The Company Rule in India (1773-1858)
| Regulating Act,1773 | It was the first step taken by the British Government to control and regulate the East India Company in India. By this act the Governor of Bengal was designated as the Governor General of Bengal and an executive council of four members was formed to assist him. First Governor General – Lord Warren HastingsIt made a provision for the establishment of the Supreme Court at Calcutta(1774) comprising one Chief Justice and three other judges. |
| Amending Act, 1781 | This act was passed by the British Parliament to remove the loopholes in the Regulating Act of 1773. It is also known as the Act of settlement. By this act, the Governor General and the Council were exempted from the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court for the acts done by them in their official capacity. |
| Pitt’s India Act, 1784 | This act separated the commercial and political functions of the company. Provided permission to the Board of Directors to manage commercial affairs and also created a new body called the Board of Control for the management of political affairs. Thus, it established a system of dual government. The Company’s territories in India were for the first time called British possessions in India. |
| Act of 1786 | Lord Cornwallis was appointed as the Governor General of Bengal in 1786. To accept this position, he made two demands. He has the power to override the decisions of his Council in special cases. He would also be the Commander-in-Chief. Accordingly, the Act of 1786 was enacted to make both provisions. |
| Charter Act, 1793 | Through this act, the overriding powers given to the Governor-General were extended to all future Governors-General and Governors of the Presidency.The Charter Act of 1793 extended the Company’s trade monopoly in India for a period of twenty years. Provision was made to pay the salaries of the members and employees of the Board of Control from the Indian revenue. |
| Charter Act, 1813 | This act opened up Indian trade to all British merchants except the Company’s monopoly on tea trade and trade with China. Christian missionaries were allowed to come to India. Western education started being spread in the British territories in India. It authorized local governments to levy taxes on individuals and made provisions to punish individuals for non-payment of taxes. |
| Charter Act, 1833 | By this act, the Governor General of Bengal was made the Governor General of India. First Governor General of India – Lord William Bentick The Governor-General was given unlimited powers of legislature throughout British India. Laws made under the previous Acts were called Regulations, whereas the laws made under this Act were called Acts. The East India Company also ended its monopoly on trade with China and commercial business was discontinued, becoming a fully administrative body. Organized an open competition for the selection of civil servants but this provision was abolished due to the opposition of the Board of Directors. |
| Charter Act, 1853 | The legislative and executive functions of the Governor-General’s Council were separated. Apart from this, 6 new members were added, they were called Legislative Councillors. Started an open competition system for the recruitment of civil servants. In 1854, the Macaulay Committee was appointed. It is related to Indian Civil Services. |
