Acts During British India
7. Charter Act of 1833
1. Regulating Act of 1773
 Bombay and Madras subordinate
to Calcutta
 Chief as GG of Bengal (Warren
Hasting) and councilors (Philip
Francis, John Clavering, George
Monson and Richard Barewell)
 Supreme Court at Calcutta (1 chief
justice + 3 other)
 24 Director selected every 4 yrs and
retiring 1/4th /year.
 Submit copies of all
correspondence to British
 Monopoly over trade with east
India extended for 20 yrs
 Servants forbidden from bribe and
private trade.
2. Amending Act of 1781
 SC – no jurisdiction over the
official acts of GG & council &
jamindars
 SC- respect religious views.
3. Pitts India Act 1784
 Board of Control of 6 to control
civil, military & revenue aff.
 BOD to comply with directions of
Board of Control
 Proprietors lost power to change
resolutions of BOD
 GG Council reduced to 3.
 Control over Bombay & Madras
diplomacy, revenue & war.
 Officers to disclose property within
2 months of joining.
4. Act of 1786
 GG can override council in
extraordinary cases
5. Charter Act of 1793
 Company’s Charter renewed for 20
years
6. Charter Act of 1813
 Company’s monopoly to trade
abolished except in tea and with
China. Charter 20 yrs renew.
 Englishmen could trade in India
with license
 Rules for use of Indian revenue
 Set apart for literature and
education Rs. 1,00,000/-
11. Indian Councils Act 1892
 Renewed Charter. Abolished all
monopolies and company to close
all commercial work.
 All laws to be called Acts.
 GG of Bengal is GG of India with
civil & military powers.
 Madras & Bombay lost legislative
powers.
 Englishmen can come & settle
 Improve slavery condition
 1st Law Commission under
Macaulay
 Indians allowed to take
administrative posts.
8. Charter Act of 1853
 Charter for unlimited period.
 Separated executive and legislative
functions
 Directors reduced from 24 to 18
 Law Comm. appointed in England
to examine report of Indian Law
Commission
 Local representation in Central
Legislative Council.
 ICS officers to be appointed
through competitive exams
9. Government of India Act 1858
Act of Good Governance
 Ended dual control of Pitts act
 Crown took all property of
company
 Secretary of State, member of
British Cabinet, to control Indian
affairs along with Council of India
(15 members). He is to present
report of moral & material progress
in India. 1st Sos was Lord Stanley.
 GG now called Viceroy
 ICS open exams in London
10. Indian Councils Act 1861
 Viceroys Council to be of 5 &
portfolio system introduced.
 Viceroy to nominate Indian as non
members.
 New LC in Bengal, NWFP &
Punjab.
 Legislative Council advisory
 Legislative powers of Bombay &
Madras restored.
 Ministers responsible to legislature
 Increased no. of non official
members.
 Beginning of Parliamentary System
in India.
 Right to ask question on budget or
public interest matters.
 Principle off Introduction.
 Provincial legislatures could alter
the central acts if effecting
12. Morley-Minto 1909
 Morley: Secretary of State
 Minto: Viceroy
 Central Legislature of 69 members
(37 official & 32 non)
 Officials:-
GG+7 ordinary +1 extra + 28
nominated by GG
 Non Officials:-
5 nominated by GG+ 27 elected
 Of the 27 elected, 8 muslims under
separate electorates ,6 British
capitalist, 2 landlords and 13
general electorate.
 Elected members were elected by
local body members they by
members of provincial and they by
members of central.
 Muslim voters low income
qualification.
 Legislatures could ask question
and supplementaries and pass
resolutions.
 Satyendra Prasad Sinha appointed
to Viceroys Executive Council as
Law member.
 Communal representation to
Muslims
13. Montagu Chelmsford 1919
(Government of India Act)
a. Provincial Government
 1st time Bicameralism and direct
elections
 Diarchy between
Executive councilors &
Popular ministers
 Subjects divided into reserved (law,
finance, land revenue)and
transferred (education, health, local
govt, industry)
 Reserved= Exe. Council
Transferred = ministers
elected by British Indian Provinces
and resign in case of no confidence.
 If constitutional machinery failed
governer can take transferred
subjects
 70% members elected
 Women given right to vote
 Can initiate legislation
 Could reject budget
 Freedom of speech.
b. Central Government
 GG was chief executive authority.
 2 lists for administration :
Central and provincial
 Executive council=8 (3 Indians)
 GG could restore cut in grants,
certify bills rejected.
 Bicameralism introduced:-
Central LA Lower house
144 (41 nominated+103 elected)
52=General, 30= Muslim
2=Sikh,20=Special
Council of States Upper House
60 (26 nominated+34 elected)
20=General,10=muslims
3=European,1=Sikh
 Council of States tenure of 5 years
renewed yearly, only male
members while central LA tenure
of 3 years.
 75% budget non votable
 For Franchise taxable income
>10,000/- or land revenue 750/-
 Distribution of seats on the basis of
importance.
 Establishment of Public Service
Commission.
 Separated provincial budget from
central budget.
14. Government of India Act 1935
 Was to comprise of all British
provinces, chief commissioners
provinces and Indian States.
Central
Legislative
Council of states and
Federal Assembly
Council of States
260 member house directly
2018
15. Indian Independence act 1947
& 40% nominated by princes.  India as sovereign & independent
 Permanent body 1/3rd retire every state.
3rd year and duration 5 years  Partition with right to secede from
 Direct Elections Commonwealth
 Abolished viceroy and a GG was to
Federal Assembly be appointed by British King.
 375 members indirectly elected  Constituent Assembly can frame
from British Indian Provinces and any constitution & act or accept or
and 1/3rd princes nominated repeal any act.
 Indirect elections  Office of Secretary of State
 No Confidence motion allowed transferred to Secretary of State for
 80% budget non votable commonwealth affairs.
 Freedom to princely states to join
Provincial India/ Pakistan or be free.
Autonomy  Discontinued appointment in civil
 Replace diarchy. services by Secretary of States.
 Provinces granted separate legal
autonomy and derived authority
from Crown and could borrow
money on their own security.
 Governor could take over and
indefinitely run administration
Legislature
 Separate electorates based on
communal award operational
 Women got right to vote
 40 % budget un votable
 Governor couls refuse to assent
bill, promulgate ordinances.
 Extended Communal
Representation to SC, women &
labour.
 Extended Franchise to vote
 Provided for RBI to control
currency & credit