MAIN PROVISIONS OF IMPORTANT ACTS PASSED IN BRITISH INDIA
Regulating Act, 1773
(i) First attempt by the British Parliament to regulate the affairs of the East India Company.
(ii) Centralized the administration of Company's territories in India.
(iii) Governor of Bengal was designated as the Governor General of Bengal and Council of 4 members was appointed for Bengal.
(iv) Bombay and Madras Presidencies were subordinated to Bengal Presidency.
(v) Supreme Court was set up at Calcutta.
(vi) Company's servants were forbidden from accepting bribes or doing private trade.
Amending Act, 1781:
It settled the question of jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.
Pitt's India Act, 1784
(i) It was the first effective substitution of Parliamentary Control over East India Company as it transferred the Indian affairs of the Company into the hands of the British Government.
(ii) Abolished dual system of governance.
(iii) Board of Control consisting of 6 Parliamentary Commissioners was constituted to control civil, military and revenue affairs of India.
(iv) Court of Directors had to comply with the orders and directions of the Board.
(v) Strength of Governor-General's Council reduced to 3.
(vi) Control of Governor-General-in-Council on Bombay and Madras Presidency was enlarged and made more effective.
Act of 1786:
Governor-General became the Commander in-Chief of Indian Forces.
Charter Act, 1793
(i) East India Company's monopoly over trade was extended for 20 more years.
(ii) Expenses and salaries of the Board of Control to be charged on Indian Revenue.
(iii) Governor-General could over-ride his Council.
Charter Act, 1813
(i) East India Company was deprived of its trade monopoly in India except in tea and opium trade with China.
(ii) All Englishmen could trade with India subject to certain restrictions.
(iii) Rules and procedures were made for use of Indian revenue.
(iv) A sum of Rs. 1 lakh was earmarked annually for education.
Charter Act, 1833
(i) Governor-General of Bengal became the Governor-General of India
(ii) Company was asked to close its business at the earliest
(iii) It put an end on Company's trade monopoly even in tea and opium with China
(iv) Government of Madras and Bombay was deprived of legislative powers
(v) A fourth member (Law Member) was added to the Council of Governor-General
(vi) Government Service was thrown open to the people of India
(viii) All laws made by Governor General-in-Council, henceforth came to be known as Acts and not regulations
(viii) Provision was made for appointment of Law Commission for codification of laws
(ix) Slavery was abolished
Charter Act, 1853
(i) For the first time a separate legislative machinery consisting of 12-member Legislative Council was created
(ii) Law Member was made a full member of the Executive Council of the Governor-General. Six additional members were added for legislative purposes
(iii) Recruitment of Civil Services was based on open annual competitive examination.
Government of India Act, 1858
(i) Rule of company in India ended and that of the Crown began
(ii) System of double government ended as both the Court of Directors as well as the Board of Control was abolished
(iii) Secretary of State for India was appointed. He was assisted by a 15-member Council (India Council). He was to exercise the powers of the Crown
(iv) Secretary of State was to be a member of the British Cabinet
(v) Secretary of State governed India through the Governor General
(vi) Governor-General was to be called the Viceroy and was the direct representative of the Crown in India
(vii) A unitary and highly-centralized administrative structure was created.
No comments:
Post a Comment