Charter Act

British India: Charter Acts Impact on Governance & Rule

Before 1857, the British Parliament passed several Charter Act that significantly influenced the governance and administration of British India. These acts were pivotal in shaping the relationship between the British East India Company and the British government, as well as in defining the structure of colonial rule.

Key Provisions of the Charter Act of 1793: British India’s Governance

Some of the key provisions of the act are as follows:

• Extend the supremacy conferred upon Lord Cornwallis over his council to all future Governors and Governors of Presidents.
• Gives the Governor-General more power and control over the governments of subordinate Bombay and Madras presidencies.
• Extension of the Company’s commercial exclusivity in India for another twenty years.
• Agreements were made that the Commander-in-Chief would not be a member of the Plenipotentiary Council unless appointed.
• The Act also stipulates that the members of the Supervisory Board and their employees are currently paid from the Indian revenue.

Charter Act 1813: Ending Monopoly, Crown Supremacy in India

British tradesmen and merchants faced significant losses due to Napoleon Bonaparte’s Continental System and laissez-faire philosophy, leading to the Charter Act in 1813. Some of the key provisions of the act are as follows:

• Abolished the East India Company’s monopoly on commerce in India, excluding trade with China and tea.
• It reaffirmed the British Crown’s supremacy over the Indian areas controlled by the Company.
• The company’s control was prolonged by 20 more years.
• The powers of the Board of Control were further extended.
• Granted permission to the persons (especially the Christian Missionaries) for promoting moral and religious improvements.
• Regulated the company’s territorial revenues and commercial profits separately.
• The company should invest Rs. 1 Lakh every year on the education of Indians.
• Empowered the Local Governments to impose taxes on persons and to punish the defaulter.

1833 Charter Act: Centralization & Legal Reforms in British India

Some of the key provisions of the act are as follows:

• The Charter Act of 1833 paved the final step towards centralized administration in British India.
• “Indian Council” and “Government of India” were the names of the council and the governor-general’s administration, respectively.
• Lord William Bentinck served as India’s first governor-general.
• It turned the East India Company into an administrative organization, ending its operations as a commercial entity.
• Trade with China and the company’s monopoly in the tea industry were both eliminated.
• Previously made laws were called “Regulations”, while laws made under this act were called “Acts”.
• Introduced a system of free competition for the hiring of civil servants and said that Indians should be allowed to assume any positions of authority within the Company, including employment. However, this system was not effectively operated in the near future.
• Any legislation in the British Indian territory might be amended, repealed, or changed by the Governor-General Council.
• The governor-general’s council now has a lawyer as a member to provide legal guidance.
• Indian Law Commission was established (1833) to codify all Indian laws. Lord Macaulay was appointed as the chairman of the first Law Commission.
• Additionally, the act mandated that the Governor General-in-Council take steps to lessen the slavery that has persisted in India since the sultanate era.

1853 Charter Act: Governance Reform in British India

Some of the key provisions of the act are as follows:

• The British Parliament approved a number of Charter Act between 1793 and 1853, with this one serving as their last act.
• Act, in contrast to the Charter Act of 1793, 1813, and 1833, which extended the Charter for 20 years, gave the British East India Company the authority to hold the territories and income in India in trust for the crown without regard to a set time frame.
• Formally separated the Governor-General’s Council’s legislative and executive responsibilities.
• Allowed for the inclusion of six more people to the council, referred to as legislative councilors (a total of 12 people).
• This council’s legislative branch conducted business using the same methods as the British Parliament, acting as a miniature parliament.
• The fourth-law member was elevated to full membership status and was given voting rights.
• Introduced a system of open competition for the selection and hiring of public workers, opening it up to Indians as well.
• This prompted the creation of the Macaulay Committee (also known as the Committee on the Indian Civil Service) in 1854.
• There are now 18 board members instead of 24, and the British Crown will designate 6 of them.
• The Indian (Central) Legislative Council also received the first local representation thanks to Act.

Conclusion

These Charter Act reflect the evolving relationship between the British East India Company and the British government, as well as the changing objectives and policies of British colonial rule in India. They laid the groundwork for the subsequent transformation of British India into a more centralized and controlled colonial administration.

Previous Year Question(Prelims)

Q1. Consider the following statements about ‘the Charter Act of 1813’: (2019)

1. It ended the trade monopoly of the East India Company in India except for trade in tea and trade with
     China.
2. It asserted the sovereignty of the British Crown over the Indian territories held by the Company.
3. The revenues of India were now controlled by the British Parliament.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Charter Acts FAQs

Q1. Which Charter Act has turned East India Company into an administrative entity?

Ans. Charter Act 1833

Q2. Which charter act has separated the legislative and executive responsibilities?

Ans. Charter Act 1853

Q3. Which act has introduced an open competition system of selection and recruitment of civil servants?

Ans. Charter Act 1853

Q4. Under which charter act the first law commission was established?

Ans. Charter Act 1813

DOWNLOAD PDF