Charter Act of 1833 was the final step towards centralisation in British India.
This was also called the Government of India Act 1833 or the Saint Helena Act 1833.
Must read: Regulating Act of 1773 – the foundation of central administration in India
The features of this Act were as follows:
It made the Governor-General of Bengal as the Governor- General of India and vested in him all civil and military powers. Thus, the act created, for the first time, Government of India having authority over the entire territorial area possessed by the British in India. Lord William Bentick was the first Governor-General of India.
Must read: Act of Settlement 1781 – the Amending Act of 1781
It deprived the Governor of Bombay and Madras of their legislative powers. The Governor-General of India was given exclusive legislative powers for the entire British India. The laws made under the previous acts were called as Regulations, while laws made under this act were called as Acts.
It ended the activities of the East India Company as a commercial body, which became a purely administrative body. Thus Company’s monopoly over trade with China and in tea also ended.
Must read: Pitt’s India Act of 1784
It provided that the Company’s territories in India were held by it ‘in trust for His Majesty, His heirs and successors’.
A law member was added to the governor general’s council for professional advice on law-making.
Must read: Charter Act of 1793
Indian laws were to be codified and consolidated.
No Indian citizen was to be denied employment under the Company on the basis of religion, colour, birth, descent, etc. (Although the reality was different, this declaration formed the sheet-anchor of political agitation in India.)
The administration was urged to take steps to ameliorate the conditions of slaves and to ultimately abolish slavery. (Slavery was abolished in 1843.)
Must read: Charter Act of 1813
All restrictions on European immigration and the acquisition of property in India were lifted. Thus, the way
was paved for the wholesale European colonisation of India.
The Charter Act of 1833 attempted to introduce a system of open competition for selection of civil servants and stated that the Indians should not be debarred from holding any place, office and employment under the Company. However, this provision was negated after opposition from the Court of
Directors.
Why Charter Act of 1833 was a final step towards centralisation in British India ?
In India, a financial, legislative, and administrative centralisation of the government was envisaged through the Charter Act of 1833:
— The governor general was given the power to superintend, control, and direct all civil and military affairs of the Company.
— Bengal, Madras, Bombay, and all other territories were placed under complete control of the governor general.
Must read: Charter Act of 1833 – the final step towards centralisation
— All revenues were to be raised under the authority of the governor general who would have complete control over the expenditure too.
— The Governments of Madras and Bombay were drastically deprived of their legislative powers and left with a right of proposing to the governor general the projects of law which they thought to be expedient.
External link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_India_Act_1833
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
QUES . By which one of the following Acts was the Governor General of Bengal designated as the Governor General of India? UPSC 2023
(a) The Regulating Act
(b) The Pitt’s India Act
(c) The Charter Act of 1793
(d) The Charter Act of 1833
(d)
QUES . Which one of the following provisions was not made in the Charter Act of 1833? UPSC 2003
(a)The trading activities of the East India Company were to be abolished.
(b)The designation of the supreme authority was to be changed as the Governor General of India in Council.
(c) All law making powers to be conferred on Governor-General in Council.
(d) An Indian was to be appointed as a Law Member in the Governor-General’s Council.
(d) There was a provision of a Law Member in the Governor-General’s Council but he was not to be an Indian.
QUES . Through which one of the following, were commercial activities of the East India Company finally put to an end ? CDS 2006
(a) The Charter Act of 1793
(b) The Charter Act of 1813
(c) The Charter Act of 1833
(d) The Charter Act of 1853
(c)
QUES . Which of the following Acts is known as the ‘Saint Helena Act’?
(a) Charter Act of 1793
(b) Charter Act of 1813
(c) Charter Act of 1833
(d) Charter Act of 1853
(c)
