| Act | Features | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Regulating Act of 1773 | • Governor of Bengal as the 'Governor-General of Bengal' first being Lord Warren Hastings. • Governors of the Bombay and Madras presidencies subordinated to Governor-General of Bengal. • Establishment of Supreme Court in Calcutta - Chief Justice (Sir Elijah Impey) + 3 judges. • Company servants restricted from engaging in private trade. | • First attempt towards a centralised administration • Political and administrative functions of the Company recognised • Laid foundation of central administration in India. |
| Pitt’s India Act of 1784 | • Established dual government- o Court of Directors to manage commercial affairs. o Board of Control to manage political affairs. • Indian territories of company called ‘British possessions in India’. | • Administrative setup adopted to govern Indian territory through Board of Control. |
| Charter Act of 1793 | • Granted more powers and control to Governor-General over Bombay and Madras. • The members of Board of Control to be paid out of the Indian revenues. • Established acomprehensive code of regulations for the administration of Bengal. • Mandated company to pay Rs.5 lakh annually to British government, after meeting expenses. • The senior company officials barred from leaving India without permission. • Practice of ‘privilege’- Company authorized to grant licenses to individuals to conduct trade in India. | • It extended company’s trade monopoly for another period of twenty years. • Established foundation for governance in British India based on written laws and regulations. • It separated the revenue administration from the judiciary functions of the company. |
| Charter Act of 1813 | • It abolished theCompany's trade monopoly in India except tea trade and trade with China. • It authorised local governments in India to impose taxes. • An annual sum of one lakh rupees was allocated to support education. • Christian missionaries were allowed to preach their religion. | • It affirmed the authority of Crown over the company territories in India. • Importance of education in fostering social progress and enhancing the intellectual capacity of the Indians. |
| Charter Act of 1833 | • Ended the commercial activities of EIC. • Governor general of Bengal as Governor General of India. • Legislative powers of Bombay and Madras taken away. • Attempt to introduce merit based civil services. | • Considered as Act of centralisation and consolidation of powers. • Made EIC as political and administrative body. • Final stage of centralisation of power. |
| Charter act of 1853 | • Separation of powers- Legislative (legislative council) and executive (executive council) powers separated. • Merit based civil services introduced. • Introduced ordinance practice. | • Foundation for separation of powers laid. • Enabled Indians to join the civil services. • Pioneered representative democracy in India by appointing Indian members to legislative council. |
| Government of India Act, 1858 | • It ended dual government. • A secretary of state was appointed to control Indian affairs. • Designation of Governor general became Viceroy (First- Lord Canning). • The Commander-in-Chief of the Army appointed as member of the Council. | • Introduced an indirect responsible government system. • New system promoted debates and discussions in British Parliament. • Provide basis for greater association of Indians. |
| Indian Councils Act, 1861 | • Beginning of system of representation. • Legislative powers of Madras and Bombay restored. • Gave recognition to portfolio system. • Empowered the Viceroy to issue ordinance. | • Increased Indian’s association with the government. • Systematic beginning of decentralisation. |
| Indian Councils Act, 1892 | • Increased non-official members in legislative councils. • Members could discuss budget but couldn't propose resolutions. • legislative councils empowered to make new laws and repeal old laws. | • First step towards representative form of government. • Expanded legislative councils, increasing Indian participation in governance. • Introduced a system of indirect election. |
| Indian Councils Act, 1909 | • Also known as Morley Minto reforms. • Increased (16 to 60) the size of legislative councils both central and provincial level. • Introduced system of communal representation- separate electorate for Muslims. • Members allowed to ask supplementaryquestions and move resolutions on budget. • Provided for association of Indians with Viceroy’s council. (First- Satyendra Prasad Sinha) | • Enlarged the deliberative functions of legislative councils. • Sowed the seed of partition. |
| Government of India Act, 1919 | • Also known asMontagu Chelmsford reforms. • Introduced system of direct elections. • Central legislative council was made Bicameral- Council of State and Legislative Assembly. • Dyarchy (dual rule) at provincial level- subject divided- reserved and transferred subjects. • Provided separate electorate for Sikhs, Indian Christians, Anglo-Indians and Europeans. • Granted franchise based on property, tax or education. • Provided for establishment of Public Service Commission. | • Established a system of responsible government. • Extended principle of communalrepresentation. |
| Government of India Act, 1935 | • Provided for establishment of All India Federation- Provinces and princely states. Power divided by federal, provincial and concurrent list. Residuarypower to Viceroy. • Dyarchy- Abolished in provinces but adopted at centre. • Bicameralism in 6 provinces. • Separate electorate for depressed classes (SCs), women and labour (workers). • Extended franchise to about 10% of population. • Establishment of RBI. • Establishment of federal public service commission, provincial public service commission and joint public service commission. • Establishment of federal court. | • Became an important source for Constitution like basis for Schedule 7. • It promoted decentralized governance. • Gave quasi-federal character to Indian polity. • Granted autonomytoprovinces. • Provided representation to women. |
