British rule in India political movements

1. British Rule in India
Political movement and acts from 1773-1947

2. Content-
I. The company rule
 Regulating act of 1773
 Pitts India act of 1784
 Charter acts of 1786
 East India company act 1813
 Charter act of 1833
 Charter act of 1853
II. The Crown rule
 Government of India act 1858
 Indai council act 1858
 India councils act of 1909
 Government of India act 1919
 Government of India act 1935
 Indian independence act of
1947

3. The Company Rule (1773-1858)
 These rules came between 1773 to 1858. After 1858, the rules formed were called the
Crown Rule.
 The East India Company, which had the exclusive right to trade in India under a
charter granted by Queen Elizabeth I, arrived in India in 1600 as traders.
 The Company secured the 'Diwani' rights (revenue and civil justice rights) of Bengal,
Bihar, and Orissa in 1765. This began its existence as a territorial authority.
 Following the 'sepoy mutiny' in 1858, the British Crown seized direct responsibility
for India's governance.
 From 1773 until 1858, a few key laws were enacted to regulate the British East India
Company's operations and help their authority over India. The details of these Acts are
mentioned below.


4. Regulating Act of 1773
 Regulating Act of 1773 was the first step by the British Crown to laid laws to regulate the
affairs of the East India Company in India. It also laid the foundation of central
administration in India.
 For the first time, the British Parliament intervened in the East India Company's business.
 The Governor of Bengal has been elevated to the position of Governor-General of Bengal
(Warren Hastings).
 The Governor-Executive General's Council was established with four members.
 The administration was centralized, with the Madras and Bombay Presidency becoming
subordinate to the Bengal Presidency.
 In 1774, the Supreme Court was created as the Apex Court in Calcutta.
 Company executives were not allowed to engage in private trade or receive presents from
Indians.


5. Amending Act of 1781
 The Amending Act of 1781 was passed by the British Parliament on 5th July 1781 to
remove the defects of the Regulating Act of 1773.
 The key provision of this Act was to demarcate the relations between the Supreme Court
and the Governor-General in Council.
 This Act is also known as “The Act of Settlement 1781” or “Declaratory Act of 1781”.

6. Pitts India act of 1784
 Pitt’s India Act (1784), named after the British prime minister William Pitt the Younger. It
was an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain intended to address the drawbacks of
the Regulating Act of 1773.
 It's regarded as a watershed moment in Indian constitutional history.
 The business and political roles of the company are separated. The Court of Directors was
in charge of the company's economic activities, while the Board of Control was in charge
of the company's political concerns.
 "British possessions in India" was the term used to refer to the British possessions in India.
 In Madras and Bombay, Governor's Councils were constituted.


7. Charter Act of 1786
 It was a supplementary act passed in 1786. This act made Lord Cornwallis appointed as the
Governor-general of Bengal.
 The East India Company Act 1793, commonly known as the Charter Act of 1793, was
passed by the British parliament to renew the East India Company's charter for another 20
years.
 This legislation gave all future Governors-General and Governors-of-Presidencies the
overriding power accorded to Lord Conwliis over his council.


8. Charter Act of 1813 or East India
Company Act, 1813
 Charter Act of 1813 passed by the British Parliament renewed the East India Company’s
charter for another 20 years.
 The Crown's control over British colonies in India was asserted by this Act.
 The rule of the corporation was prolonged for another 20 years.
 Except for tea, opium, and trade with China, their trade monopoly was broken.

9. Charter Act of 1833 or Saint Helena Act 1833
 Charter Act of 1833 was passed in the British Parliament which renewed the East India
Company’s charter for another 20 years. The company’s trade with China is brought to an
end. This act allowed the Brits to settle freely in India.
 The Charter Act of 1833 made the Governor-General of Bengal the Governor-General of
India (Lord William Bentinck).
 The Presidencies of Bombay and Madras lost their legislative powers.
 As a result of this act, the company's commercial activities were ended, and it was
converted into an administrative body.


10. Charter Act of 1853
 This is the last charter Act passed between 1793 and 1853, in British Parliament. This Act
did not mention the time period of the company charter is being renewed. Charter Act of
1853 empowered the British East India Company to retain the territories and the
revenues in India in trust for the British crown and not mention its time and will be
specified by the parliament.
 The executive and legislative functions of the Governor-legislative General's Council were
separated.
 The temporary administrations of Madras, Bombay, Agra, and Bengal each appointed six
members to the Central Legislative Council.
 The Indian civil service was created to allow for open recruitment of officers for
administrative positions.

11. British laws in India after 1857 or Crown Rule
 After the revolt of 1857, the British Crown took over the administration of India from the
East India Company. The administration of India by the British Empire from 1858 till India
gained independence in 1947 is termed as the “Crown Rule.” Many renowned
administrators such as Lord Minto, Lord Chelmsford, and Lord Irwin were responsible for
groundbreaking statutes during the Crown Rule.
 The Revolt of 1857 was more than a Sepoy Mutiny; it was an expression of the Indian
people's anger, resentment, and accumulated complaints against British rule.
 It was evident that there was a need for a shift in the way individuals were managed.
 As a result, the British government decided to liquidate the East India Company and
administer India directly.
 From 1858 until 1947, India was governed by the British Crown

12. Government of India Act 1858
 This act was passed after the Revolt of 1857. To know more about the Revolt of 1857
kindly check the book Indian War of Independence 1857. It aims to create a responsible
government. Also, it abolished the East India Company and transferred its power to
the British Crown.
 The company's rule came to an end after the 1857 uprising, and the British properties in
India were returned to the British Crown.
 The Indian Secretary of State's office was established. He was aided by a 15-member
Indian Council.
 He was in charge of the Indian administration, and the Viceroy was his agent. The
Governor-General was also given the title of Viceroy (Lord Canning).
 The Board of Control and the Court of Directors were both disbanded.


13. Indians Council Act of 1861
 This act made significant changes in the governer- genral’s council. The indian council act
1861 restored the power of legislation to the governer in councils of madras and Bombay in
respective matters.
 In the Viceroy's Councils, Indians were represented. Three Native Americans were elected
to the Legislative Council.
 Indians were allowed to participate in the Viceroy's Executive Council as non-official
members.
 The portfolio system was acknowledged.
 Decentralization began with the restoration of legislative powers to the presidencies of
Madras and Bombay.

14. Indian Council Act of 1892
 Indian Councils Act 1892 was an act of the British Parliament that increased the size of
the legislative councils in India.
 Nominations (indirect elections) were implemented.
 The number of Legislative Councils has increased. Legislative councils were given new
responsibilities, such as budget discussion and questioning of the government


15. Indian Councils Act of 1909
 or the first time, direct elections to legislative councils were held.
 The Imperial Legislative Council took the place of the Central Legislative Council.
 The legislative council now has a total of 60 members, up from 16 previously.
 The idea of a common electorate was widely welcomed.
 An Indian was appointed to the Viceroy's Executive Council for the first time. (Law
Member Satyendra Prasad Sinha)

16. Government of India Act 1919
 Subjects were divided into two categories: central and provincial.
 In provincial administrations, diarchy was instituted, with executive councilors in charge of
the reserved list and ministers in control of the transferred list of topics.
 The ministers were chosen from among the legislative council's elected members and were
accountable to the legislature.
 At the center, a bicameral legislature was established for the first time. (Rajya Sabha and
Lok Sabha were afterward renamed Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, respectively.)
 It required three Indians to serve on the Viceroy's executive council.
 For the first time in India, this act provided for the establishment of a public service
commission.
 This act expanded the right to vote, allowing around 10% of the people to exercise their
right to vote.

17. Government of India Act 1935
 British India and the princely states were proposed to form an all-India federation.
However, this never came to pass.
 The subjects were split between the central government and the provinces. The Federal List
was in charge of the Centre, the Provincial List was in charge of the Provinces, and there
was a Concurrent List that catered to both.
 Diarchy was abolished at the provincial level and replaced by monarchy at the national
level.
 Provinces were given more authority, and bicameral legislatures were established in six of
the eleven provinces.
 The Indian Council was abolished, and a federal court was constituted.
 Burma and Aden were cut off from the rest of India.
 The RBI was established as a result of this act.
 This Act was in effect till the new Indian Constitution took its place

18. Indian Independence Act of 1947
 On 20th February 1947, British Prime Minister Clement Atlee declared that the British
Rule in India will come to end by 30 June 1948. On 3 June 1947, Lord Mountbatten put a
Partition plan known as Mountbatten Plan. Mountbatten’s plan was accepted by Congress
and the Muslim league.
 India was declared sovereign and independent.
 The Viceroy and Governors were given the title of constitutional (nominal) rulers.
 Establish responsible governments at the national and provincial levels.
 Both legislative and executive authorities have been delegated.


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