Indian History: Governance Acts Overview

The first step taken by the British Government to control the East India Company in India. It recognized the Company's political and administrative functions and laid the foundation for central administration.

This Act designated the Governor of Bengal as the 'Governor-General of Bengal' and established an Executive Council to assist him. Lord Warren Hastings was the first Governor-General.

The Act made the governors of Bombay and Madras subordinate to the Governor-General of Bengal, ending the era of independent presidencies.

Established in 1774, the Supreme Court at Calcutta was formed to oversee justice in British India. It consisted of one chief justice and three other judges.

The Regulating Act prohibited Company officials from engaging in private trade or accepting bribes from Indians. This aimed to prevent corruption.

The Company's transition from a trading organization to a territorial power. This began with the acquisition of the 'diwani' of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa in 1765.

The British Crown's assumption of direct responsibility for governing India in 1858, following the Sepoy Mutiny, marked the beginning of the Crown rule.

The Indian Councils Act of 1909, also known as the Morley-Minto Reforms, aimed to increase Indian participation in government by expanding legislative councils and introducing a system of communal representation.

This act significantly expanded the number of members in both the central and provincial legislative councils, aiming to increase Indian representation.

While the central legislative council maintained an official majority, the provincial councils gained a non-official majority, allowing for greater Indian influence.

The Morley-Minto Reforms expanded the deliberative powers of legislative councils, enabling members to ask questions, propose budget resolutions, and engage in more active discussions.

For the first time, Indians were included in the executive councils of the Viceroy and Governors. Satyendra Prasad Sinha became the first Indian member of the Viceroy's executive council.

The Morley-Minto Reforms introduced separate electorates for Muslims, allowing them to elect their representatives independently. This policy, while intended to ensure Muslim representation, was criticized for promoting communalism.

The Morley-Minto Reforms also recognized separate constituencies for other groups such as presidency corporations, chambers of commerce, universities, and zamindars, ensuring representation for diverse interests.

The Government of India Act of 1919, also known as the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms, aimed to gradually introduce responsible government in India, a significant step towards self-rule.

This Act sought to reduce central control over provinces by giving them more autonomy to make laws on their own subjects. However, the overall structure of government remained centralized.

The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms introduced a system of dyarchy, dividing subjects into 'transferred' and 'reserved' categories. Transferred subjects were put under the control of elected ministers, while reserved subjects remained with the Governor.

The Charter Act of 1833 was a significant step towards reforming the East India Company's administration in India. It introduced the concept of open competition for civil service appointments, aiming to include Indians in the administration. However, this provision faced opposition and was ultimately negated. The act also formally declared that the Company held its Indian territories "in trust" for the British Crown.

This last of the Charter Acts, passed in 1853, introduced a landmark change by separating the legislative and executive functions of the Governor-General's council. This led to the creation of a legislative council, resembling a mini-parliament, marking the beginning of a more formalized legislative process in India.

The Charter Act of 1853 introduced open competition for civil service appointments, making it possible for Indians to join the prestigious covenanted civil service. The Macaulay Committee was established to oversee the implementation of this new system.

The Charter Act of 1853 established a separate Governor-General's legislative council, consisting of the Governor-General and six new legislative members. This body was designed to function similarly to the British Parliament, with the Governor-General acting as the presiding officer. It focused on making laws for the whole of India.

The Charter Act of 1853 introduced local representation in the Governor-General's Legislative Council, with four of the six new members appointed by provincial governments in Madras, Bombay, Bengal, and Agra. This allowed for regional voices to be heard at the central legislative level.

The Act of 1853 extended the East India Company's rule over India, but importantly, it granted this power "in trust" for the British Crown. This signified that the Company's sovereignty was conditional and could be revoked by the Parliament at any time.

The Charter Act of 1853 marked the end of the East India Company's rule and transitioned India towards direct British rule. This act served as a stepping stone towards greater British control over India.

The act of 1853, formally established a central legislative council in India, creating a dedicated body to focus on lawmaking. This council was expected to follow the procedures of the British Parliament, creating a more structured legislative process within India.

The Charter Act of 1853 had a significant impact on the recruitment of civil servants, opening up the covenanted civil service to Indians through an open competition system. This move aimed to increase Indian participation in the administration.,

The Indian Independence Act of 1947 ended British rule in India and declared India an independent nation on August 15, 1947.

The act divided India into two independent dominions: India and Pakistan, both with the right to leave the British Commonwealth.

The Constituent Assemblies of India and Pakistan were granted the power to create their own constitutions, including the authority to repeal the Independence Act.

The act granted the Indian princely states the choice to join either India or Pakistan, or to remain independent.

The Indian Independence Act proclaimed that the British monarch no longer had the right to veto bills or request specific bills for approval, but the Governor-General retained this power.

A system of governance where some subjects were administered by the Governor with the help of ministers responsible to the legislative council, while other subjects were controlled directly by the Governor without being accountable to the legislature.

A bicameral legislature, meaning it has two houses. One house was the Council of State (upper house) and the other was the Legislative Assembly (lower house).

The process of having citizens directly elect representatives to the government.

The introduction of separate electorates for specific communities, such as Sikhs, Indian Christians, Anglo-Indians, and Europeans, allowing them to elect representatives from their own groups.

The right to vote in elections, granted to a limited number of people based on factors such as property ownership, tax payments, or education.

A seven-member commission appointed by the British government in 1927, with the aim of reviewing the working of the new Indian constitution.

The rejection of the Simon Commission by all Indian political parties due to the fact that all members of the commission were British, raising concerns about a lack of Indian representation and involvement in the review process.

The first time provincial budgets were separated from the central budget, giving provincial legislatures the authority to manage their own financial affairs.

A body established to recruit civil servants for the government.

A provision made for a commission to be set up after 10 years to review the functioning of the new constitution and suggest any necessary amendments.