Government of India Act, 1858
The Revolt of 1857 gave a severe jolt to the British administration in
India and made its reorganisation inevitable.
• Administration: The Government of India passed from the
hands of the English East India Company to the Crown.
• Viceroy: The Governor-General came to be known as the
viceroy.
• Forces: The Military and Naval forces of the company were
transferred to the crown.
• Institutions abolished: The Board of Control and the Court of
Directors were abolished.
Their powers were transferred to the Secretary of State
for India and his India Council.
The secretary of state was given the power to
superintend, control and direct Indian affairs.
He was a cabinet minister of England.
• Indian Council: The Act created the Indian Council of fteen
members.
Seven were to be elected by the court of directors, and
the remaining were to be appointed by the Crown.
The Secretary of State for India was to be the president
of the Indian Council.
▪ He was given a vote and a casting vote in the case
of a tie.
The council met twice a week.
Control over civil and military servants of the crown was
given to the India Council.
fi
• The Secretary of State for India was declared by the Act to be
a corporate entity that could be sued in both England and
India.
Other provisions
• Ended doctrine of lapse and annexation
• No discrimination in employment (employment based on
quali cations)
• Army personnel of EIC became British army personnel
• Justice for all
• Religious freedom
The Indian Councils Act of 1861
The reason for the initiation of this policy was to know what the
Indians thought about British rule.
Administration
fi
• Imperial Legislative Council: The Act enlarged the Governor-
General’s Council for the purpose of making laws.
In that capacity, it was known as the Imperial Legislative
Council.
• Members of Council: The Governor-General was authorised
to add to his Executive Council between six and twelve
members, of whom at least half had to be non-of cials who
could be Indian or English.
• The Imperial Legislative Council:
It possessed no real powers
It was merely an advisory body
It could not discuss any important measure, and no
nancial measures at all, without the previous approval of
the Government.
It had no control over the budget
It could not discuss the motions of the administration
It had no control over the executive
No bill passed by it could become an act till it was
approved by the Governor-General.
• Provincial Executive Council: The authority to nominate the
Attorney General was granted to the governments of Bombay
and Madras.
Additionally, it was to propose no less than 4 and no more
than 8 additional Executive Council members for
legislative purposes.
• Additional powers: The Governor-General was given the
power to create new provinces for legislative purposes and to
appoint Lieutenant Governors for them.
He was also authorised to divide or alter the limits of any
presidency, province or territory.
• Decentralisation: The tide of centralisation began to turn after
the Act of 1861.
fi
fi
It outlined the establishment of legislative councils
resembling those in the centre rst in Bengal, Bombay,
and Madras before moving on to other provinces.
Indian councils act 1961 introduced power of ordinance (6
month validity)
Indian Council Act of 1892
The early nationalists wanted a larger share in the government of
their own country and made an appeal to the principle of
democracy. Their protests forced the British government to enact
the Indian Councils Act of 1892.
• Council members: By this Act, the number of members of the
Imperial Legislative Council as well as of the provincial
councils, was increased.
Although some of these representatives might be
indirectly chosen by Indians, the of cial majority
remained.
fi
fi
• Budget: The councils were also given the right to discuss the
annual budgets though they could not vote on them.
