East India Company Acts: 1773-1919

• Queen Elizabeth I granted the East India Company a charter (license) on December 31, 1600
• The charter granted the company the exclusive right to trade within India

Regulating Act 1773

• The Governor of Bengal was converted to Governor-General of Bengal, which provided more power
• An Executive Council of 4 members was created to assist the Governor-General
• Warren Hasting was appointed as the first Governor-General
• The Bombay and Madras Presidencies were made subordinate to Bengal
• A Supreme Court was established at Calcutta in 1774, consisting of 1 Chief Justice and 3 other judges
• Servants were prohibited from taking bribes or presents from Indians
• The Court of Directors was established to manage commercial functions and report on revenue, civil, and military affairs
• Warren Hastings was the last Governor of Bengal and the first Governor-General of Bengal
• Elijah Impey was the 1st Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Calcutta pre-independence
• Justice Harilal Kania as the 1st Chief Justice of India post-independence
• Centralisation (bringing things to one central place or under unified control) started from 1773

Amending Act, 1781

• It is known as the Act of Settlement, rectifying defects of the Regulating Act 1773
• It exempted the Governor-General and Council from the Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court

Pitt's India Act, 1784

• Separated commercial and administrative functions of the East India Company
• The Board of Control was created to manage administrative affairs, starting a dual control system
• Also known as the "Half Loaf System", sought to mediate between Parliament and the company directors
• Company territories are first called British Possessions in India
• The Pitt's India Act was named after William Pitt the Younger

Charter Act of 1793

• The trade monopoly of the company in India was extended for another 20 years
• The Commander-in-Chief was not to be a member of the Governor-General's council, unless appointed
• Members of the Board of Control and staff were to be paid out of Indian Revenue

Charter Act of 1813

• The trade monopoly of the company in India was abolished, but the monopoly over trade in tea and trade with China continued
• It asserted the Sovereignty of the British crown over the company's territories in India
• Christian Missionaries were allowed to come to India to promote Christianity
• ₹1 Lakh was allocated to be spent on Indian Education
• It authorised local governments in India to impose taxes on persons and punish those who did not comply

Charter Act of 1833 (Also known as “Saint Helena Act)

• The Governor-General of Bengal was converted to the Governor-General of India (1st: William Bantick)
• The Governor of Bombay and Madras were deprived of their legislative powers
• The activities of the EIC ended as a commercial body, and became purely administrative
• It provided for the establishment of a Law Commission of India to consolidate and codify Indian laws
• It attempted to introduce a system of open competition for the selection of Civil Servants
• A law member was added to the Governor's Executive Council
• Thomas Babington Macaulay was 1st law commissioner of India

Charter Act of 1853

• Separated the legislative and administrative functions of the Governor-General's Council
• Six new members were added to the Council as Legislative Councillors
• Introduced Open Competition for Civil Services
• The Company rule in Indian Territory was extended, but without specifying a period
• Local Representation into the Indian Legislative Council was introduced
• The Indian Penal Code (IPC) was introduced in 1860
• Satyendranath Tagore qualified for Civil Services
• Local governments of Madras, Bombay, Bengal, and Agra appointed 4 of the 6 Legislative Members of the Governor-General's Council

Government of India Act, 1858 (Also known as “Queen's Proclamation)

• The Act known as the Act for the Good Government of India abolished the East India Company and transferred the powers of Government, territories, and revenues to the British Crown
• The designation of Governor-General of India was changed to Viceroy
• It ended the system of Dual Government by abolishing the Board of Control and Court of Directors
• A new office, Secretary of State for India, was created, assisted by a 15-member council of India with complete authority and control over Indian administration
• Lord Canning became 1st Viceroy of India
• Peel Commission 1858 (after the 1857 Revolt) suggested reforms, and the British Government accepted the recommendations and redesigned the Indian military

Indian Council Act, 1861

• It associated Indians with law-making processes
• It nominated Raja of Benaras, Maharaja of Patiala, and Sir Dinkar Rao to the Legislative Council
• Decentralisation was re-introduced by restoring the legislative powers to the Bombay and Madras Presidencies
• New legislative councils were established for Bengal, North-Western Provinces, and Punjab
• Recognition was given to the 'portfolio' system, introduced by Lord Canning in 1859
• The Viceroy was empowered to issue ordinances, without the concurrence of the legislative council, during an emergency, with a life of 6 months

Indian Councils Act, 1909

• This Act is also known as Morley-Minto Reforms
• Lord Morley was the then Secretary of State for India, and Lord Minto was the then Viceroy of India
• The size of the legislative councils was considerably increased, both Central and Provincial
• The number of members in the Central legislative council was raised from 16 to 60
• Members: Official majority in the Central legislative council with non-official majority in the Provincial legislative council
• Members were allowed to supplementary questions and move resolutions on the budget
• The association of Indians with Executive Councils of the Viceroys and Governors was provided for
• Satyendra Prasad Sinha was the 1st Indian to join, and was later appointed as the Law member
• Separate Electorates for Muslims was introduced as a system of Communal Representation
• Muslim members were elected by Muslim voters (Lord Minto - Father of Communal Electorate)

Government of India Act, 1919

• This Act is also known as Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms
• Montagu was the Secretary of State for India, and Lord Chelmsford was the Viceroy of India
• All subjects of administration were classified into two categories: the central subjects and the provincial subjects
• The subjects were further divided into two parts: Transferred and Reserved
• Dyarchy was introduced in provinces

Government of India Act, 1935 (Enforced on 1st April 1937)

• Provincial Dyarchy and introduced Dyarchy at the Centre was abolished
• All India Federation was provided by joining provinces and princely states as units
• Bicameralism was introduced in 6 out of 11 provinces, including Bengal, Bombay, Madras, Bihar, Assam, and the United Provinces having a legislative council (upper house) and a legislative assembly (lower house)
• Certain number of seats were reserved for Scheduled Castes, women, and labourers
• Franchise was extended so 14% of the total population had the right to vote
• A Reserve Bank of India was established
• A Federal Public Service Commission and Provincial Public Service Commission and Joint Public Service Commission were established
• Federal Court was setup in 1937
• Burma (now Myanmar) was separated from India
• The powers were divided between the Centre and units with three lists: Federal List (for Centre, with 59 items), Provincial List (for provinces, with 54 items) and the Concurrent List (for both, with 36 items)
• Residuary powers were given to the Viceroy (Governor-General)
• The council of 15 members was abolished

Indian Independence Act, 1947

• On February 20, 1947, the British Prime Minister Clement Atlee declared that British rule in India would end by June 30, 1948, and power would be transferred to responsible Indian hands Features:

• British rule in India ended and declared India an independent and sovereign state from August 15, 1947

• The Partition of India was done and created of two independent dominions of India and Pakistan with the right to secede from the British Commonwealth

• The office of Viceroy was abolished and provided a Governor-General to be appointed by the British King on the advice of the dominion cabinet

• The office of the Secretary of State for India was abolished and his functions were transferred to the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs

• British paramountcy over the Indian princely states and treaty relations with tribal areas lapsed from August 15, 1947

• Freedom was granted to the Indian princely states to either join the Dominion of India or Dominion of Pakistan, or to remain independent

• The Governor-General would assert any bill in the name of His Majesty

• The Governor-General of India and the provincial governors were designated as constitutional (nominal) heads of the states

• The title of Emperor of India from the royal titles of the King of England was dropped

• The appointment to civil services and reservation of posts by the secretary of state for India was discontinued

• At the stroke of midnight of 14-15 August, 1947, the British rule came to an end and power was transferred to the two new independent Dominions of India and Pakistan

• Mountbatten was 1st Governor General of India

• C Rajagopalachari was the 1st and last Indian Governor General

Questions cover the Regulating Act of 1773, Pitt's India Act, the Amending Act of 1781, and the Government of India Act, 1919. Topics include governance structure, corruption, and Indian roles.