How well do you know the impact of British rule on Indian Constitution and polit...

The Influence of British Rule on Indian Constitution and Polity

• British came to India in 1600 as traders through the East India Company.
• In 1765, the Company obtained the ‘diwani’ of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa, which started its territorial power.
• In 1858, the British Crown assumed direct responsibility for the governance of India.
• A Constituent Assembly was formed in 1946 to create the Indian Constitution, which came into being on January 26, 1950.
• Various features of the Indian Constitution and polity have their roots in the British rule.
• The Regulating Act of 1773 recognized the political and administrative functions of the East India Company and laid the foundation of central administration in India.
• The Act designated the Governor of Bengal as the ‘Governor-General of Bengal’ and created an Executive Council of four members to assist him.
• The Amending Act of 1781 exempted the Governor-General, Council, and Company’s servants from the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court for their official actions.
• Pitt’s India Act of 1784 distinguished between the commercial and political functions of the Company and established a system of double government.
• The Act of 1786 gave power to the Governor-General of Bengal to override the decision of his council in special cases and made him the Commander-in-Chief.
• The Indian Constitution has been influenced by these events in British rule, which laid down the legal framework for the organization and functioning of government and administration in British India.
• The British Government was given supreme control over Company’s affairs and its administration in India through various Acts, which have greatly influenced the Indian Constitution and polity.

Test your knowledge on the influence of British rule on Indian Constitution and polity with this quiz. From the East India Company's arrival in 1600 to the formation of the Indian Constitution in 1950, discover how various Acts and events shaped the legal framework for the organization and functioning of government and administration in British India. Keywords: British rule, Indian Constitution, East India Company, Acts, governance, administration.