornwallis ● The government of the Governor-General came to be
known as the “Government of India,” and the council as
● Governor-General Appointment: Lord Cornwallis
the “India Council.”
appointed as Governor-General of Bengal and the
Commander-in-Chief. ● Designated the Governor-General of Bengal as the
“Governor-General of India,” granting full civil and
● Override Authority: Cornwallis was granted power to
military powers; Lord William Bentinck was the first
override council decisions in special cases.
appointee.
Charter Act of 1793 ● Transferred legislative powers from Bombay and Madras
Governor-General: John Shore to the Governor-General of India, with laws termed
“Acts.”
● Extended Power: Overriding powers granted to Lord
● Empowered the Governor-General to amend or repeal
Cornwallis were extended to future Governors-Generals
laws in British India.
and Governors of Presidencies..
● Proposed an open competition system for civil servant
● Increased Authority: Enhanced Governor-General’s
selection, but faced opposition from the Court of
control over Bombay and Madras Presidencies.
Directors.
● Trade Monopoly: Extended the Company’s monopoly
● Established the Indian Law Commission (1834) for
in India for an additional twenty years.
legal codification, chaired by Lord Macaulay.
● Council Membership: Specified that the Commander-
in-Chief would not be a council member unless appointed. Charter Act of 1853
● Financial Provisions: Mandated payment for Board of Governor-General of India: Lord Dalhousie
Control members and staff from Indian revenues. ● The last in a series of Charter Acts (1793-1853).
Charter Act of 1813 ● Separated legislative and executive functions of the
Governor-General’s council.
Governor-General: Lord Minto I
● Introduced local representation in the Indian Legislative
● Ended the trade monopoly of the East India Company, Council with six new legislative councillors, totalling 12
allowing all British merchants to trade in India, except members.
for trade with China and trade in tea. ● Reduced the Board of Directors from 24 to 18, with 6
● Asserted British Crown sovereignty over Company nominated by the British Crown.
territories in India. ● The legislative council functioned as a “Mini-
● Empowered local governments to impose taxes and Parliament”, mirroring British procedures.
punish defaulters. ● Implemented an open competition system for civil
● Extended the Company’s rule for another 20 years. service recruitment, allowing Indian participation; the
● Enhanced the powers of the Board of Control. Macaulay Committee was appointed in 1854.
● Allowed Christian missionaries to promote moral and ● The fourth law member gained voting rights as a full
religious improvements in India. member.

22 Indian Polity