Historical Background of Indian Polity: Key Milestones

Those students who are preparing for the competitive exams need to understand the importance of Indian polity and historical background. Here in this post, we are providing the content in a short and crispy manner which is prepared by using various resources including various handwritten notes.

1. The Company Rule (1773–1858)

Regulating Act of 1773

Purpose: To curb corruption and mismanagement by the East India Company in Bengal.
Key Provisions:
Established a Governor-General of Bengal (the first Governor-General was Warren Hastings).
Created an Executive Council of four members to assist the Governor-General.
Set up a Supreme Court in Calcutta (1774) to administer justice.
Prohibited Company officials from engaging in private trade and accepting gifts from Indian rulers.
Significance: Marked the beginning of British parliamentary control over Indian affairs.

Amending Act of 1781

Purpose: To rectify issues created by the Regulating Act.
Key Provisions:
Limited the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court concerning revenue matters.
Reinforced the authority of the Governor-General in Council over civil and military administration.

Pitt’s India Act of 1784

Purpose: To address the weaknesses of the Regulating Act and further tighten control over the Company’s operations.
Key Provisions:
Established the Board of Control in Britain to supervise the political affairs of the Company.
Introduced the dual system of control with the Company managing commerce and the Crown overseeing political matters.
Reduced the Governor-General’s council to three members.
Significance: Laid the foundation for direct intervention by the British government in Indian governance.

Charter Acts (1793, 1813, 1833, 1853)

Charter Act of 1793:
Renewed the Company’s charter for 20 years.
Increased salaries of the Company’s employees to curb corruption.
Charter Act of 1813:
Ended the Company’s trade monopoly in India, except for tea and trade with China.
Allowed Christian missionaries to propagate their religion in India.
Permitted local development projects funded by the Company.
Charter Act of 1833:
Ended the Company’s commercial activities, making it a purely administrative body.
Centralized power by designating the Governor-General of Bengal as the Governor-General of India.
Allowed Indians to enter the Company’s civil services.
Charter Act of 1853:
Renewed the Company’s charter without any specific time frame.
Introduced open competition for recruitment into the Indian Civil Services.
Created a separate legislative council for India, including local representation.

2. The Crown Rule (1858–1947)

Government of India Act of 1858

Purpose: To transfer power from the East India Company to the British Crown following the Revolt of 1857.
Key Provisions:
Abolished the East India Company and transferred its powers to the Crown.
Established the office of Secretary of State for India, who was assisted by the India Council.
Made the Viceroy the Crown’s representative in India (Lord Canning was the first Viceroy).
Significance: Marked the beginning of direct British rule, ending Company rule.

Indian Councils Acts (1861, 1892, 1909)

Indian Councils Act of 1861:
Introduced legislative councils in the provinces.
Allowed the inclusion of Indians in the legislative councils for the first time.
Empowered the Viceroy to issue ordinances.
Indian Councils Act of 1892:
Expanded the legislative councils, both at the center and in the provinces.
Introduced the concept of indirect elections (though not fully representative).
Allowed for more Indian participation in the councils.
Indian Councils Act of 1909 (Morley-Minto Reforms):
Introduced separate electorates for Muslims, a major step in communal representation.
Increased the size of legislative councils and the number of elected Indian members.
Laid the groundwork for further constitutional reforms.

Government of India Act of 1919 (Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms)

Purpose: To introduce self-governing institutions gradually in India.
Key Provisions:
Established a dual system of government, or dyarchy, in the provinces.
Divided subjects into “transferred” (handled by Indian ministers) and “reserved” (handled by British officials).
Created a bicameral legislature at the center: the Council of State and the Legislative Assembly.
Expanded communal representation to other groups.
Significance: Aimed to increase Indian participation in governance, though limited in scope.

Simon Commission (1927) and its Impact

Background: Appointed by the British government to recommend further constitutional reforms.
Key Points:
Consisted solely of British members, leading to widespread protests in India (“Simon Go Back”).
Recommended the abolition of dyarchy and the establishment of representative government at the provincial level.
Significance: Led to the Government of India Act of 1935, which introduced provincial autonomy.

Government of India Act of 1935

Purpose: To provide a new constitutional framework, preparing India for greater self-governance.
Key Provisions:
Established an All-India Federation, though it never came into effect.
Introduced provincial autonomy, with elected Indian ministers handling all matters except defense and foreign affairs.
Expanded the electorate to about 10% of the population.
Introduced bicameralism in some provinces.
Significance: Laid the foundation for the structure of the Indian Constitution and marked a major step towards Indian independence.

Indian Independence Act of 1947

Purpose: To grant independence to India and partition it into two sovereign states, India and Pakistan.
Key Provisions:
Ended British rule in India.
Divided British India into two independent dominions: India and Pakistan.
Gave each dominion the right to secede from the British Commonwealth.
Significance: Marked the end of British colonial rule and the birth of independent India and Pakistan.

Important Exam Points to Remember

Regulating Act of 1773: First step towards British parliamentary control.
Pitt’s India Act of 1784: Introduced dual control, significant for governance.
Charter Act of 1833: Centralized administration, ended Company’s trade role.
Government of India Act of 1858: Shift from Company to Crown rule.
Indian Councils Act of 1909: Communal representation introduced.
Government of India Act of 1919: Introduced dyarchy in provinces.
Government of India Act of 1935: Basis for Indian Constitution, provincial autonomy.
Indian Independence Act of 1947: End of British rule, creation of India and Pakistan.

By focusing on these key acts, reforms, and their provisions, you’ll cover the most important aspects of British rule in India that are commonly tested in exams.

Disclaimer: Kindly refer any standard book before this to get a detailed view, don’t rely completely on this